Finite Element Analysis on Block Shear Mechanism of Lean Duplex Stainless Steel Welded Connections
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper is very interesting and has a research contribution.
The title of the paper states that it is a finite element analysis. That is why some better results of the analysis itself should be given. It is necessary to give an overview of the results depending on the size of the FE. Accordingly, the results should be commented on in the conclusion and a recommendation made on the size of the FE for further analysis.
In subtitle 4.3. it is written Mateiral instead of Material.
Equation is numbered twice with the notation (5).
Author Response
Thank you for your comments. Reviewer comments and the response was attached.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
To Y. Cho,
This paper simulates stress-strain response and the corresponding fracture behavior of tensile-tested lean duplex stainless steel welded connections by finite element analysis. The obtained simulation results seem to be probable, but the following should be amended for further improvement of this paper.
“Fig.2 (Page 2 Line 28)” was appeared skipping Fig.1.. With the enforcement of the above correction, check the order of figures, caption of figures and description in text (e.g. Page 3 Lines 10 and 14).
Author Response
Thank you for your comments. Reviewer comments and the response was attached.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors investigated a block shear capacity of welded connections on the constraint effect from tensile stress and shear strain hardening capacity of welded connection. The authors reported that the block shear equations in current AISC and North American cold-formed steel design specifications are inapplicable for welded connections since they are derived based on the incorrect assumption on block shear failure mechanism. First, a well-designed experimental program was performed to investigate the block shear capacity and behavior of lean duplex stainless steel welded connections. The authors reported that proposed Topkaya equations, which account for constraint effect, support accurate prediction, while the American design code significantly underestimates the block shear capacities of the lean duplex stainless steel welded connections. Second, the authors investigate the block shear mechanism of welded connections using finite element models, where damage and material softening were incorporated. The proposed model can support welded connection behavior prediction with a reasonable accuracy. Moreover, it was used to further understand the tensile stress under ultimate block shear limit and the influence of geometric dimensions. The authors may consider to use methods such as digital image correlation to capture full-field deformation and further validate the numerical model.
The behavior of the block shear capacity of welded steel connections if of great importance in steel structure design. And the manuscript undoubtfully developed an effective tool to model and study the complex structural behavior of welded steel connections. The experimental and numerical investigations were well-designed and the research outcome is worthwhile to share with the community. Therefore, it is recommended to publish this manuscript.
Author Response
Thank you for your comments. Reviewer comments and the response was attached.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have corrected the paper according to the recommendations and it can be published.
