At elevated temperatures, electrodes experience which type of stresses?

At elevated temperatures, electrodes experience which type of stresses?

• A. Large compressive stresses
• B. Tensile stresses
• C. Shear stresses
• D. Torsional stresses

Answer: (A)

When a metal is heated, it tends to expand. In a welding situation, the electrode is heated while it is held in place by the cooler base metal and surrounding structure. That restraint prevents the electrode from freely expanding, so the material builds up internal forces that resist the expansion. Those forces manifest as compressive stresses inside the heated electrode. Because the temperature is high, the electrode is more able to deform, and a large compressive stress can develop before any yielding occurs. So, at elevated temperatures, the electrode tends to experience large compressive stresses. (The surrounding base metal and weld region would see opposite tensile effects, but the question focuses on the electrode itself.)

When a metal is heated, it tends to expand. In a welding situation, the electrode is heated while it is held in place by the cooler base metal and surrounding structure. That restraint prevents the electrode from freely expanding, so the material builds up internal forces that resist the expansion. Those forces manifest as compressive stresses inside the heated electrode. Because the temperature is high, the electrode is more able to deform, and a large compressive stress can develop before any yielding occurs. So, at elevated temperatures, the electrode tends to experience large compressive stresses. (The surrounding base metal and weld region would see opposite tensile effects, but the question focuses on the electrode itself.)