The effects of ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) on the residual stress within a 45 mm-thick high-strength steel welded joint were investigated. The internal residual stresses after UIT was measured with contour method and compared with the as-welded stresses simulated by finite element method. The surface stresses were also measured by X-ray diffraction method and hole-drilling method to validate the simulation model. Results show that UIT introduces compressive stress layer in the weld zone and has the same effect on the longitudinal and transverse welding stresses; the interior stresses increase and demonstrate more uniform distribution after UIT; UIT would not affect the initial compressive stress presented far away from the weld zone.

A multipass thick welded specimen restrained by three saddle-shape plates welded to the bottom surface was prepared and treated using the post-weld ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT). The stresses in the specimen were measured and analysed. Results show that the as-welded stresses on the top surface of the restrained specimen do not drop quickly beyond the weld zone as compared with the typical welding stress distributions in thick unrestrained specimens. The UIT induces compressive stresses with a depth up to 2–4 mm and it has little effect on the as-welded stresses outside of the UIT-treated region. The welding of restraining plates causes a significant increase of the longitudinal stress within the local welding region.