Numerical Simulation of Steel Lap Welded Pipe Joint Behavior in Seismic Conditions

Abstract

The present paper reports numerical calculations which complement experimental work reported in the companion paper entitled "Experimental Results of Steel Lap Welded Joints in Seismic Conditions", also presented in ASCE 2018 Pipelines Conference. Nonlinear finite element simulation tools are employed to investigate the bending capacity of internally-pressurized welded-lap 24-in-diameter pipeline joints, considering two thicknesses (0.135 in and 0.250 in). The work presented in this paper: (a) simulates numerically the seven large-scale experiments presented in detail in the companion paper; (b) elucidates some interesting issues of welded lap joint behavior under severe bending deformation. In the final part of the paper, based on the above experimental and numerical results, a discussion is offered on the design of welded lap joints in pipelines constructed in seismic areas. © 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.