PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Engr. Marvie C. Salavaria, RMP, S02

 WELDED CONNECTIONS
Structural Welding is a process of joining
two pieces of metal by heating their
surfaces to a plastic or fluid state and
allow the parts to fuse together, with or
without molten metal added to the joint.
The bond between the members is
completed after the molten metal
solidifies.
 TYPES OF WELDING PROCESS
Structural welds are usually made either by the Shielded-Metal-Arc
Welding Process (SMAW) or by Submerged-Arc Welding Process
(SAW). In both processes, the heat of an electric arc
simultaneously melts the welding electrode and the adjacent steel
parts being joined. The electrode is deposited in the weld as a filler
material.
SHIELDED-METAL-ARC WELDING PROCESS (SMAW)

This is the most common welding method also known as

stick welding. It is a manual process using a flux coated
consumable electrode with a meta rod at the core.
Alternating current or direct current forms an arc between
the electrode and the base metal creates required heat.
SHIELDED-METAL-ARC WELDING PROCESS (SMAW)
ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF SMAW
 SUBMERGED-ARC WELDING PROCESS (SAW)

In this process, the end of the electrode and the arc

submerged in a granular flux that melts and forms
gaseous shield. There is more penetration to the base
metal than with shielded metal arc welding and welds
made by submerged arc process are found to have
uniformly high quality, good ductility, high impact strengths
and good corrosion resistance.
SUBMERGED-ARC WELDING PROCESS (SAW)
TYPES OF WELDS

The two most common types of welds used in structural

connections are the fillet weld ad the groove weld. Fillet
welds are those made where parts lap over each other.
Groove welds are welds made in grooves between
members to be joined and are used when the members to
be connected are lined up in the same plane. Fillet welds
are usually used for structural connections, but they are
weaker compared to the groove welds.
FILLET WELDS VS. GROOVE WELDS
EFFECTIVE AREA OF FILLET WELDS (NSCP 2015 Section 510.2.2.1)

The effective area of fillet weld Awe shall be the effective

length multiplied by the effective throat. The effective
throat of a fillet weld shall be the shortest distance from
the root to the face of the diagrammatic weld.
Awe = 0.707wL
LIMITATIONS OF FILLET WELDS (NSCP 2015 SECTION 510.2.2.2)

Practical design of welded connections requires a

consideration of such details as maximum and minimum
weld size and lengths. The requirements for fillet welds
are found in NSCP 2015 Section 510.2.2.2 / AISC Section
J2.2b.
MINIMUM SIZE OF FILLET WELDS
The minimum size of fillet welds shall not be less than the
size required to transmit calculated forces, nor the size
given in the AISC Table J2.4. These provisions do not
apply to fillet weld reinforcements of partial or complete-
joint-penetration groove welds.
MINIMUM SIZE OF FILLET WELDS, w

Material Thickness of Thinner Part Minimum Size of Fillet Weld,

Joined, mm (in.) mm (in.)
To 6mm (1/4’’) inclusive 3 mm (1/8’’)
Over 6mm (1/4’’) to 13mm (1/2’’) 5mm (3/16’’)
Over 13mm (1/2’’) to 19mm (3/4’’) 6mm (1/4’’)
Over 19mm (3/4’’) 8mm (5/16’’)

In reference to AISC Table J2.4

MAXIMUM SIZE OF FILLET WELDS, w
Material Thickness Maximum Size of Fillet Welds
<6mm (1/4’’) Not greater than the thickness of the material.
=>6mm (1/4’’) Not greater than the thickness of the material
minus 2mm (1/16’’), unless the weld is especially
designated on the drawings to be built out to
obtain full-throat thickness.
MINIMUM LENGTH OF FILLET WELDS
The minimum length of fillet welds designed on the basis of
strengths shall be not less than four times the nominal weld
size, or else the effective size of the weld shall be considered
not to exceed one quarter of its length. If longitudinal fillet
welds are used alone I end connections of flat-bar tension
members, the length of each fillet weld shall not be less than
the perpendicular distance between them.
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF FILLET WELDS
NSCP 2015/AISC does not impose a limit on the length of
welds, but for end-loaded welds, there are some
restrictions. End-loaded welds are longitudinal welds at
the end of an axially loaded member.
 For end-loaded welds with a length of up to 100 times
the weld size, it is permitted to take the effective length
equal to the actual length.
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF FILLET WELDS
 When the length of the end-loaded fillet weld exceeds
100 times the weld size, the effective length shall be
determined by multiplying the actual length by the
reduction factor β, determined as follows:
β = 1.2 – 0.002 (l/w) ≤ 1.0
(a) When L ≤ 100w Leff = L
(b) When L ≥ 100w Leff = βL
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF FILLET WELDS

