The Effects of Welding on High Mast Illumination Poles
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In recent history, cracks have been forming in High-mast illumination poles (HMIPs) during the galvanization process. This galvanization process involves dipping fabricated steel into a molten zinc bath in order to form a coating that protects from corrosion. Before the galvanization process occurs, certain areas of the HMIPs are welded together. A three-dimensional finite element model was created in ABAQUS in order to simulate the welding of the HMIPs. The material properties of the model are thermo-mechanical and follow the British Unit System. After model creation, it was inputted into the ABAQUS Welding Interface (AWI). This interface takes the welds specified and shows many results such as temperature, stresses and strains over time. An aim was taken to obtain the resulting stress-strain field in order to be inputted as an initial stress field during galvanizing in ABAQUS. Although inconclusive, the results showed a potential reason to why cracks are forming near welds in the HMIPs. Many of the higher stresses obtained from the AWI were near 50 ksi.