Numerical Modelling for Resistance of Welds in Steel Structures from High‐Strength Steel

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents the overview of the numerical design model of welds in structural steels using finite element shell element. Many researches are emerging in the field of advanced modelling of welds in steel connections by using finite element analysis in order to represent accurate geometry and stiffness of welds. There are several weld modelling techniques used for the computation of structural hot spot stresses in fatigue; oblique shell elements, rigid links and increased thickness techniques. The article intends to eliminate the gaps in knowledge about the numerical modelling of welds using shell elements to compute the direct resistance of the welds in structural steels.This paper focuses on the study of numerical design calculation for the resistance of the welds in steel structures from high‐strength steels. Inclined shell elements are used to represent geometry and the stiffness of the welds during modelling of transverse fillet welds in double lapped joint. Several design standards, and guidelines are widely used to check the resistance of the welds. To verify and validate the results of finite element models, analytical and experiment results from literature are used in the undermatching welding conditions. Based on numerical design calculations, a general approach of inclined shell element is recommended to represent the welds for computation of the direct resistance of the welds in steel structures.