Acknowledgements
Part of this study was carried under the programme ‘Development of high-efficiency, high-reliability welding techniques by improving welding technology’, which was entrusted by NEDO to JSUP as part of the Major Regional Technology Development System of the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry. The author would also like to express his appreciation to Eiichi Murakawa and Hisashi Serizawa of the Osaka University Joining Science Laboratory for their assistance with the prediction of welding deformation.