2.

Welds
2.1. Generalities

Description of effective weld lengths depending on the weld qualities:

• Site
In the case of a rolled profile, the part with the root radius is excluded and the effective lengths are
calculated according to the picture below. For a welded profile, the intersection between the flange and
the web is excluded on a distance equal to the weld thickness “a”. On the parts near the profile ends that
are equal to the weld thickness “a”, the weld isn’t applied.

• Shop
In this case, the root radius for rolled profiles is included in the effective lengths calculation, and the weld
is continuous up to the profile edges.
• Shop continuous
The difference between “shop” and “shop continuous” comes from the fact that the “shop continuous”
weld is applied on the entire profile contour. The effective weld lengths are described in the images
below.

Description of weld types:

• Fillet weld – has a triangular cross-section and is applied to the surface of the materials it joins;
the effective throat thickness of a fillet weld is determined as specified in paragraph 4.5.2(1) of
EN 1993-1-8;

• Full penetration weld – has a throat dimension equal to the thickness of the plate it joins;

• Partial penetration weld – has a throat dimension smaller than the thickness of the materials it
joins.
 Conditions for welds given in EN 1993-1-8, 4.5.1 (2) and 4.5.2 (2):

Weld thickness: a ≥ 3mm

Effective weld length: leff ≥ min(6 x a; 30m)
Whenever the minimum weld length condition mentioned above is not satisfied, the weld length
should not be designed to carry loads, therefore it isn’t taken into consideration for the weld
resistance verification.
There are two methods of calculating the strength of welded connections: the simplified method and
the directional method.

2.2. Simplified

The simplified method is an alternative method that requires to calculate the resultant force of a weld and
compare this to the design resistance.
Check relation: Fw,Ed,Res ≤ Fw,Rd
Design weld force:
𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝑁𝐸𝑑
𝐹𝑤,𝐸𝑑,𝑅𝑒𝑠 = +
𝐻𝑓 2
My,Ed – either design moment resistance Mj,Rd , or real moment MEd (according to the option selected from
design assumptions dialogue);
NEd – design axial force;
Hf – moment arm between resultant tensile force and resultant compressive force;
Design weld resistance:
𝑓𝑢
𝐹𝑤,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑛𝑂𝑏𝑗 𝑥 𝑛𝑤 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑥 EN 1993-1-8, 4.8(1)
√3 𝑥 𝛽𝑤 𝑥 𝛾𝑀2

nobj – number of objects;

nw – number of weld seams;
βw – fillet weld correlation factor according to EN 1993-1-8, Table4.1

Note: For Clip Angle and Gusset joint the following aspects are considered:
1) Only the weld seams which fulfill the weld dimension conditions (weld minimum length and minimum
thickness) will be considered in calculation. In other words, only the weld seams with “OK” status are
taken into account for design weld resistance.
2) The calculation of weld group properties and forces acting on a group will be determined. The
characteristics of a weld group: Ag (weld group area), Ixg, Iyg (group inertia moment), together with
the forces loading this group, are shown in the report.
3) Stresses are determined at the start/end point of each weld, and a verification of design resistance is
performed.
4) Verification is made using the method presented in chapter 4.5.3.3 of EN 1993-1-8 and the design
resistance per unit length of each weld seam is determined using the following formula:
𝐹𝑤,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑓𝑣𝑤,𝑑 𝑥 𝑎
𝑓𝑢
𝑓𝑣𝑤,𝑑 =
√3 𝑥 𝛽𝑤 𝑥 𝛾𝑀2
βw is the correlation factor according to table 4.1 of EN 1993-1-8.
5) Stresses generated by the loading components at start/end point of each welds (σx, σy, σz), as well as
the design weld forces per unit length (Fw,Ed) are also shown in the report.
Dx and Dy represent the distance from the center of gravity of the weld group to the start/end point of
each weld.
Fw,Ed is obtained using the following formula:

𝐹𝑤,𝐸𝑑 = 𝑎 𝑥�𝜎𝑥2 + 𝜎𝑦2 +𝜎𝑧2

2.3. Directional

In the directional method, forces transmitted by a unit length of weld are resolved into components
parallel / transversal to the longitudinal axis of the weld, and normal / transverse to the plane of its throat.
The design resistance is calculated according to the two conditions below:
Check relation:
σperp ≤ f vwd,perp
σres ≤ f vwd,||
The normal stress perpendicular to the throat:
𝜎𝐼𝐼
𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 = 𝜏𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 =
√2
The normal stress parallel to the axis of the weld:
𝑁 𝑀𝑦
𝜎|| = + 𝑥 𝑧𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐴 𝐼𝑦
The shear stress (in the plane of the throat) perpendicular to the axis of the weld: т perp
The shear stress (in the plane of the throat) parallel to the axis of the weld:
𝑇𝑍
𝜏|| =
𝐴𝑤
2
𝜎𝑟𝑒𝑠 = �𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 2
+ 3 𝑥 (𝜏𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 2
+ 𝜏𝐼𝐼 ) EN 1993-1-8, 4.5.3.2 (6)

According to EN 1993-1-8, 4.5.3.2(6), the design shear strength perpendicular to the throat is:
𝑓𝑢
𝑓𝑣𝑤𝑑,𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 = 0.9 𝑥
𝛾𝑀2
The design shear strength parallel to the axis of the weld:
𝑓𝑢
𝑓𝑣𝑤𝑑,|| =
𝛽𝑤 𝑥 𝛾𝑀2
Note 1: In the case of a force perpendicular to weld: σperp = τperp = σw/√2 and τ|| = 0
Note 2: For Clip Angle and Gusset joints, the following aspects are considered:
1) Only the weld seams which fulfill the weld dimension conditions (weld minimum length and minimum
thickness) will be considered in calculation. In other words, only the weld seams with an “OK” status
are taken into account for design weld resistance.
2) The calculation of weld group properties and forces acting on groups will be determined. The
characteristics of a weld group: Ag (welds group area), Ixg, Iyg (group inertia moment), together with
the forces loading this group, are shown in the report.
3) Stresses are determined at the start/end point of each weld and a verification of design resistance is
performed.
4) Verification is made using the method presented in chapter 4.5.3.2 of EN 1993-1-8 and the following
conditions should be fulfilled:

2 2 2
𝑓𝑢
𝜎𝑟𝑒𝑠 = �𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 + 3 𝑥 (𝜏𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 + 𝜏𝐼𝐼 ) ≤ 𝜎𝑤𝑑 =
𝛽𝑤 𝑥 𝛾𝑀2
𝑓𝑢
𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 ≤ 𝜎𝑤𝑑,𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝 =
𝛾𝑀2
βw – correlation factor according to table 4.1 of EN 1993-1-8.
5) The report also shows stresses generated by the loading components at the start/end point of each
weld (σx, σy,σz), as well as the normal stress, perpendicular shear stress, parallel shear stress and
their resultant (σres).
Dx and Dy represent the distances from the center of gravity of the weld group to the start/end point of
each weld.