Stresses Analysis and Verification of the Web Weld Connection of Opened I-Beam in Composite Construction

Abstract

Composite construction may be a solution that makes possible the exploration of the maximum strength of the two main materials used in civil construction; concrete and steel. In some situations, due to architectural or weight optimization reasons, the steel Ibeams used in such composite construction have patterns of holes in their webs. The I-beam m ay be produced from t wo „ T ” s t eel rolled s ect ions welded by t heir webs af t er t he hole pattern is cut off. The connecting weld is located in the middle of the resultant I-beam web and matches the neutral axis of such beam. When used in composite construction, due to the concrete slab, the neutral axis of the steel I-beam is displaced upwards producing in the weld higher stresses. There is no recommendation from the standards guiding the verification against collapse of such web weld. This paper presents a numerical study of the stresses acting in the weld line of I-beam with hole pattern used in composite construction. The study was performing using a Finite Element model. The model discrete the steel I-beam and the concrete effective slab. Perfect link between concrete slab and steel beam is assumed. The 3D FE analyses take into account the size and the spacing of the holes in the Ibeam web. The FE results show the minimum weld length that might resist the stresses on the weld line of the open I-beam. Conclusions and suggestions for future work are also present.