Design of members

subjected to Tension
WELDED CONNECTIONS
 Types of Connections
A structure is an assembly of
various elements or
compounds which are
fastened together through
some type of
CONNECTION.
If not designed properly, they
could be a source of
weakness in the finished Welded Connection
structure
The following are the common
types of connection used for
structural steelwork;
1. Bolted connection
2. Welded connection
 Types of Welded Connections
Welding – is a process of connecting steel or metal by
application of heat (fusion) with or without pressure. And
the most commonly used types of welds are;
a) Fillet Welds – usually forged when the lapped plates are
to be joined or where there has to be a T joint. A fillet
weld is specified by the following.
i. Size of weld
ii. Length of weld
b) Groove/butt welds –
is made where
member intersect
each other. There
could be partial/
full penetration
of one metal into
the other.
 Fillet Joint
Size of Weld
Given below in table 1 is the minimum size of fillet weld to
avoid cracking during fusion (heat transfer )
Table 1; Minimum Size of Filet Weld
Thickness of the Thicker Minimum Size
part (mm)
Up to 12 5 mm
13 to 20 6 mm
21 to 40 8 mm
41 to 60 10 mm
• Note; the minimum size of weld has to be greater than the
thickness of the plate.
• Whenever two plates of different thickness are jointed,
the thickness of the thinner plate must be taken into
consideration.
 Modes of Failure for Welded Connections
Fillet joint will fail by either of the following modes;
1. Cross sectional yielding
2. Shear
3. Fracture (Cracking)
1. Cross sectional yielding
Under axial tension, the welded member fail by yielding of
the entire gross-cross sectional area (the same as for
bolted sections). The factored tensile strength is thus given
by;
Tr = ØAgfy

2. Shear
Occurs along the
welded lengths.
 Modes of Failure for Welded Connections
So the total shear length consists of longitudinal lengths and the
transverse weld.
However the factored resistance against shear (Vr) is treated
individually per longitudinal and then transverse weld.
Vr = Longitudinal Weld length x Vr (ɵ = 0ᵒ) + Transverse Weld
x Vr (ɵ = 90ᵒ)

Whereby
– Vr (ɵ = 0ᵒ) - resistance factor longitudinal weld length
given for the specific weld size.
– Vr (ɵ = 90ᵒ) – the resistance factor for weld length
perpendicular to axial force given for specific weld size
and the grade steel of the member in connection.
These resistance factors are arranged on table 2 overleaf
 Modes of Failure in Welded Connections
Table 2; Shear resistance factors
Angle of Application
Weld Size 90°
0ᵒ
300W 350W
5 0.765 1.010 1.077
6 0.918 1.212 1.293
8 1.224 1.616 1.724
10 1.530 2.020 2.155
12 1.836 2.424 2.586

3. Fracture
The tendency is for the crack to propagate along the weld
length. Depending on the welding pattern (e,i, longitudinal
or at an angle to force), one weld length could fail before the
other. In this case, we design for the pattern yielding the least
resistant.
 Modes of Failure in Welded Connections
The resistance against tearing is therefore given by the
equation below for rolled section due to shear lag.
Tr = 0.85ØA’nefu
Whereby;
Ø = Resistance factor (0.9)
A’ne = effective net area, reduced for shear lag
fu = Ultimate tensile strength of a MEMEBER
for 300W Grade Steel fu = 450Mpa
for 350W Grade Steel fu = 480Mpa
Below are the steps on how to evaluate the effective net area:
1. For rolled sections connected by one leg
If the element/leg in contact with the connected members is
welded around all sides (e.i. parallel and perpendicular to
force), tearing or cracks could form on either weld
length, hence tearing/fracture has to be analysed
 Modes of Failure in Welded Connection
individually per each side. Then the design will be carried
out for the side yielding the least resistance .
Case 1; Elements connected by transverse/perpendicular
weld;

W1

The net area along the perpendicular weld length is given

by;
Ane1 = W1 t

whereby;
W1 – the connected width
t – the thickness of member (not the weld size)
 Modes of Failure in Welded Connection
Case 2; Elements connected by longitudinal/parallel welds
only;
L

Here are the conditions to be considered in order to

determine the net area for parallel weld length.
a) If the weld length OR (average length) L ≥ 2 w1
So the net area Ane2 = W1 t
b) If 2 w1 > L ≥ w1
Then the net area Ane2 = 0.5 W1 t + 0.25 L t

c) If L < w1 Ane2 = 0.75 L t

 Modes of Failure in Welded Connections
If the weld lengths are different, determine the average
length.
2. For unconnected leg
For rolled section, it is possible to connect by one leg only
(which is W1) while the other remain up stand (W2). This
effect is called shear lag and it thus reduce the overall
resistance of member.

