Design and Analysis of a Test Coupon for Fusion Welding

The objective of a weld coupon is to provide a simple test to determine the effects of different welding parameters and constraints on the final state of fusion welds. With such a test it will be possible to judge the performance of a particular weld under known states of temperature and external restraint. This paper describes the experiments and analyses performed on a thin coupon with a circular weld bead which was designed to simulate a typical manufacturing geometry. The temperatures and deformations measured in the experiments corresponded closely to those of the analyses. It was found that such a geometry provides a high degree of restraint regardless of the radius of the circular weld bead. Experimental and analytical stresses indicate that extensive yielding occurs throughout the coupon.