SIMULATION OF T-JOINTS BETWEEN RHS STEEL MEMBERS WITH OFFSET IN ABAQUS CAE

Abstract

The current paper focuses on numerical simulation peculiarities of offset welded rectangular hollow section joints. Understanding the modelling techniques can result in easier and faster and above all correct outcomes from FEA for future use. The steel joints under discussion are composed from cold-formed regular rectangular hollow sections where RHS brace members are laterally shifted from chord axis. Joints work under monotonically increasing compression load applied to a brace top. Numerical models were developed in FE programme Abaqus. FE-models is composed of C3D8R 8-noded solid linear brick elements with an emphasis on mesh size effect and modelling of a weld seam. FE advanced model were compiled considering both material and geometric nonlinearities. For validation purposes, the full-scale laboratory tests were conducted. Proposed FE models reliably predict the structural behaviour of welded offset T-joints thanks to good agreement achieved on deformation limit 3 % b₀ with the maximum deviation 10.3 %.