I beam and channel welding 1

[gb1]

Can someone recommend a reference for proper welding (design) of stiffeners, flange straps, doubler plates, inserts, sections, etc. of I beams and channels used on semi-trailer and container chassis frames?
It's all welding, no bolting.
Sometimes bad original design or impact damage or fatigue necessitate reenforcement or repair of a beam that is subject primarily to bending.
Where to place flange straps and what size? Where to place doublers and what size? What type of welds to use?, etc.

This work is done primarily in repair shops.
Tks,
George

 

[unclesyd]

I not aware of any specific books dealing with your application other than OEM specifications.

Here is a book that you might look at to get basic information on the design of equipment, especially reinforcement and stiffening.

"The Design of Weldments by Omer W. Blodgett"

https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/foundation/item.asp?prodnum=DWS

There are several other books that are very good and inexpensive on this site

 

[GRoberts]

I didn't see a code at AWS for welding highway transportation vehicles, but there were some that may be similar:

D15.2-94 Recommended Practices for the Welding of Rails and Related Rail Components for Use by Rail Vehicles

D15.1:2001 Railroad Welding Specification-Cars and Locomotives

D14.3/D14.3M:2000 Specification for Welding Earthmoving and Construction Equipment

D1.5-95 Bridge Welding Code 1995, (used to be the dynamic structures part of AWS D1.1)

Or you can browse for yourself at:

http://www.aws.org/catalogs/

 

[metengr]

Please note that some newer semi-trailer chassis do NOT permit welding because they are constructed of heat treated steels. Usually you see a warning posted near the front of the chassis.

 

[KernOily]

Correct (and optimum) placement of doublers, straps, stiffeners, etc. will require an FEA or FEA-type analysis.

Or, if you don't care about optimization, you could use the 'shotgun' approach and use simple beam or column analysis methods with some JUDICIOUS application of engineering judgment and get a conservative solution on where to locate the reinforcement. You will need to supplement any simple beam-column analysis with calcs that address localized buckling and shear in the web and flanges of the members. Pete

Thanks!
Pete