Welding Design
First of all, we should ask our self an Important Question. This question is called “What’s the meaning of Welding
Design?”
Welding Design means full information regarding location, type, size, and length of all welds shall be clearly shown on the
drawings.
(1) Fillet weld
Fillet welds are most common and used in all structures. Fillet welds must be large enough to carry the applied load and
avoid cracking by accommodating the shrinkage of the weld metal during cooling, particularly with highly restrained thick
sections.
There are many terms for fillet weld as the following:
– Effective Throat
The effective throat means the shortest distance from the weld face of the diagrammatic weld to the joint root.
– Shear Stress
Stress on the effective throat of fillet welds is considered as shear stress regardless of the direction of the application.
Shear failure of the fillet weld
– Fw = 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 (σy) of the base metal is ≤ 60 – 65 ksi, use E70XX electrode.
– If yield stress (σy) 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.
– Minimum Effective Length
The minimum effective length of a fillet weld shall be the minimum of four times the nominal size and (40) mm.
Intermittent fillet welds: Lw-min = 4 a Where a the weld leg size.
– Maximum effective length
– If weld length Lw < 100 a, then effective weld length (Lw-eff) = Lw
– If Lw < 300 a, then effective weld length (Lw-eff) = Lw (1.2 – 0.002 Lw/a)
– If Lw > 300 a, the effective weld length (Lw-eff) = 0.6 Lw
– Effective Area
Stress in a fillet weld shall be considered as applied to this effective area, for any direction of applied load and the
effective area shall be the effective weld length multiplied by the effective throat.
– Minimum Fillet Weld Size
The minimum fillet weld size, except for fillet welds used to reinforce groove welds, shall be as shown in next table.
Minimum fillet weld size
– Maximum Fillet Weld Size.
The maximum fillet weld size shall be not more than the minimum thickness of the two connected plates.
(2) Groove Weld
There are many terms for groove weld as the following:
– Effective Weld Length.
The maximum effective weld length for any groove weld, square or skewed, shall be the width of the part joined,
perpendicular to the direction of tensile or compressive stress. For groove welds transmitting shear, the effective length is
the length specified.
– Effective Area.
The effective area shall be the effective weld length multiplied by the weld size.
– Complete Joint Penetration Groove Welds (CJPG):
The weld size of a complete joint penetration groove weld shall be the thickness of the thinner part joined.
No increase in the effective area for design calculations is permitted for weld reinforcement. In CJPG the capacity of weld
is more than capacity of base material, So there is no design for Complete Joint Penetration Groove Welds but there
is an important tests in the factory.
– Partial Joint Penetration Groove Welds (PJPG):
PJPG welds are used when not required to develop the full strength of the connected parts to transfer the load.
PJPG shall be equal to or greater than the size specified. The base metal thickness shall be sufficient to incorporate the
requirements of the joint details selected.
I will explain the full design for many weld connections with after design design of members.
Weld Terms and Symbols
Weld Terms
The next figure show the most common terms of weld :
Weld joint and weld area terms.
Weld Symbols
The next figures show the information which very important to the welder :
Basic information
for any welder
B
asic weld symbols.
The arrow of the welding symbol indicates the point at which the weld is to be made. The line connecting the arrow to the
reference line is always at an angle. Whenever the basic weld symbol is placed below the reference line, as shown i the
next figure. The weld is made on the side where the arrow points (referred to as the arrow side). Whenever the basic
symbol is placed above the reference line, the weld is to be made on the other side of the joint, as shown in the next
figure. By placing dimensions on the symbol and drawings, the exact size of the weld may be indicated.
Weld
Symbols Positions
