In situ neutron diffraction measurement of residual stress relaxation in a welded steel pipe during heat treatment

Many previous studies have presented results on the relaxation of residual stress in a welded component as a result of postweld heat treatment. Techniques such as neutron diffraction and deep hole drilling have been used to measure the residual stress after the heat treatment and compare this with the residual stress for the component in the as-welded condition. The work described in this paper is novel: neutron diffraction is used to measure the relaxation of residual stress continuously as the heat treatment is being carried out. Residual stresses are measured in a butt-welded ferritic steel pipe as the pipe is heat treated to 650 °C and then cooled to room temperature. The results identify those parts of the heat treatment that lead to significant stress relaxation and the mechanisms responsible for this relaxation. The techniques developed during this work allow future heat treatments to be optimised to achieve the low levels of residual stress in welded components.