Where;
l = actual length of end-loaded weld, mm (in.)
w = size of weld, mm (in.)
 When the length of the welds exceeds 300 times the leg
size w, the effective length shall be taken as 180w.
END RETURNS
When a weld extends to the end of a member, it is
sometimes continued around the corner. The primary
reason for this continuation, called an end return, is to
ensure that the weld size is maintained over the full length
of the welds. The AISC Specification does not require end
turns.
WELDING ELECTRODES
The strength of a fillet weld depends on the weld metal used-
that is, it is a function of the type of electrode. The strength of
the electrode is defined as its ultimate tensile strengths of 60,
70, 80, 90, 100, and 110 ksi available for the shielded metal
arc welding process. The standard notation for specifying an
electrode is the letter E followed by two or three digits
indicating the tensile strength in ksi and two digits specifying
the type of coating.
WELDING ELECTRODES
EXXbc
Where;
E= electrode
XX= 2 or 3 digit number indicating the ultimate tensile
strength of the weld metal.
b= digit to indicate the suitability of welding position, which
maybe flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead.
c= digit indicating current supply and welding technique.
WELDING ELECTRODES
b = 1 for suitable for all positions
b= 2 for suitable for horizontal fillet and flat position of
work.
c = 1 for use with either AC or DC
c = 2 use with DC straight polarity
c = 3 for used with DC reversed polarity
For example. E7012 is an electrode with ultimate tensile
strength Fexx=70ksi (485MPa) which is an all-position
welding and for use with either AC or DC.
WELDING ELECTRODES

Electrode Fexx, Mpa (ksi)

E60 414 Mpa (60 ksi)
E70 483 Mpa (70 ksi)
E80 552 Mpa (80 ksi)
E90 621 Mpa (90 ksi)
E100 689 Mpa (100 ksi)
E110 758 Mpa (110 ksi)
WELD SYMBOLS

Welds are specified on design drawings by standard symbols,

which provide a convenient method for describing the required
weld configuration as presented in AISC Manual Table 8-2.
A welding symbol has three parts
Reference Line
Arrow
Tail
WELDING SYMBOLS
Reference Line. This is the main part of the symbol. Its primary
function is to provide all the information on the weld to be made.
Arrow. This is what is used to point the reference line to the location
where you need to weld.
Tail. This is used to provide additional but important data as well as
necessary information.
WELDING SYMBOLS
A horizontal line (reference line) containing information on the type, size, and length
of the weld and an inclined arrow pointing to the weld are the basic symbols. A right
triangle with the vertical leg on the left side is used to indicate a fillet weld. If the weld
symbol is beyond the reference line, the weld is one the arrow side of the join, that is,
on the part of the joint that the arrow is touching. If the symbol is above the line, the
weld in on the other side of the joint, which may or may not be visible in the drawing.
The numbers on the reference line are the weld size and the length, from left to right.
This is the order in which they should always be displayed. If the joint is to be welded
on both the front and back sides, all information should be displayed on both sides of
the reference line. A circle on the bend of the reference line indicates that the joint
should be welded all around. A tail can be added to the end of the reference line,
along with the desired notation, to provide additional information or to satisfy the
process that was used. If no such references are to be provided, the tail is omitted.
Finally, a flag at the bend in the reference line indicates a field weld.
WELDING SYMBOLS
WELDING SYMBOLS
WELDING SYMBOLS
 STRENGTH OF WELDED JOINTS
(NSCP 2015 Section 510.2.4/AISC Section J4

The design strength ΦRn and the allowable strength Rn/Ω of

welded joints shall be the lower value of the base material
strength determined according to the limit states of tensile
rupture and shear rupture and the weld metal strength
determined according to the limit state of rupture as follows:
NSCP Section 510.2.4
NSCP Section 510.2.4
For the Base Metal

Rn = FnBMABM
(a) For shear yielding of the element:
Rn = 0.6FyAgv
Φ = 1.0 (LRFD) Ω = 1.5 (ASD)
Where;
Agv = tpL = gross area subject to shear in mm2 (in2)
For the Base Metal
(b) For shear rupture of the element:
Rn = 0.6FuAnv
Φ = 0.75 (LRFD) Ω = 2.00 (ASD)
Where;
Anv = tpL = net area subject to shear in mm2 (in2)
For the Weld Metal
Rn = FnwAwe=0.6FEXX(0.707twL)
Φ = 0.75 (LRFD) Ω = 2.00 (ASD)
Where;
FnBM = nominal stress of the base metal, MPa (ksi)
ABM = cross-sectional area of the base metal mm2 (in2)
Fnw = nominal stress of the weld metal, MPa (ksi)
FEXX = electrode classification number, MPa (ksi)
Awe = effective area of the weld, mm2 (in2)
tw = size of weld, mm (in.)
tp = thickness of plate, mm (in.)
L = length of weld, mm (in.)
Simple (Concentrically Loaded) Fillet Welds
For simple (that is, concentrically loaded) welded
connections with both longitudinal and transverse welds,
AISC J2.4c and NSCP 510.2.4 specifies that the larger
nominal strength from the following two options be used:
Simple (Concentrically Loaded) Fillet Welds

