MACHINE DESIGN - An Integrated Approach, 4th Ed.

Example 16-5-1

EXAMPLE 16-5

Design of an Eccentrically Loaded Weldment Assembly

Problem: The weldment assembly in Figure 16-18 has fillet welds on three sides of the joint. Determine the
weld size needed to withstand a static load of P = 4000 lb. Check for yielding in the beam also.

Given: The material is ASTM A36 structural steel and an E70xx welding electrode is used. The plates are 1/2”
thick. Dimension a = 12”, b = 3”, and d = 6”.
Weldment dimensions: T  0.5 in a  12 in b  3  in d  6  in
Electrode strength Exx  70 ksi
Applied load P  4000 lbf
A36 yield strength S y  36 ksi

Assumptions: Consider the weld as a line. The weld pattern matches that of part 5 of Figure 16-16. The weld will
limit the design as Category F.

Solution: See Figure 16-18 and Mathcad file EX1605.

1. Find the centroid of the weld pattern with the equation given in Figure 16-16.

2
b
Centroid location xbar  xbar  0.75 in (a)
2 b  d
2. Find the radius from applied load to centroid.

r  a  b  xbar r  14.25 in (b)

3. The weld joint is loaded in direct shear and also has a torsional moment about its centroid. Find the unit load in the weld due
to direct shear.

Weld shear unit area Aw  2  b  d Aw  12 in

P lbf
Unit load due to direct fs  fs  333.3  (c)
shear Aw in

4. As far as the weld is concerned, the torsional moment acts about its centroid which is at radius r from the applied load P.

Torque on weld T  P r T  57000  lbf  in (d)

5. The torsional geometry factor for this weld versus the centroid from Figure 16-16 is:

3 2 2
( 2 b  d) b  ( b  d) 3
Jw   Jw  83.25 in (e)
12 2 b  d
6. The highest stress in the weld due to the torsional moment will occur at the point furthest from the centroid, labelled A in
Figure 16-18. It will be simplest if we compute the horizontal and vertical components at point A and then resolve them in
combination with the vertical direct shear component into a resultant unit force. For the horizontal component, the radius
from the centroid is d / 2. For the vertical component, the radius from the centroid is r – a.

Horizontal radius ch  0.5 d ch  3 in

Vertical radius cv  r  a cv  2.25 in

T  ch lbf
Horizontal unit force fth  fth  2054.1
Jw in (f)

T  cv lbf
Vertical unit force ftv  ftv  1540.5
Jw in

EX1605.xmcd
MACHINE DESIGN - An Integrated Approach, 4th Ed. Example 16-5-2

fth   ftv  fs 
2 2 lbf
Resultant unit force FR  FR  2780
in

7. Given that τallow  0.30 Exx, the unit area of the throat will then be

FR 2
in
Unit area of the throat t  t  0.132  (g)
τallow in

t
Leg dimension w  w  0.187 in (h)
cos( 45 deg)

8. The minimum recommended weld size for 1/2-in plate is 3/16” which matches this number. Use a 3/16” fillet weld.

EX1605.xmcd