PSI - Issue 57

Kashif Kamran Toor et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 57 (2024) 772–784 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

779

8

c

Fig. 7. (a) Global model; (b) Local FE model; (c) Hot spot location.

Table 3. Material properties for FE model. Material

E Modulus [MPa]

Poisson’s Ratio

Steel

210000

0.3

Grout

42000

0.19

3.2. Weld modelling in FEA In order to accurately model the weld geometry it is imperative to know the actual geometry detail at the hot spot. The weld detail was obtained from the as fabricated documentation as shown in Fig. 8. a b c

Fig. 8. (a) Weld as fabricated; (b) weld designed; (c) Weld dimensions.

As designed documentation showed that the joint was made with a full penetration weld supplemented with a fillet weld of similar dimension and profiling applied using grinding. This was also verified through employers’ requirements stating the welds should be fully closed. The weld geometry data was interpreted from the design documentation. A weld leg size of 20 mm was assumed for the given plate dimensions of 40 mm in thickness. The weld dimensions used in the analysis model are shown in Fig. 8c. For the mid surface shell model the recommended weld modelling technique using oblique shell elements is shown as red lines, Fig. 8c. The following weld modelling techniques were applied: