Lec Steel Design Misan University

Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
WELDED CONNECTIONS

1. INTRODUCTION
 Structural welding is a process by which the parts that are to be connected are
heated and fused, with supplementary molten metal at the joint.

 A relatively small depth of material will become molten, and upon cooling, the
structural steel and weld metal will act as one continuous part where they are
joined.

 The most common welding processes are shielded metal arc welding (SMAW).
The shielded metal arc welding process, also called stick welding, is a manual
process and is the most common type of weld. In this process, a coated electrode
is used to heat both the base metal and the tip of the electrode, whereby part of
the electrode is deposited onto the base metal. As the coating on the electrode
dissolves, it forms a gaseous shield to help protect the weld from atmospheric
impurities.

Lecture 9 ....... Page 1

Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
Types of Welding
The two most common types of welds are the fillet weld and the groove weld. Fillet
weld.
Fillet welds are generally triangular in shape and join together members that are usually
at right angles to each other. Fillet welds are usually the most economical since they
require very little surface preparation and can be used in virtually any connection
configuration.

Groove welds are used to fill the groove between the ends of two members. Groove
welds can be made in joints that are classified as square, bevel, V (or double-bevel), U, J,
or flare V (or flare bevel).

There are numerous possible joint configurations but the most common are the lap,
butt, corner, and tee joint (see Figure 10-2). In Section 8 of the AISCM, these joints are
designated as B (butt joint), C (corner joint), and T (T-joint).

Lecture 9 ....... Page 2

Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9

DESIGN OF FILLET WELDS

 Fillet welds are most common and used in all structures.
 The design and analysis of fillet welds is based on the assumption that the cross
section of the weld is a 45o right triangle, as shown in Figure.

 The size of a fillet weld is denoted w and is the length of one of the two equal
sides of this idealized cross section.
 Standard weld sizes are specified in increments of ⁄16 inch.

 Although a length of weld can be loaded in any direction in shear, compression,

or tension, a fillet weld is weakest in shear and is always assumed to fail in this
mode.

Lecture 9 ....... Page 3

Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
 The shear failure of the fillet weld occurs along a plane through the throat of the
weld, as shown in the Figure below.

P
 Shear stress in fillet weld of length L subjected to load P is f v 
0.707 w L

 The shear strength of the weld metal is a function of the electrode used in the
SMAW process.
- The tensile strength of the weld electrode can be 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, or 120 ksi.
- The corresponding electrodes are specified using the nomenclature E60XX, E70XX,
E80XX, and so on. This is the standard terminology for weld electrodes.

 The strength of the electrode should match the strength of the base metal.
- If yield stress (Fy ) of the base metal is ≤ 60 - 65 ksi, use E70XX electrode.
- If yield stress (Fy ) of the base metal is ≥ 60 - 65 ksi, use E80XX electrode.

 E70XX is the most popular electrode used for fillet welds made by the SMAW
method.

Lecture 9 ....... Page 4

Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
DESIGN STRENGTH OF WELD ACCORDING TO AISC

 Weld Shear Strength

R n  Fw * A w  Fw * 0.707 * w * L

 R n  0.75* Fw * 0.707 * w * L where   0.75

From AISCM, Table J2.5, the nominal strength of a fillet weld in shear is
Fw  0.6 FEXX

where FEXX is the electrode strength and Fw is nominal weld strength, ksi.

 For Base Metal Shear Strength

R n  FBase Metal * A Base Metal

 R n  min  1.0 0.6 Fy t L, 0.75 0.6 Fu t L

where Fy and t are the yield strength and thickness of the base metal respectively
as shown in figure below.

 Always check weld metal and base metal strength. Smaller value governs. In most
cases, the weld metal strength will govern.
 In weld design problems it is advantageous to work with strength per unit length
of the weld or base metal namely L=1.0 in above equations.

Lecture 9 ....... Page 5

Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
AISC LIMITATIONS ON WELD DIMENSIONS

Minimum size (wmin)

- function of the thickness of the thinnest connected plate

- Given in Table J2.4 of the AISC specifications

Maximum size (wmax)

- function of the thickness of the thickest connected plate:

- for plates with thickness ≤ 0.25 in., wmax = 0.25 in.

- for plates with thickness > 0.25 in., wmax = t - 1/16 in.