(1) Use the basic weld strength Fnw = 0.60FEXX, for both the
longitudinal and transverse welds:
Rn = Rnwl + Rnwt
Where;
Rnwl and Rnwt are the nominal strengths for the longitudinal
and transverse fillet welds, both calculated with Fnw = 0.6FEXX
Simple (Concentrically Loaded) Fillet Welds

(2) Use the 50% increase for the transverse weld but
reduce the basic strength by 15% for the longitudinal
welds. That is, use Fnw = 1.5 (0.6FEXX) for the
transverse welds:
Rn = 0.85Rnwl + 1.5 Rnwt
Balanced Weld Group
In some cases, members subjected to direct axial stresses
are themselves unsymmetrical and cause eccentricities in
welded connections. Such is the case of an angle section
welded to a gusset plate as shown in the figure below.
Balanced Weld Group
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.1
Two steel plates, each 350mm wide and 12mm thick, are to be joined together by welded lap
splice, as shown in the figure. The electrode used for the weld is E80.
a) Determine the maximum weld size that can be used.
b) Determine the effective area of the fillet weld using the maximum weld size allowed by
the code.
c) Determine the maximum load that can be resisted by the weld using the maximum weld
size allowed by the code.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.2
A plate used as a tension member is
connected to a gusset plate as shown.
The welds are 3/16 –inch fillet welds made
with E70XX electrodes. The connected
parts are of A36 Steel with Fu=58ksi.
Determine the available strength of the
welded connection. Assume that the
tensile strength of the member is
adequate. Use LRFD and ASD.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.3
A 6mm fillet weld is formed by the shielded metal arc process
(SMAW) and E70XX electrode (Fexx=483 MPa). Assume the load is
applied parallel to the weld length.
A) Determine the available strength of a 1mm length fillet weld.
B) Determine the available strength if the weld is 500mm long.
C) Determine the available strength if the weld is 750mm long.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.4
A 6mm x 450mm plate of A572 Grade 50 steel (Fy=345MPa and
Fu=448MPa) is used as a tension member connected to a 10mm
plate as shown to carry service dead load of 150 kN (selfweight
included) and a service live load of 450 kN. E70XX electrodes
(Fexx=483 MPa ) were used and the 4mm fillet welds were made by
the SMAW process. Check the adequacy of the welded connection
assuming the strength of the connected parts are adequate.
4mm Fillet Weld
E70XX Electrodes
Pdl = 150kN
Pll = 450 kN
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.5
A plate used as a tension member is connected to a gusset plate as
shown. The welds are 3/16 inch fillet welds made with E70XX
electrodes. The connected parts are of A36 steel. Determine the
available strength of the connection. Assume that the tensile strength
of the member is adequate. Use LRFD and ASD.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.6
A welded connection is subjected to a tensile load Pdl = 200kN and
Pll=246kN. All steel is of A36 steel. Assume that the tensile strength
of the member is adequate. Design a SMAW fillet welds with E70XX
electrode (Fexx = 485MPa) using both the LRFD and ASD methods.
Assume there is a length constraints.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.7
A PL1/2X4 of A36 steel is used as a tension member
connected to a gusset plate as shown to carry service dead
load of 6 kips and service live load of 18 kips. Assume that the
connected parts are 3/8 inch thick. Design a welded
connection assuming there are no restrictions on connection
length.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.8
An MC8X8.5 used as a tension member is connected to a 3/8-
inch gusset plate as shown. The welds are 3/16 inch fillet
welds made with E70XX electrodes. The tension member is of
A572 Grade 50 steel (Fy = 50ksi and Fu= 65ksi) and the
gusset plate is A36 steel (Fy=36ksi and Fu=58ksi). Assume
that the tensile strength of the member is adequate.
Determine the maximum service load P that can be applied if
the live-to-dead load ratio is 2.5. Use ASD and LRFD.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.8
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.9
A 10mmx200mm plate of A572 Grade 50 steel (Fy=345MPa
and Fu=448MPa) is used as a tension member and is to be
connected to a 10mm gusset plate as shown using E70XX
electrodes (Fexx = 483MPa). The length of the connection
cannot exceed 300mm, and all welding must be done on the
near side. Design a weld to develop the full capacity of the
member. Use LRFD.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.9
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.9
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3.10
The welds used in the connection shown is E70
electrodes. The weld leg size is w=6.35mm and the plate
thickness is 10mm. The material strengths of the plate are
Fy=248MPa and Fu=400MPa.
a. Find the effective throat thickness.
b. Find the strength of the weld per unit length.
c. Find the allowable value of P that can be applied based on the
yielding on gross area of the plate.
d. Find the allowable value of P that can be applied based on the
tensile rupture of the plate. Use U=0.7125
e. Find the allowable value of P that can be applied.
END OF DISCUSSION