Effectiveness of Incomplete Welds in Nodes of Bridge Truss Girder Nodes with Hollow Core Profile Members

Steel truss structures are a powerful and reliable type of bridge girders. The complex part of trusses are the nodes, especially if more than 4 members are converging. Such nodes include internal welds; inaccessible after completion. This study assesses whether all of the internal welds are indispensable, or alternatively, what are the consequences if they are omitted. The latter is tested for a particular bridge, consisting of hollow core profiles. After determining the member forces, including bending moments, an alternative load path is indicated, generated if the internal welds are missing. Formulas are given to determine the weld stresses. In ULS some of the welds require a small amount of strengthening if the internal welds are omitted. In addition fatigue resistance was determined. Certainly for this example internal node welds may be left out, although this does not necessarily apply to more complex node cases. This indicates omitting of some internal welds may well be acceptable

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