Stress-relieving is a post-weld treatment that reduces residual stresses present in a workpiece after welding. These residual stresses could cause distortion or premature failure of the joint if left untreated. The stress-relieving process involves heating the workpiece or localized area around a weld to a specific temperature, holding it at that temperature for enough time to reduce the stresses present in the material, and then cooling the material at a slow enough rate so as to not allow the stresses to redevelop. Another way to think of this process is that you are essentially annealing the welded area.

Stress-relieving can also be done using a pre-heat method prior to welding. this ensures that both surfaces to be welded are at the same temperature. Starting the parts at a higher temperature reduces the difference in temperature between the welded and non-welded areas, creating less internal tension in the weld.

Stress-relieving is important because internal stresses in the weld can result in a weaker joint that may lead to premature failure

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