Heat Shrinking
Heat Shrinking
(OP)
We are welding 5/16" mild steel plate on the top of a helideck to the top of W12x 16 beams with the spacing in between the beams are approximately 32". The fillet weld used is a 3/16" ("according to spec.") and we are using GMAW-S to minimise heat input. We are experiencing the sheeting sagging up to 3/8" in between the beams.
What can be done to minimise this as well as fix these sagging areas?
Heat shrinkage is allowed but how is it done?
What can be done to minimise this as well as fix these sagging areas?
Heat shrinkage is allowed but how is it done?





RE: Heat Shrinking
Bracing can be used but its needs to be engineered.
Is the 32" flange to flange or web to web?
RE: Heat Shrinking
Any pointers on Heat Shrinking?
RE: Heat Shrinking
My first recommendation (to save me a lot of typing) is to get your hands on a copy of the Lincoln Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding. This publication is inexpensive (<$30) and will give you many guidelines on how to avoid the distortion for future welds. I think this book can be ordered directly from Lincoln, but most welding suppliers keep them in stock. Section 3 has many procedures on how to avoid the distortion before it becomes a problem.
Heat the area that is sagging (from the side that is concave) to about 1100 degrees F, weed burners work better than acetylene w/rosebuds by the way. Apply cool water at this location gradually, not all at once. We used this procedure a few weeks ago for a similar problem where plate was warping between channels at a location where we needed a relatively flat surface. Worked like a charm.
RE: Heat Shrinking
Here is Lincoln website to order from.
https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/foundation/