Effect of Strength of Weld Metal on Plastic Deformation Capacity of the Beam

Abstract

Crack initiation at the strain concentration point of beam-to-column connection is one of the major factor which determines the plastic deformation capacity of the beam. However, the influence of the strength ratio between base metal (beam flange or diaphragm) and weld metal on the crack initiation is not clear. In this paper, FEA is performed to clarify when and where cracks at the strain concentration points. As a results, when the strength of the weld metal is larger than that of base metal crack occurs at the base metal of the beam flange, and when the strength of the base metal is larger than that of the weld metal the crack occurs at the weld metal of the diaphragm. And the premature failure is determined by the crack at the weld metal of near the diaphragm.