Preventing welding hot cracking by welding with an intensive trailing cooler

Welding with an intensive trailing cooler has been investigated as a means to prevent welding hot cracking. Hot cracking initiated from the crater and extending backwards has been reproduced using a welding fixture with variable restraint. Welding with a trailing cooler can effectively prevent this kind of hot cracking and is feasible in welding production. The temperature field and the strain distribution have been analyzed using the non-linear finite element method. The results of experiment and numerical simulation expound the mechanism of the prevention of hot cracking.