EXAMPLES OF WELDED JOINTS

1. A gas tank consists of a cylindrical shell of 2.5 m inner diameter. It is

enclosed by hemispherical shells by means of butt welded joint, as
shown in Fig.1. The thickness of the cylindrical shell as well as the
hemispherical cover is 12 mm. Determine the allowable internal
pressure to which the tank may be subjected, if the permissible tensile
stress in the weld is 85 N/mm2.
Assume efficiency of the welded joint as 0.85. Fig.1
Solution. The length of the welded joint is equal to the circumference of the cylindrical
shell.

From Eq. (3),

Corresponding pressure inside the tank is given by

p=
P
=
(6809.4 × 10 ) = 1.39 N / mm
3
2
π π
4
D2
4
(2.5 × 10 )
3 2

2. A steel plate 100 mm wide and 10 mm thick is welded to another steel plate by
means of double parallel fillet welds, as shown in Fig. 2, The plates are subjected to a
static tensile force of 50 kN. Determine the required length of the welds, if the
permissible shear stress in the weld is 94 N/mm2.

Solution.

From Eq. (7),

or 50 x 103 = 1.414(10)l(94)
Fig.2 ∴ l = 37.62 mm

Adding 15 mm length for starting and stopping of the weld run, the length of the weld is
given by,

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3. Two steel plates, 120 mm wide and 12.5 mm thick,
are joined together by means of double transverse fillet
welds, as shown in Fig. 3. The maximum tensile stress
for the plates and the welding material should not
exceed 110 N/mm2. Find the required length of the
weld, if the strength of weld is equal to the strength of
the plates. Fig. 3

Solution. The plates are subjected to tensile stress. The maximum tensile force acting
on the plates is given by,

From Eq.(10),

or

∴ l = 84.87 mm

Adding 15 mm for starting and stopping of the weld the required length of the weld is
given by,

4. A plate, 75 mm wide and 10 mm thick, is joined with another steel plate by means of
single transverse and double parallel fillet welds, as shown in Fig. 4. The joint is
subjected to a maximum tensile force of 55 kN. The permissible tensile and shear
stresses in the weld material are 70 and 50 N/mm2 respectively. Determine the required
length of each parallel fillet weld.

Solution: The strength of transverse fillet weld is denoted by P1. From Eq.

…(i)

The strength of double parallel fillet weld is denoted by P2.

From Eq. (7),

….(ii) Fig. 4

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 The total strength of the joint should be 55 kN. From (i) and (ii),
37117.5 + 707 x l = 55 x 103
∴ l = 25.29 mm

Adding 15 mm length for starting and stopping of the weld run, the length of the weld is
given by,
l = 25.29 +15 = 40.29 or 45 mm

5. A steel plate, 100 mm wide and 10 mm thick, is joined with

another steel plate by means of a single transverse and
double parallel fillet welds, as shown in Fig. 5. The strength of
the welded joint should be equal to the strength of the plates
to be joined. The permissible tensile and shear stresses for
the weld material and the plates are 70 and 50 N/mm2,
respectively. Find the length of each parallel fillet weld.
Assume the tensile force acting on the plates as static. Fig. 5

Solution. The tensile strength of the plate is given by,

P = (w × t) σ t = (l00 × 10)(70) =70 000 N 5(i)

The strength of transverse fillet weld is denoted by P1. From Eq. (9).

P1 = 0.707 hl σ t = 0.707(10)(100)(70)
= 49 490 N 5.(ii)
The strength of double parallel fillet weld is denoted by P2. From Eq. (7),

P2 = 1.414 hl τ = 1.414(10) × l × (50) = 707 × l 5(iii)

The strength of the welded joints is equal to the strength of the plate.
From (i), (ii) and (iii),
70000 = 49490 + 707 x l
∴ l = 29.01 mm

Adding 15 mm length for starting and stopping of the weld run,

l = 29.01 + 15 = 44.01 or 45 mm

5. Two plates are joined together by means of single transverse

and double parallel fillet welds, as shown in Fig.6. The size of
the fillet weld is 5 mm and allowable shear load per mm of weld
is 330 N. Find the length of each parallel fillet weld.

