Direct measurements and numerical predictions of welding-induced initial deformations in a full-scale steel stiffened plate structure

As a sequel to another paper of the authors on welding-induced residual stresses [1], this paper aimed to obtain a direct measurement database of welding-induced initial deformations in a full-scale steel stiffened plate structure and also to study the applicability of computational models to predict them. A full-scale steel stiffened plate structure in association with bottom plate panels of an as-built 1,900 TEU containership was fabricated by exactly the same technology of welding as used in today's shipbuilding industry. The 3D scanner was employed to measure welding-induced initial deformations of the structure. Computational models using the three-dimensional thermo-elastic-plastic finite element method were developed to predict the plate initial deflections. A comparison between direct measurements and numerical predictions was made. Details of direct measurement databases are documented as they are useful to validate the computational models formulated by other researchers.