Patent ID: 6861617

Claim:
A method of transient thermal tensioning at least one plate during joining of at least one stiffener to the at least one plate resulting in a stiffened plate, by welding to minimize distortion, comprising the steps of: determining at least one location on the at least one plate to apply at least one heat source, at a predetermined lateral distance from the at least one stiffener and at a predetermined separation distance from a surface of the at least one plate, to minimize the propensity of the at least one plate to distort by minimizing the propensity of the at least one plate to buckle by altering the residual stress pattern in the at least one plate; placing the at least one stiffener on the at least one plate; locating at least one welding device in close proximity to the at least one stiffener and the at least one plate; applying the at least one heat source to the at least one location on the at least one plate; energizing and moving the at least one welding device to weld the at least one stiffener to the at least one plate; and moving the at least one heat source in conjunction with the travel of the at least one welding device.