ABSTRACT
Two representative tubular T joints are analyzed with both mid-surface and solid weld models to form a basis for the comparison of SCF extrapolation techniques. Two different extrapolation techniques are considered for the solid weld models, while three mid-surface shell alternatives are employed. In addition, a joint is studied that connects a circular tubular incident at 90 degrees to a stiffened box member. For this joint, both a solid weld and a mid-surface shell model are analyzed, and again various extrapolation techniques are considered.
The results indicate that the common technique of linear extrapolation from the strain gauge locations is invariably unconservative when the extrapolation is to the fictitious weld toe of a mid-surface finite element mesh. Conversely, accepting the stresses averaged at the nodes of the mid-surface intersection as the hot spot stresses is invariably conservative. Both of these observations are true to a greater extent on the brace side of the intersection.
