A macro prediction model for butt-welded (U)HSS connections with softened HAZ

Journal article (2023)

Authors

R. Yan Steel & Composite Structures - CEG , Chang'an University
Hui Xie Chang'an University
Fei Yang Chang'an University
M. Veljkovic Steel & Composite Structures - CEG
Xiao lin Zhao The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Research Group
Steel & Composite Structures (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 R. Yan, Hui Xie, Fei Yang, M. Veljkovic, Xiao lin Zhao
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2023.108153
Heat-affected zone High-strength steel Transverse constraint Fully-penetrated butt weld Tensile resistance Ultra-high-strength steel
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Engineering Structures

Research Group

Steel & Composite Structures

Abstract

This paper reports an investigation on the tensile resistance of fully-penetrated butt-welded connections of (ultra-)high-strength steels considering the strength softening of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and the strengthening due to the transverse constraint. Firstly, a parametric study is carried out to analyse the tensile behaviour of fully-penetrated butt-welded S700 connections using validated finite element (FE) models. Based on the FE results, the effect of the investigated parameters on the ultimate resistance of the connections is quantified. Consequently, a Macro prediction model is proposed, neglecting the detail of HAZ inhomogeneous microstructures but considering five design parameters, which are the width and thickness of the specimen, the width of HAZ, the softening ratio, and the matching ratio. Finally, the proposed Macro model is validated against the available experimental data of fully-penetrated butt-welded (ultra-)high-strength steel connections in literature. The results show that the Macro model is proven successful in accurately quantifying the effect of HAZ, concerning the strength softening and the transverse constraint strengthening, on the tensile resistance of fully-penetrated butt-welded (ultra-)high-strength steel connections. It is also found that 157 and 96 out of 185 experiments are predicted within a 5% deviation range using the Macro model and prEN 1993-1-8:2021, respectively, proving that the Macro model is more consistent with the experimental data compared to the prediction of prEN 1993-1-8:2021.