Maple Specification, Procedure and User Interface for Dimensioning of Fillet Welds Around Rectangular Hollow Sections

Abstract

Welded connections are among the most efficient solutions in steel structures design. Companies, which provide design solutions for steel structures connections, are constantly exploring more effective methods to offer solutions for steel structures connections. Peikko Group Corporation’s research and development department commissioned this thesis with the objective of developing Maplesoft mathematical procedures for dimensioning of fillet welds. The dimensioning of fillet welds can be a challenging task for young engineers. Part EN 1993 1-8 of the Eurocodes provides the basis for determining maximum allowed weld stress but does not provide static design procedures for dimensioning of the welds. This thesis addresses the question of how best to dimension a weld around a rectangular hollow section. The thesis is the theoretical basis for the project of defining a Maplesoft procedure and user interface for the dimensioning of weld around a rectangular hollow section. This thesis has two parts: structural calculation for the dimensioning weld around a rectangular hollow section, and a Maplesoft code to perform the dynamic computations. The thesis project was carried out successfully with an acceptable outcome. The scope of the project was limited to the fillet weld around a Square Hollow Section. With slight modification, the Maplesoft procedure may be applied to solve other fillet weld patterns. Details of the project results are classified by the commissioning party and may not be published. The thesis result is applied by Peikko Group Corporation’s research and development department for the innovation of new products. Keywords: Fillet weld, weld strength calculation, Maplesoft Pages: 23 pages and appendices 9 pages