3D numerical simulation of brazed residual stress in stainless steel plate-fin structure

Stainless steel plate-fin structure is fabricated by vacuum brazing. Due to the mismatch of mechanical properties between brazing filler metal and base metal, the welding residual stress is generated inevitably during the brazing process. Two numerical simulation methods were employed to simulate the residual stress distribution in brazed plate-fin structure by means of finite element code ABAQUS. One method was to simulate the whole brazing process, while the other to simulate the cooling process. The two calculated results are in accordance and the difference is very small. The residual stress is mainly generated during the cooling process. Hence, the method just simulating the cooling process can be used to predict the residual stress of brazed plate-fin structure, which can reduce the calculating time and cost greatly.