Solution. It is mentioned earlier that the transverse fillet weld is

designed on the basis of shear stress. In such cases, the stress
Fig. 6 in the fillet weld is considered as shear stress on the throat for
Fig.9. any direction of applied load. With this assumption, the

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equations derived for the parallel fillet weld are also applicable to the transverse fillet
weld.

Suppose L is the total length of welds required for the joint. Since the allowable shear
load per mm length of weld is 330 N, the required length of weld is given by,

From Fig. 13,

L = 2 x l + l00 5(ii)
From (i) and (ii),

2 x l + 100 = 454.55
∴ l = 177.27 mm

Adding 15 mm length for starting and stopping of the weld run,

l =177.27 +15 = 192.27 or 195 mm

6. An ISA 200 x 100 x 10 angle is welded to a steel plate by means of fillet welds, as
shown in Fig. 7. The angle is subjected to a static force of 150 kN and the permissible
shear stress for the weldis 70 N/mm2. Determine the lengths of weld at the top and
bottom.

Solution. The total length ( l ) of the weld required to withstand the load of 150 kN is
given by :
P = 0.707 hlτ
or 150 x 103 = 0.707(10) l (70)
l = 303.09mm (i)

Fig.7

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We know that,

l1 (200 -71.8) = l 2 (71.8)

128.2 l1 = 71.8 l 2 (ii)
Also,
l1 + l 2 = l = 303.09 mm (iii)
From (ii) and (iii),
l1 = 108.81 mm and l 2 = 194.28 mm

7. How much length of a l0 mm fillet weld is required to weld the long

side of an ISA angle 150 x 75 x 10 to a steel plate with side welds
only? A static load of 125 kN acts through the centre of gravity of the
angle section, that is 53.2 mm from the short side. The allowable load
per mm of the weld length is 665 N.

Solution. The welded joint is shown in Fig. 8. The total length ( l ) of

two fillet welds is given by,

Therefore,
l1 + l 2 = l = 187.97 mm
From Eq. (12), Fig. 8
l1 y1 = l 2 y 2 or l1 (l50 -53.2) = l 2 (53.2)
96.8 l1 = 53.2 l 2
From (i) and (ii),
l1 = 66.67 mm and l 2 = 121.30 mm

8. A welded connection, as shown in Fig. 9 is

subjected to an eccentric force of 7.5 kN.
Determine the size of welds if the permissible
shear stress for the weld is 100 N/mm2.
Assume static conditions.
Fig.9.

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Solution. Suppose t is the throat of each weld. There are two welds W 1 and W 2 and
their throat area is given by,
A = 2(50t) = (l00t) mm2
From Eq. (i), the primary shear stress is given by,

P 7500  75 
τ= = =   N/mm2 (a)
A (100t )  t 
The two welds are symmetrical and G is the gravity of the two welds.
e = 25 + 100 = 125 mm
M = P x e = (7500)(125)
= 937 500 N-mm (i) Fig.10
The distance r of the farthest point in the the centre of gravity is given by (Fig. 10),

(ii)

From Eq. (5), the polar moment of weld W 1 about G is given by

= (41667t) mm4
Due to symmetry, the polar moment of inertia welds (J) is given by
J = J1 + J2 = 2J1 = 2(41667t) = (83334t) mm4
We know that the secondary shear stress is given by,

Mr (937500)(35.36)  397.8 
τ2 = = =  N / mm
2

J (83334t )  t 
Figure 11 shows the primary and secondary stresses. The vertical and horizontal
components of these shear stresses are added and the resultant shear stress is
determined. Therefore, from the figure,

Since the permissible shear stress for the weld material is 100 N/mm2,

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 Fig. 11

9. A bracket is welded to the vertical column by means of two fillet welds, as shown Fig.
12. Determine the size of the welds, if the permissible shear stress in the weld is limited
to 70 N/mm2.

