Research On Strength Of Welds In Overlaped RHS K(N)-joints

In this paper the performance of overlapped RHS K(N)-joint with 2 equal-width branches under axial static loads is investigated, with the aid of the FEM. Considering the change of the lap width, angle between branches, aspect ratio of the main tube, width ratio of the main and branch tubes, the stress state, stress distribution and the changing rules of welds around the joints and the connected tubes are discussed. The results show that the underside effective weld length is the underside longitudinal weld length, and the effective lap weld length is lap longitudinal weld length. The failure occurs most probably along the longitudinal welds. The strength calculation should consider the underside orthogonal fillet weld and the lap weld separately. A method for calculating the lap weld also is proposed in this paper.Wheras the RHS is used more and more widely and there's no provision on the overlapped weld calculation RHS K(N)-joint in the corresponding codes, the paper is instructive in practice and can be referred to in the next revision of the relevant codes.