Chapter 8

Connection of flange plate with

web

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7.1 Introduction
The web is machined and is in close contact with flange;
therefore, the vertical loads are directly transmitted to the
web by direct bearing. The bearing stress on the web
should not exceed 0.75 Fy (Clause 2.6.6, p. 22). The
connection of flange plate to web is done by intermittent
welding.
If we have a very short piece of a girder length (a) having
two moments M1&M2 and nearly the same shearing force
Q, taking the moment about point m;

2
M1- M2 + Qa = 0

M2- M1 = Qa

M1= F1 h

M2= F2 h

 F2 h -FF1-h
F = Qa
Q
2 1

 a h

3
Since F2 is higher than F1, there is tendency for flange
plate to slide along the web and this tendency must be
resisted by weld between web and flange plate.
 F2 h - F1 h = change in flange stress
F2 - F1 Q
  rate of change in flange stress 
a h

If the thickness of the weld = S, the weld is

continuous and the allowable weld stress Fw,

Q
 2  S  Fw
h
4
Fw = 0.2 Fu (Clause 5.6.3.2, p. 84)

 
 
For one side weld,

Q
 S  Fw
h

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For one side intermediate weld

Q  L 
 S  Fw  
h  L  L2 

For two sides intermediate weld,

Q  L 
 2  S  Fw  
h  L  L2 

Code page (89)

6
5.6.3.3 Maximum effective length of fillet weld
(Not for plate girder)
l eff = 70 Size

For l > l eff use reduction factor 

P(86)
 = 1.2 – (0.2 L) / (70 S)
5.6.3.3 One side fillet weld for any plate
thickness is allowed

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8
 P(89)
-Intermittent fillet weld
L  0.75 b or 0.75 b1

Tension
L1 or L2  16 t or 16 t1 or 200 mm

Compression
L1 or L2  12 t or 12 t1 or 200 mm

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-          The minimum size of fillet welds is 4 mm for building
and 6 mm for bridges.
-          The maximum size of fillet weld should not exceed
the thickness of the thinner plate to be welded. P(85)
The minimum size of fillet weld depend on the thickness of
the thicker plate:-
P(86)

50-100 30-50 20-30 10-20 10 mm thickness t (mm)

 10 mm  8 mm  6 mm  5 mm  4 mm Size of weld S
(mm)

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-   - There are no limitations for the length of fillet weld
for flange to web in weld built up plate girder. P(87)
- Single side fillet welds may be utilized only for static
loads

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