Fig.12

Solution. The area of two welds is given by, A = 2 (50 t) = (100 t) mm2
The primary shear stress is given by,

The moment of inertia of top weld about X-axis passing through its centre of gravity g is
(50 r3/12). This moment of inertia is shifted to the centre of gravity of two welds at G by
at G by parallel axis theorem. It is given by,

The dimension t is very small compared with (50).The terms containing t3 are neglected.
Therefore,
Ixx = (50t)(50)2 = (503 t) mm4
Since there are two welds,

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 I = 2Ixx = 2(503 t) = (250 000 t) mm4
The bending stress in the top weld is given by,

=
( )
M b y 10 × 10 3 × 100 (50)  200 
σb = =  N mm
2
(ii)
I (250000t )  t 
The maximum principal shear stress in the weld is given by,

(iii)

The permissible shear stress in the weld is 70 N/mm2. Therefore,

10. A bracket is welded to the vertical plate by means of two fillet welds as shown in Fig.
13. Determine the size of the welds, if the permissible shear stress is limited to 70
N/mm2.

Fig. 13

Solution: The total area of two vertical welds is given

A = 2(400 t) = (800 t) mm2
The primary shear stress in the weld is given by,

The moment of inertia of two welds about X-axis is given by,

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We know that,

The maximum principal shear stress in the weld is given by,

The permissible shear stress in the weld is 70 N/mm2. Therefore,

11. A shaft of rectangular cross-section is welded to a support by means of fillet welds,

as shown, in Fig.14 Determine the size of the welds if the permissible shear stress in
the weld is limited to 75 N/mm2.

Fig. 14

Solution: The total area of the horizontal and vertical welds is given by,
A = 2[l00 t + 150 t) = (500 t) mm2

Referring to Fig.15 , the moment of inertia of four welds about X-axis is given by

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Assuming b and d to be large as compared to the throat dimension t and neglecting the
terms containing we have

Substituting the values,

We know that the maximum shear stress in the weld is given by

Fig. 15

Since the permissible shear stress in the 75 N/mm2,

 282.24 
  = 75 or t = 3.76 mm
 t 
t 3.76
and h= = = 5.32 or 6 mm Ans.
0.707 0.707

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EXERCISES

1. Two plates rejoined together by means of fillet

welds as shown in Fig.16. The leg dimension of the
welds is 10 mm and the permissible shear stress at
the throat cross-section is 75 N/mm2. Determine the
length of each weld, if 15 mm weld length is required Fig. 16
for starting and stopping of the weld run.

2. A steel plate, 80 mm wide and 10 mm thick joined to another

steel plate by means of a single transverse and double parallel
fillet welds, as shown in Fig.17. The strength of the welded joint
should be equal to the strength of the plates to be joined. The
permissible tensile and shear stresses for the weld material and
the plates are 100 and 70 N/mm2 respectively. Find the length
of each parallel fillet weld. Assume that the tensile force passes
through centre of gravity of three welds. Fig. 17

3. A bracket, as shown in Fig.18, is welded to a plate. The welds have

the same size, and the permissible force per mm of the weld-length is 1
kN. Calculate the lengths l1 and l 2 .

4. A welded connection of steel plates, as shown in Fig.19, is subjected

to an eccentric force of 10 kN. Determine the throat dimension of the
welds, if the permissible shear stress is limited to 95 N/mm2. Assume
static conditions.

Fig. 18

Fig.19

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 5. A welded connection of steel plates is shown in Fig.20. It is
subjected to an eccentric force of 50 kN. Determine the size of the
we1d, if the permissible shear stress in the weld is not to exceed 70
N/mm2.

Fig.20

6. A welded joint, as shown in Fig. 21, is subjected to an eccentric load of 2500 N. Find
the size of the welds, if the maximum shear stress in the weld is not to exceed 50
N/mm2.

Fig. 21

REFERENCES

1. Bhandari V.B., Design of machine elements, 2nd ed., 2008.

2. Khurmi R.S. & Gupta J.k., Text book of machine elements, 2005.

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