PSI - Issue 64

Yuan Xu et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 64 (2024) 1865–1872 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000

1867

3

AXIAL LOAD

d

SADDLE POINT

CROWN POINT

Φ

BRACE

T

R

D

CHORD

L

Fig. 1. Geometrical configuration and parameter definitions of the tubular T-joint.

The configuration of prestressed CFRP strengthening tubular T-joint in the experiment is illustrated in Fig. 2. The prestressing-anchoring system comprised an anchoring hoop, two set of clamps and four limiting latches. Prestress was applied by rotating the clamps. Details of the equipment will be illustrated in another paper about the experimental study.

b

a

anchoring hoop

limiting latch

clamp

CFRP

c

T-joint

Fig. 2. Configuration of the prestressed CFRP strengthening tubular T-joint. (a) Isometric view; (b) anchoring hoop; (c) clamp.

In accordance with computational cost and calculation precision, the sub-zone mesh generation method was used for the weld profile, hot spot stress region, and other regions of the joint. Mesh in the hot-spot stress region was much finer than that in the other zones, with the dimension of 0.1 T = 0.8 mm ( T was the chord’s thickness). Mesh in the ends of chord and brace was much coarser in comparison to the extrapolation region to reduce the computational cost, but it still satisfied the requirement of calculation accuracy. A transition region was modelled between the refined region and coarse region. Fig. 3 shows the sub-zone mesh generated for the steel joint.

a

b

Fig. 3. Mesh generated for the T-joint using the sub-zone mesh method. (a) Isometric view; (b) Mesh enlargement.