Heat Curving

Heat curving is a bending process that relies only on the

application of heat in specific patterns to induce curvature.

Concentrated heat application causes material expansion.

The expanding material is restrained by adjacent cooler

areas, causing inelastic deformation of the heated material.

The heated area contracts upon cooling, causing a net

shrinkage that induces a permanent curvature.

Cross-sectional elements at the inside edge of the finished

curve can be heated continuously, but are usually heated at

discrete locations along the member length, approximately

2 to 3 ft apart (Thatcher, 1967). Heat is applied in wedgeshaped

segments using an oxyfuel torch, and the temperature

is monitored using temperature crayons or other equipment.

Several heat patterns and restraint conditions are described

by Avent and Mukai (1998). Generally, the curvature

increases with the temperature and width of the heat pattern;

however, the minimum attainable radius is approximately

150D, where D is the member depth in the plane of curvature

(Brockenbrough, 1970b). Due to the many variables

involved, accurate prediction of the final curvature is difficult;

therefore, the proper curvature is usually obtained using

a trial-and-error process. Selection of the shape and location

of the heat application points is an art that relies heavily on

past experience.
Heat curving is primarily used by fabricators for cambering

and curving to very large radii and for repairing damaged

members. Large plate girders and other heavy built-up

shapes can be fabricated straight, with the final geometry

induced by heat curving. This method is labor-intensive;

therefore, it is rarely used as the primary curving method

when bending is an option. Heat curving can also be used to

make small changes in curvature to cold-bent members after

the bending process is complete and the member has been

removed from the bending machine.