Welded Connections

Welding is the process of joining metals by heating and allowing the parts to flow together and
join with or without the addition of other molten metal.

Allowable Steel Stresses

The Allowable shear stress for fillet weld is limited to Fv=0.3Fu (electrode) in the AISC
Specifications, but it is always necessary to check that there is sufficient base metal to resist the
same shear stresses.
Fillet Welds
Fillet welds are approximately triangular in cross section, as
shown where D is the nominal leg dimension and T is throat diameter.

The effective area of fillet welds is considered to be the effective

length of the weld multiplied by the effective throat thickness.

The effective throat thickness of the fillet weld is the shortest distance from the root of the weld
to the hypotenuse of the weld cross secrion except for fillet welds made by the Submerged Arc Welding
process (SAW).

For the SAW process

1. T = D when D<= 9.5mm

2. T = 0.707D + 2.8 mm when D > 9.5mm

Specifications

1. Minimum size of fillet welds

Material thickness of thicker part joined (mm) Minimum size of fillet
weld (mm)
To 6 inclusive 3.0
Over 6 to 12 4.5
Over 12 to 20 6.0
Over 20 7.5
2. Maximum size of fillet welds
a. The nominal size of fillet weld shall not be greater than the thickness of the base metal
when the latter is less than 6mm.
b. The weld size shall not be greater than the material thickness minus 1.5mm when the
material has edge thickness not less than 6mm.
 3. Length of fillet welds
a. The minimum effective length of a fillet weld shall not be less than 4 times the nominal
size, or else as the size of the weld shall be considered not to exceed ¼ of its effective
length.
b. The longitudinal fillet welds are used alone in end connections of flat bar tension
members, the length of each fillet weld shall not be less than perpendicular bending
between them.
c. The transverse spacing of longitudinal fillet welds used in end connections shall not
exceed 200mm, unless the design otherwise prevents excessive transverse bending in the
connection.
4. Intermittent Fillet Welds

The effective length of any segment of Intermittent filled welding shall not be less than
4 times the weld size, with a minimum of 40mm.

5. Lap Joints
The minimum amount of lap on lap joints shall be 5 times the thickness of the thinner
part joined, but not less than 25mm.
6. End Return of Fillet Welds

Side of end fillet welds terminating at ends or sides, respectively, of parts or members
shall, wherever practicable, be returned continuously around the corners for a distance
not less than 2 times the nominal size of the weld.

Example Problem:

1. Find the allowable capacity of the connection shown below if A36 steel and E70 Electrodes
are used. Use a.) SMAW and b.) SAW process.
7mm

18 x 250

Solution:
a.) SMAW Process
Shear on weld = 0.3FuT Shear on base metal = 0.4Fyt
= 0.3 (483) 0.707 (7) = 0.4(248) 18
= 717.11 N/mm = 1785.6 N/mm

Pweld = 717.11(850) = 609,543.50 N

Pplate = 0.6FyAg = 0.6(248)18(250) = 669,600 N Pcap= 609.52kN
 b.) SAW Process
Shear on weld = 0.3FuD since D > 9.5mm
= 0.3(483)(7)
= 1014.30 N/mm
Shear on base metal = 1785.6 N/mm

Pweld = 1014.30(850) = 862,155 N

Pplate = 0.6FyAg = 0.6(248)18(250) = 669,600 N Pcap= 669.60kN

2. A 175 x 100 x 15 mm angular is welded to a gusset plate as shown. Using A36 Steel and E70
electrode, design the weld. Weld size = 10mm

Solution:

A =175(15) + 85(15) = 3900 mm2

By Varignon’s Theorem
175 15
175 (15) ( ) + 85(15) ( )
ȳ = 2 2 = 61.35 𝑚𝑚
3900
[P=0.6FyAg]

P = 0.6(248)(3900) = 580,320 N

Shear on weld = 0.3FuT = 0.3(483)0.707(10) = 1024.44 N/mm

Shear on base metal = 0.4Fyt = 04(248)15 = 1488 n/MM

P = 1024.44L

𝑃 ȳ = F1(175)
580320(61.35) = 0.3(483)(a)(0.707)(10)(175)

a= 198.59 mm, b = 566.48-198.59 = 367.89mm

WELDED CONNECTIONS SUBJECT TO COMBINED SHEAR AND TORSION
Like riveted connections, welded connections may also be subject to combined shear and
torsion. Same formula is used for both connections but the concept of polar moment of inertia of a line is used for
weld stress analysis.

3. Determine the weld size of the connection shown. Use E70 electrode.

Solution:

L = 200 + 200 + 100 = 500 mm

100 (50)+200(0)+200(100)
𝑥̅ = 500
= 50𝑚𝑚

100 (200)+200(100)+200(0)
𝑦̅ = 500
= 80𝑚𝑚
1 1
𝐼𝑥̅ = 100𝑇(1202 ) + (𝑇)(1203 ) + (𝑇)(803 ) + 200𝑇(802 ) = 346,666.67 𝑇
3 3
1 1
𝐼𝑦̅ = (𝑇)(503 )(2) + 200(𝑇)(502 ) + (𝑇)(1503 ) = 1,750,000 𝑇
3 3

J= 𝐼𝑥̅ + 𝐼𝑦̅ = 5,216,666.67 T

𝑃 150000 300
𝑓𝑣1 = = = 𝑀𝑝𝑎
𝐿𝑇 500𝑇 𝑇

𝑃𝑒𝑝 150000(300)(80) 690.10

𝑓ℎ = = = 𝑀𝑝𝑎
𝐽 5216666.67𝑇 𝑇

150000(300)(150) 1293.93
𝑓𝑣2 = = 𝑀𝑝𝑎
5216666.67𝑇 𝑇

𝑃 150000 300
𝑓𝑣1 = = = 𝑀𝑝𝑎
𝐿𝑇 500𝑇 𝑇

690.10 1593.93
𝑓𝑥 = 𝑓𝑦 =
𝑇 𝑇

690.10 2 1593.93 2
𝑓𝑥 = √𝑓𝑥 2 + 𝑓𝑦 2 = √( ) +( )
𝑇 𝑇

T=11.99mm but T = 0.707D

11.99 = 0.707D D = 16.95mm say 17mm