Welding Ex.1.p.

1
ENG 7704 – Design of Steel Structures
(CAN/CSA-S16-01)

Welded connection: Example 1

Ex: Design a welded connection to carry the full tension capacity of
2PL10x200.
Solution:
Alternative 1: Assume a lap joint and fillet welds along the width. Table 6-3, Handbook

≥(t-2)

D / √2
t
D

Data: Fy = 345 MPa (350W Steel), Fu = 450 MPa

It is customary to choose the weld metal to have a matching strength
with plate metal. Choose E49XX electrode to match the weld metal
to the plate metal.
Xu=490 MPa (E49XX) Table 3-22, Handbook

b = 200 mm, t = 10 mm max weld size D < t-2mm

Weld line angle with the direction of force θ = 90o
Overlap = 50 mm (≥5t, 25 mm) Welding practice, sec.6
Handbook
Plate capacity:
Path 1-1: Yielding of gross c/s
Tr = φ AgFy Cl. 13.2 (a)(i)

φ = resistance factor for steel = 0.9 Cl. 13.1(a)

Ag = gross c/s area = bt

Tr = 621 kN

Dr. Seshu M.R. Adluri

 Welding Ex.1.p.2
ENG 7704 – Design of Steel Structures
(CAN/CSA-S16-01)

2 1
overlap

2 1
D
D Tf
Tf
t

Path 2-2: Rupture of net c/s. No net section for this case.
There is no shear lag effect since the ends of the plate are welded.
Hence the entire plate width receives the force uniformly.
Weld design:
In the present case, the required size of the weld is unknown. We do
not know if the weld needs to be placed on both the overlap lines for
the entire width of the plate. We will assume that the weld is placed
on the full width and compute the size. If the size comes out to be
too small, we can increase the weld size and reduce the weld length.
If the weld size comes out to be too great for the thickness of the
plate, we need to increase the length of the weld by creating other
lines of weld. The welds are in fillet weld configuration.
Weld metal capacity:
φw = 0.67 Cl. 13.1 (h)

Angle between weld line and applied force, θ = 90o

Weld size, D (=?)
Total fillet weld length, Lw = 2b
Area of effective weld throat, Aw = LwD/√2

Dr. Seshu M.R. Adluri

 Welding Ex.1.p.3
ENG 7704 – Design of Steel Structures
(CAN/CSA-S16-01)

Vr = 0.67φw Aw Xu(1 + 0.5 sin1.5θ) > Tr of the plate Cl. 13.13.2.2

Vr = 0.67x0.67 (2x200xD/√2) 490 (1+0.5 sin1.590ο) =93322D > 621000

Base metal capacity:
Area of effective weld contact with base metal, Am = LwD
Vr = 0.67φwAm Fu > Tf Cl. 13.13.2.2

Vr = 0.67x0.67 (2x200xD) 450 = 80802D > 621000

Base metal capacity governs.
Solving, D > 7.69 mm. Use 8 mm weld (=t-2 O.K)
Note: we need not have done this calculation for weld metal since for
350W steel with matching electrodes, weld metal strength governs
only if weld line angle is less than 45o with the direction of the
applied force.
If we needed extra capacity than this, we may need to provide longer
fillet weld lines. A possible scheme is shown below.
overlap

Alternative 2: Try full penetration weld butt joint

cp
Tf
Tf
t

Weld area for both base metal and weld metal, Aw = Am = bt

Vr = 0.67φw AmFu = 404.1 kN < Tr Not O.K. Cl. 13.13.2.2

This complete penetration weld does not result in the required capacity
unless a longer path is provided through slots, plugs, etc.

Dr. Seshu M.R. Adluri

 Welding Ex.1.p.4
ENG 7704 – Design of Steel Structures
(CAN/CSA-S16-01)

Alternative 3: weld joint using splice plates

8
8
Tf
Tf 8
t
8

Splice plates allow the main plates to be in the same plane and avoid
any eccentricity. The splice plate will have a combined area equal to the
c/s area (or greater) of the base plate. Thus the splice plates will have
enough tensile strength to carry the plate force. All calculations are as in
the case of fillet weld alternative 1. The only difference is that we need
extra plates and two extra welds of the same size. Because of the weld
size, the splice plates have to remain 10mm thick. Otherwise, splice
plates can have t/2 each. The length of the splice plate can be 50mm
similar to the lap length.
Use 2PL10x50x200 with 8mm fillet welds.

Dr. Seshu M.R. Adluri