The Effects of Stress Singularity on Welded Gusset Plates Loaded in Tension

In spite of the extensive study of gusset plates under monotonic tension loading over the years, the stress singularity (unbounded stress) effect caused by the boundary condition at the corners of the fixed edges of the plates has seldom been considered by researchers and structural design engineers. Since the development of the tensioned stress concentration resulting in fracturing of gusset plates can be expedited by the stress singularity effect, the effects of stress singularity on steel gusset plates should not be neglected. The stress concentration of welded gusset plates caused by the stress singularity effect is investigated using the finite element method in this study. Numerical investigations of the interaction between the stress singularity effect on the gusset plates and the Whitmore effective section of the gusset plates are also conducted. Based on the investigation results, optimal configurations and modified Whitmore effective widths for gusset plates loaded in tension are presented and discussed. Later in this paper a practical design example is given which considers both the optimal configuration and the modified Whitmore effective section of the gusset plate.