Determination of optimum welding process specification and distortion forces in the lattice beam structures

The aim of this study is to investigate welding process specification (WPS)which causes minimum distortion in the welded lattice beam systems of steelconstructions. For this purposes, a rigid steel frame and force measuring plates(FMP) were prepared. These plates were placed between the rigid frame andthe lattice beam for measuring distortion forces. Distortion forces created bydifferent applications of WPS in the lattice beam were transferred to data-logger and then to personal computer (PC). The relationship between WPS anddistortion forces has been analyzed by using AMR Win Control programme.Effects of 20 different combinations of WPS on distortion forces in the latticebeam were determined. It was found that minimum distortion forces wereobserved for WPS includes homogenous heat gradient and welding joint pointsarranged as remote as possible to each other on the lattice beam.WPS which was including starting or finishing of welding at central of beamand welding process concentrated in a small area of beam caused formation ofmaximum distortion forces.Key Words : Lattice beam, welding process specification (WPS), distortion,distortion forces