Misalignment effect on stress concentration of thickness mismatched plate structures

The aim of this paper is to numerically simulate the stress concentration response of the weld structures and compare the results with analytical equations performed on the misalignment effect. Different structures numerical models are subjected to tensile load which lead to large stress in local area of welded structures due to the discrepancy of plates thickness. The transitions of unequal thickness plates undertaking the in-plate force could also lead to the local bending. The stress concentration factors were simulated using the finite element method (FEM). For investigations of misalignment welded structures local stress concentration, the effects of geometrical variables, i.e. the cope hole of welded plates connecting zone, the position of structure plane, the slope ratio of unequal plates, the number of components, are systematically considered. Finally, by the comparison of numerical results, the optimized form of structures could be determined.