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Welding Heat

JohnRwals

Structural
Jul 8, 2020
154
Hi!
We know well embed plates will expand and concrete sometimes cracks due to excessive welding heat.
Is there any method to check if welding heat will cause concrete spalling around the embed plates?
Based on this method, can I decide plate size in addition to stress/strength analysis to avoid spalling/crack
as wider plates can dissipate welding heat easily?
Welding Heat-1.jpg
 
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Good question. The detail you provided is a common one. I've never seen or heard of concrete cracking developing around
the steel embed plate due to the steel plate expansion. I would guess that the heat in the plate dissipates by absorption into
the concrete preventing any expansion large enough to crack the concrete.
You could also calculate the steel to concrete bearing stress and checking that against the bearing stress capacity of the concrete.
 
Based on this method, can I decide plate size in addition to stress/strength analysis to avoid spalling/crack
as wider plates can dissipate welding heat easily?
My opinion is NO!.
If the plate is embedded in concrete , during welding , thermal expansion of the plate can destroy the bond btw the concrete and the plate and induce spalling in the surrounding concrete.
You may consider some measurements to limit the temperature stresses; such as ;use small dia welding electrode , and use small welds with multiple phases ..
 
Good information in PIP STE05121 Anchor Bolt Design Guide.
PIP= Process Industry Practices
 
I remeber a similar thread few years back.
I think it was not a problem. Try search function

Personaly I worked on a nuclear project with thousands of those. Dont recall there were issues
 

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