The RF‑/STEEL EC3 add-on module can perform the design of fillet welds for all parametric, welded cross-sections of the cross-section library. For this, the option must be activated in the detail settings of the module. As an alternative, you can also use a surface model for the design.
The European standard EN 1993-1-8, Section 4.5.3.3. provides the user with a simplified method for the ultimate limit state design of fillet welds. According to the standard, the design is fulfilled if the design value of the resultant acting on the fillet weld area is smaller than the design value of the weld's load-bearing capacity. Thus, if you want to dimension the weld for a surface model, you will be faced with a variety of results due to the nature of FEM calculations. Therefore, we show in the following text how to determine the force components from the model.
The beam is resting on the column, and the beam ends at the outer edge of the column. These requirements can be fulfilled easily in an architectural model with solids. In member analysis, simplified line models are used in which center lines meet in a common node. In this article, the influence of member eccentricities on the determination of internal forces is shown on three simple models.
If a canopy roof (for example, a filling station roof) should be designed, a load determination with regard to Section 7.3 of EN 1991-1-4 is required. This article shows the design of a slightly inclined troughed roof, with an example.
The efficient design of prestressed structural components requires a few additional steps that go beyond the standard reinforced concrete design, from modeling tendons to the calculation of equivalent loads to the cross-section resistance design. Therefore, it is important that the software for prestressed concrete design is structured and the navigation is possible in the program. RFEM with two add-on modules RF-TENDON and RF-TENDON Design fulfills these requirements and allows engineers to carry out the complete design of prestressed beams, frames, plates, buildings and bridges according to EN 1992-1-1 with National Annexes and SIA 262.
At the end of the topic on the design of welds on runway beams - after the technical articles about the rail weld seam in the ultimate limit state and the limit state of fatigue - a technical article about web fillet welds now follows. Both the ultimate limit state and the fatigue limit state are considered.
A fillet weld is the most common weld type in steel building construction. According to EN 1993-1-8, 4.3.2.1 (1) [1], fillet welds may be used for connecting structural part where the fusion faces form an angle of between 60° and 120°.
The previous article described the actions on silos according to DIN EN 1991-4. On an example of a free standing cylindrical silo for cement with a conical hopper, filling loads of the silo hopper were calculated.
With the SHAPE-THIN cross-section program, you can model the corner areas of cross-sections in detail: The "Smooth Corner" function fills the corner with an element and automatically connects it with a null element. For this, simply click the corner. Use the "Create Round or Angled Corner" function to round or angle the corner. To do this, specify the fillet radius and click both elements.
Sometimes, a model in the graphic window is displayed without filling the entire window, or with overly large margins after clicking the [Show Whole Model] button. To set the size of the graphic margins, click "Options" → "Display Margins and Stretch Factors". The value specifies the percentage of the margin relative to the graphic window size.
If crane runway girders are designed with flat steel rails, the welding of these rails is always a detail for the design. You can generally select between continuous and intermittent fillet welds as a rail fixing. The following article provides an overview of the design processes and their specific features, especially when using the EN 1993-6.
If nonlinearities are used in a model (for example, contact solids), an error message may appear at the end of the calculation due to the locally unfulfilled convergence criteria. The reason for this is that the convergence of the global iteration conditions governs in the calculation.
From time to time, gaps may occur in the numbering of load cases when working on a model. You can use the "Renumber" → "Shift" function under "Tools" to simply shift the load cases and close the gaps.
In CRANEWAY, the welds between the flanges and the web of a cross‑section are dimensioned. Options are available for defining the weld as a double fillet weld or a butt weld.