Finite element analysis of welded hollow spherical joints interpenetrated by circular steel pipe

In large-scale grid structure, the load bearing capacity of welded hollow spherical can be increased effectively by transfixing main steel pipe through the hollow spherical, and now this method has been applied in engineering. In order to investigate the change laws of the capacity of spherical interpenetrated by main steel pipe, and explore the calculation method of spherical joint, ANSYS program was used in this paper to simulate spherical joint. Taking the diameter of hollow ball and the diameter of circular steel pipe as variables, the change laws of the load bearing capacity and the stress of the hollow spherical were investigated, and the degree of the axial force transfixion coefficient influenced by the diameter of circular steel pipe was also discussed. The conclusion can be referred for design of welded hollow spherial joint interpenetrated by steel pipe.