Segerlind, Larry J. 2010. Designing for Combined Loads: Welded Connections.

Chapter 12 in Designing Structural Components for Machines, 361-386. St. Joseph,

Michigan: ASABE. Copyright 2010 American Society of Agricultural and
Biological Engineers. ASABE Order Number 801M0310, Textbook Number 21.
ISBN 1-892769-76-X.

Chapter

12

Designing for Combined Loads:

Welded Connections

his is the third of three chapters that discusses the design for combined
loads. The previous two chapters dealt with the design of members subjected to the combined loads of axial and bending or torsion and bending.
This chapter discusses the design of fillet welds. The distance along one or
more sides of a member or the perimeter around the member influences the
size of the weld, which has an upper limit. There are design situations where
a cross-sectional shape is selected in order to obtain adequate weld length.
The base length of most brackets is defined by the length of the weld required to support the loading.
The actual design of the members becomes an iterative process: perform
the structural analysis, select a cross-sectional shape, and design the connection. If the welded connection requires a change in the cross-sectional shape,
select a new member. Plane frames and plane grids, however, are statically
indeterminate and any change in the cross-sectional properties requires a
new structural analysis. The procedure goes on until all of the stress and deflection ratios satisfy the design criteria. Since the length requirements of a
weld influences the selection of a cross section, the material related to the
analysis and design of welded joints is an integral part of the design for
combined loadings.
The design of welded connections is covered in several machine design
and structural design books, but there is a lack of consistency in the presentations. Every book discusses the analysis of welded connections subjected
to shear and torsion loads while fewer books discuss the analysis of connections subjected to an axial force and a bending moment similar to what occurs in a beam. Even fewer books discuss the analysis of connections

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

subjected to the combined loadings of axial, shear, and bending, which are
very common in plane frames, and the combined loadings of torsion, shear,
and bending, which occur in plane grids. Several books give the basic ingredients for analyzing these loading situations, but they do not work complete
examples nor do they combine the design of a weld with the design of a
member.
A systematic procedure for analyzing and designing welded joints subjected to combined loadings is presented in this chapter. The approach is
unique in several ways and the information presented is used in the designs
presented in Chapter 13 and the design projects outlined in Chapter 14.

12.1 Welds for Structural Tubes

The design of connections for structural tubes is covered in the Hollow
Structural Sections Connections Manual (AISC, 1997), referred to as the
AISC CM. It covers the design of welded and bolted connections involving
hollow structural sections (tubes) subjected to different types of loadings.
Even though the LRFD design procedure (discussed in Chapter 2) is used in
this manual, it does contain general information that is useful with the allowable stress design procedure. None of the information in the AISC CM
manual is in SI units even though the publication date is many years after
the adoption of SI units in the United States.
The AISC CM discusses the use of fillet welds, complete-jointpenetration (CJP) groove welds, and partial-joint-penetration (PJP) groove
welds. Members in a plane frame or plane grid that are connected together at
angles less than 90 can be connected using complete-joint-penetration
groove welds. These welds have the same shape and thickness as the members and are assumed to develop the strength of the base metal. The AISC
CM states that no allowance for the presence of such welds needs to be
made in proportioning the connections of structural members for any type of
static loading.
The analysis and design procedures in this chapter are for fillet welds.
These are used to attach brackets to structural members, attach the members
to supports, and to attach the members to each other when they are not machined to use a groove weld. The basic information for fillet welds was introduced in Section 6.2 (pp. 158-164) and all of the rules presented there are
applicable here. The AISC CM does state that structural tube sections made
from steel grades with Fy up to 50 ksi are normally welded with an E70 electrode, which has a nominal tensile strength Fu of 70 ksi. The AISC CM
manual also states that fillet welds loaded transverse to the weld axis are
50% stronger than welds loaded parallel to the weld axis. This increased
strength is ignored in design procedures. As noted above, the design procedures for fillet welds were introduced in Section 6.2. The same design equations are used in this chapter. The equations for the E60 and E70 rods, (6.17)

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

through (6.20), are repeated here as (12.1) through (12.4).

The allowable shear flow equations for E60 rods are:

USCS:

SI:

Qall =

42.4 w
kips/in
N

0.293 w
kN/mm
N

Qall =

(12.1)

(12.2)

The allowable shear flow equations for E70 rods are:

USCS:

SI:

49.5w
kips/in
N

(12.3)

0.341 w
kN/mm
N

(12.4)

Qall =
Qall =

The dimension of the weld leg, w, is known in analysis problems and is the
one of the variables in a design problem.

