Numerical Investigation on the Behavior of Circumferentially Butt-Welded Steel Circular Hollow Section Flexural Members

Abstract

This paper presents a finite element (FE) analysis to quantify the effects of weld-induced residual stresses on the flexural behavior of circumferentially butt-welded steel circular hollow section (CHS) members. FE modeling of the weld-induced residual stresses is first described. Nonlinear FE analysis in which the behavior of the CHS members subjected to bending is explored incorporating the residual stresses is discussed next. Two FE CHS tube models with different failure modes are developed in order to clarify the effects that the residual stresses have on the flexural behavior. Simulated results show that welding residual stresses can have significant effects on the initial stiffness and the ultimate strength of the CHS flexural members depending on the loading position; hence, they should be taken into account in assessing the behavior of steel CHS members with circumferential weld under bending.