Determining the net area for

unconnected leg using W2.
then consider the following
condition;
a) When L ≥ W2
Note; L here is the weld length
aligned directly with
unconnected leg.
 Modes of Failure in Welded Connections
Then the net area for the unconnected leg is given by;

And x is the distance from the shear centre and the centroid of the
element connected.
b) When L < W2
– Then Ane3 = 0.5L t
Therefore the net effective area for an angle reduced for shear
lag is the lesser of the following
• A’ne = Ane1 + Ane3
• A’ne = Ane2 + Ane3
 Worked Example # 1
Example #1
Calculate the factored tensile resistance of a 100 x 100 x 8
angle of grade 300W which is welded to plate using 6 mm
parallel fillet welds over a length of 125 mm.
Solution

1. Resistance against yield failure

Tr = ØAgfy
= 0.9 x 1550 x 350
= 488.2 kN
 Worked Example # 1
2. Resistance against fracture failure
An angle is connected around all its edges, there all the cases
have to be analysed to determine the effective net area.
Case 1;

The net area.

Ane1 = W1 t
= 100 x 8 = 800 mm2
Case 2; Both longitudinal lengths are the same therefore the
weld length = 125 mm
L (125mm) > W1 (100mm) & 2 x width (W1) = 200mm > L
So Ane2 = 0.5 W1 t + 0.25 L t
 Worked Example # 1
Ane2 = 0.5 x (100) x (8) + 0.25 x (125) x (8)
= 650 mm2
For unconnected leg; Width W2 = 100 – 8 = 92 mm
L (125 mm) ≥ W2
Therefore

Whereby x = 8 + 92/2
= 54 mm

= 418 mm 2
The effective net area
A’ne = Ane2 + A’ne3
 Worked Example #1
A’ne = 650 mm + 418 mm
= 1068 mm2
Resistance against fracture

Tr = 0.85ØA’nefu
= 0.85(0.9) x 1068 x 480
= 392.2 kN
Resistance against Shear (Check table 2)
For angle ɵ = 0ᵒ (6 mm Weld) 0.918
= 90° ( for 350W grade) 1.293

Vr = Longitudinal Weld length x Vr (ɵ = 0ᵒ) + Transverse Weld

x Vr (ɵ = 90ᵒ)
=(125 x 2) x 0.918 + 100 x 1.293 = 383.3 kN
 Worked Example #2
Therefore the overall resistance = 383.3 kN by Shear
Example #2
Calculate the factored tensile resistance of a 100 x 75 x 10
unequal angle of grade 350W which is welded to plate
using 8 mm parallel fillet welds only.
Solution
Important points to note;
• The member used is unequal
angle – with two different
widths. So the connected leg
should be the one with bigger
side .
• The angle is connected with
longitudinal welds ONLY.
 Worked Example #2
Case 2; The longitudinal lengths are varying therefore
determine the average length.
L = (220 + 110)/2
= 165 mm
Width = 100 mm < 165 mm & 2 x 100 > 165 mm
Then Ane2 = 0.5 W1 t + 0.25 L t
= 0.5(100)(10) + 0.25 x 165 x 10
= 913 mm2

For Unconnected leg ; the up stand leg width = 75 – 10 = 65 mm

Case 3;
The lengths are varying, (which side do you think the up stand
leg should be connected?)
Before answering this, lets check the calculations;
 Worked Example # 2
If the up stand is connected along 220 mm weld length;
L (220 mm > 65 mm)
hence the net area

So x = 10 + (65/2)
= 42.5 mm

= 524.43 mm2
Therefore the effective net area A’ne = Ane2 + A’ne3
= 913 + 524.43
= 1437.43 mm2
And the resistance against tearing
Tr = 0.85ØA’nefu
 Worked Example #2
Tr = 0.85 (0.9) x 1437.43 x 480
= 527.82 kN
If the up stand is connected along 110 mm weld length;
L (110 mm > 65 mm)
hence the net area & the x = 42.5 mm

= 398.86 mm2
Therefore the effective net area A’ne = Ane2 + A’ne3
= 913 + 398.86
= 1311.86 mm2
And the resistance against tearing Tr = 0.85ØA’nefu
 Worked Example #2
Tr = 0.85 (0.9) x 1311.86 x 480
= 481.72 kN
What conclusion do you draw looking at the answers you
obtained for fracturing?
which side would you connected the up stand leg (along the
longer side or shorter side?)
Resistance against Shear (Check table 2)
For angle ɵ = 0ᵒ (8 mm Weld) 0.918
= 90° ( for 350W grade) 1.293

Vr = Longer Longitudinal Weld length x Vr (ɵ = 0ᵒ) + Shorter

Longitudinal Weld length x Vr (ɵ = 0ᵒ)
=220 x 1.224 + 110 x 1.224 = 403.92 kN
 Worked Example #2
3. Resistance against yield failure

Tr = ØAgfy
= 0.9 x 1660 x 350
= 522.9 kN
Therefore the resistance for this unequal angle = 403.92 kN