Abstract: A package of work is presented on development of highly effective welded structures, currently conducted by the E. O. Paton Electric Welding Institute. New types of cost - effective and reliable welded struc- tures have been developed, including light - weight building structures, bridge frameworks, TV tow- ers, heavy - duty structures from high - strength steels, large-sized stringer panels and shells, unique structures of a transformable volume. A series of methods of investigations of welding stresses and strains have been created, they being characterized by a high accuracy and information content. The physical and mathematical fundamentals of optical simulation of welded stresses have been estab- lished and the theory of their similarity has been constructed. Holographic methods of investigation of the quality and stressed - strained state of welded joints have been advised. Portable holographic sys- tems for been been developed which allow investigations to be conducted without the vibration - insulation facilities. A non-destructive testing method of residual stresses determination has been elaborated based on ultrasonic probing of the appropriate sections of the welded structure. A new trend has been formed, namely the distortion - free welding of structures, which is based on regulation of the thermal processes during welding with the aim of reduction of the heat input and inducing the preliminary stressed - strained states optimized in terms of welding stresses and strains. Specialized procedures and equipment based on the acoustic emission effect have been developed for diagnostics of welded structures. The technology and equipment have been for ultrasonic impact treatment of welded joints in or- der to improve their fatigue resistance, as well as computerized methods for design of welded joints and structures.

Key words: welded structure, strength, stress, strain, diagnostics