Minimum length (Lmax)

 Length L ≥ 4 w
 L for each side of the weld ≥ transverse distance between welds

Maximum effective length

- If weld length L< 100 w , then effective weld length (Leff = L)

- If L < 300 w, then effective weld length (Leff = L (1.2-0.002L/w)
- If L > 300 a, the effective weld length (Leff = 0.6 L

Lecture 9 ....... Page 6

Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
Example 1. Determine the design strength of the Example 2.A plate 1 ⁄2* 4 " of A36 steel is used
connection system shown below. The tension as a tension member to carry a service dead
member is a 4 in. x 3/8 in. thick rectangular bar. It load of 6 kips and a service live load of 18 kips.
is welded to a 1/2 in. thick gusset plate using It is to be attached to a 3⁄8-inch gusset plate,
E70XX electrode. as shown in Figure. Design a welded
connection.
w

Solution
The base metal is A36 steel, so E70XX
electrodes will be used.
tmin = 3/ 8" (gusset plate)
Solution tmax=0.5" (Member)
step 1: Check limitations on the weld geometry Thus from Table J2.4 of AISC with tmin = 3/ 8" thus
tmin = 3/ 8" (Member) w min  3 / 16 in
tmax=0.5" (gusset plate)
For tmax = 0.5
Thus from Table J2.4 of AISC with tmin = 3/ 8" thus
w max  t  1/ 16  0.5  1/ 16  7 / 16 in
w min  3 / 16 in
design w= 3/16 in
For tmax = 0.5
Shear strength of the weld
w max  t  1/ 16  0.5  1/ 16  7 / 16 in
Fw  0.6 FEXX  0.6*70  42 ksi
Fillet weld size = w = 1/4 in
w min  w 1/ 4" w max  OK  R n  0.75* Fw * 0.707 * w * L
 0.75* 42 * 0.707 * 3 / 16 * L  4.176 L
L  5"  4w  4 * 0.25 1.0  OK Base Metal Strength
   
L =5" > transverse distance between welds = 4 " OK
 R n  min 1.0 0.6 Fy t L , 0.75 0.6 Fu t L

 1.0 0.6 * 36 * 3 / 8 * L , 
L 5
  20  100  L eff  L  OK
 R n  min  
 0.75 0.6 * 58 * 3 / 8 * L 
w 0.25

Step II : Design strength of the weld  R n  min  8.1L, 9.79 L 8.1 L

 Weld strength Thus weld strength control and the connection

Fw  0.6 FEXX  0.6*70  42 ksi strength = 4.176L
Pu 1.2 PD  1.6 PL 1.2 * 6  1.6 *18  36 kips
 R n  0.75* Fw * 0.707 * w * L
 0.75* 42 * 0.707 * 0.25 *10  55.67 kips  R n  4.176L  Pu
36
 Base Metal Strength Re quired length , L   8.62 in
4.176
  
 R n  min 1.0 0.6 Fy t L , 0.75 0.6 Fu t L 
L=8.62>Lmin=4w=4*3/16=0.75 in OK
 1.0 0.6 * 50 *10 * 3 / 8, 
 R n  min   Use two 4.5 in side weld
 0.75 0.6 * 65 * 3 / 8 *10
 R n  min  112.5 ,109.69 109.69 kips Total length=2*4.5=9 > 8.62
Thus weld strength control and the connection
Length of side weld = 4.5 > transverse distance
strength = 55.67 kips
between welds = 4 " OK

Lecture 9 ....... Page

F 7
Lec Steel Design Misan University
Lec
Fourth Year Engineering College
9 Dr.Abbas Oda Dawood Civil Department 9
Example 3. A plate 1⁄2*8 of A36 steel is used as a Base Metal Strength
tension member and is to be connected to a 3⁄8-
inch-thick gusset plate, as shown in Figure..
  
 R n  min 1.0 0.6 Fy t L , 0.75 0.6 Fu t L 
Design a weld to develop the full tensile capacity  1.0 0.6 * 36 * 3 / 8 * L , 
 R n  min  
 0.75 0.6 * 58 * 3 / 8 * L 
of the member. Use U=1.0.
 R n  min  8.1L, 9.79 L 8.1 L

Thus weld strength control and the connection

strength = 4.176L
Pu 1.2 PD  1.6 PL 1.2 * 6  1.6 *18  36 kips

 R n  4.176L  Pu
129.6
Re quired length , L   31.03 in
4.176
Solution L=31.03>Lmin=4w=4*3/16=0.75 in OK

Find design tensile strength of member. Use two 16 in side weld

Total length=2*16=32 > 31.03

- Yielding of gross area
Pn  0.9 Fy A g  0.9 * 36 * (0.5 * 8) 129.6 kips Length of side weld = 16 > transverse distance
between welds = 8 " OK
Fracture of net area
F
A e  UAg 1.0 *0.5 * 8  4 in 2
Pn  0.75 Fu A e  0.75 * 58 * (0.5 * 8) 174.0 kips

Thus design tensile strength = Pu = 129.6 kips

The base metal is A36 steel, so E70XX electrodes

will be used.

tmin = 3/ 8" (gusset plate)

tmax=0.5" (Member)
Thus from Table J2.4 of AISC with tmin = 3/ 8" thus
w min  3 / 16 in
For tmax = 0.5
w max  t  1/ 16  0.5  1/ 16  7 / 16 in
design w= 3/16 in

Shear strength of the weld

Fw  0.6 FEXX  0.6*70  42 ksi

 R n  0.75* Fw * 0.707 * w * L
 0.75* 42 * 0.707 * 3 / 16 * L  4.176 L

Lecture 9 ....... Page 8