Efficiency of introduction process of initial imperfection for compressive behavior analysis of welded L-shaped steel structural members by using shell elements

Abstract

This study employed a simulation method that utilized shell elements to accurately replicate deformation and residual stress during welding processes and confirmed its efficiency compared with that utilized solid elements. Specifically, when these initial imperfections were introduced into the solid model using solid elements and the shell model using shell elements properly, the corresponding loading process with the same boundary condition was analyzed continuously. According to the results of the welding process and the compressive loading process, the efficiency of the proposed method for instance on load–bearing capacity and calculation time spent was able to confirm.