Structural stress solution of welded joints based on shell element

Structural stress concentration factors(SCF) of T-shape welded joints and non-loaded cruciform welded joints were solved with shell elesment.Relationship between the shell element nodal forces and the corresponding sectional forces and moments was derived.The solution procedure was described for structural SCF with shell element.A proper definition of the shell element thickness in the weld area is proposed,structural SCF obtained by shell element is very close to that obtained by plate solid element.The method shows also the mesh-size insensitive characteristics.