Numerical and Experimental Determination of Strain (Stress) Concentration Factors of Welded Joints between Square Hollow Sections

This article presents methods of approach for finite element modelling of joints made of rectangular hollow steel sections where the brace members are welded to the face of the chord, to obtain strain (stress) concentration factors, SNCF (SCF). X, T and K type joints are considered. Simple modelling methods are applied for practical reasons, so that straight-forward use in large scale parametric studies is possible. Details that influence the results due to modelling are discussed. In the range of parameters considered for subsequent parametric studies, a few selected representative joints are considered for experimental comparison. The comparisons between experiments and finite element analyses give confidence in the results. SNCF values at critical locations are determined for a range of preselected geometrical parameters and used in regression analyses to provide parametric SNCF formulae. The SNCF values from these formulae have a good correlation with the values determined from the finite element analyses. The SNCF formulae are also shown graphically to give a visual impression of the influence of the various geometrical parameters on the magnitudes