12.2 Shear Flow in Fillet Welds

The primary quantity in the analysis and design of welds is the shear flow q
which is a force per unit length and is obtained by multiplying a normal or
shear stress by a thickness dimension. Shear flow was introduced in Chapter
6 and the allowable shear flow for fillet welds made from E60 and E70 rods
is given by (12.1) through (12.4). The shear flow equations for five types of
loadings are developed in this section. Three of the loading situations are
simple and require little explanation. The other two are more complicated
and require integral evaluations. The entire discussion, however, is more
easily presented after we have defined a local coordinate system for a
welded joint, a definition that is lacking in most discussions of welded
joints.

12.2.1 A Coordinate System

The local coordinate system for a weld joint is a right-handed system with
the x axis perpendicular to the plane of the weld. The origin of the coordinate system is at the centroid of the weld. The y axis is usually parallel to the
long dimension of the weld but a 90 rotation in the y-z plane does not
change the design. The orientation of the local coordinate system for two
different weld patterns is shown in Figure 12.1.
The loads acting on a weld are defined by the orientation of the coordinate system. The axial force Px is perpendicular to the weld while the shear

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

x
y

Figure 12.1 Local coordinate systems for a pair of welds.

forces Py and Pz act in the plane of the weld. A weld can also be subjected to
moments about the x and z axes, Mx and Mz. The way in which a bracket is
attached to a member defines the type of forces and moments acting on the
weld and influences the size and shape of the weld.
Consider the brackets in Figure 12.2. These are subjected to a tension
load applied by a hydraulic cylinder. The bracket in Figure 12.2(a) is attached to the top of the structural section using a pair of welds that are subjected to an axial force Px, a shear force Py, and a moment about the z axis,
Mz. This moment is similar to the bending moment that occurs in beams and
the weld pattern is said to be subjected to bending. The shear flow values for
this weld act in the x and y directions. Attaching the bracket to the side of
the structural section changes the loads significantly. There are two shear
forces, Py and Pz, and the moment acts about the x axis. This moment, Mx, is
twisting the weld and the weld is said to be in torsion. All of the shear flow
y
y
z

z
(a)

Figure 12.2 Weld joints for two brackets.

(b)

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

values for this weld are in the y-z plane. The analysis of the connection in
Figure 12.2b is covered in nearly every book that discusses welded joints.
The analysis of the weld joint in Figure 12.2a is discussed less often. Both
types of welds are important and are discussed in detail in this chapter.

12.2.2 Axial and Shear Forces

The shear flow equations for welds subjected to an axial force or either of
the two shear forces are easy to obtain. Starting with the axial force shown
in Figure 12.3a, the average normal stress is

ave =

P
P
=
Aw t Lw

(12.5)

where t is the throat dimension (see Figure 6.5) and Lw is the effective
length. The shear area Aw = tLw is used in the calculation even though it is
not perpendicular to the normal stress. The average shear stress for the shear
forces Py and Pz are

y ,ave =

Py

and z ,ave =

t Lw

Px
y

Pz
t Lw

(12.6)

x
y

ave
z

Lw

Pz

Lw

z.ave
(b)

(a)
x

Py

Lw
z
(c)

y ,ave

Figure 12.3 Average normal and shear stress in a fillet weld.

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

Multiplying through (12.5) and (12.6) by the thickness t gives the respective
shear flow equations.
qx =

Px
Py
P
, qy =
, and qz = z
Lw
Lw
Lw

(12.7)

12.2.3 Moments about the z Axis: Bending

A pair of welds associated with a rectangular bar that supports a pure bending moment is shown in Figure 12.4. Since the bar behaves like a beam and
the weld is an integral part of the bar, it is assumed that the stress distribution in the weld is similar to the normal stress distribution in the beam. The
normal stress in the weld is calculated using the normal stress equation for a
beam
M y
=- z
(12.8)
I
where I is calculated assuming the weld is a rectangular area with the throat
dimension t and a length h. Assuming two rectangular welds,

I=

2th3 t h3
=
12
6

(12.9)

Since the strength of the weld is assumed to be independent of the type and
direction of the stress and since equal maximum values occur at y = h/2,

Mz h
Mz
=
3 2
t h t h3

6
3

(12.10)

x
Figure 12.4 The normal stress distribution resulting from Mz.

Mz

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

The normal stress is multiplied by the throat thickness to obtain a shear flow
and the rest of the denominator is defined as a weld section property Zw as
qx = t =

Mz
h

3
3

Mz
Zw

(12.11)

The bending section property Zw for a pair of welds parallel to the y axis is

Zw =

h3
3

(12.12)

The weld section property equations for common shapes that are symmetrical relative to the z axis are presented in Table 12.1. These equations
were obtained using
I 1
Z w = = y 2 dA
c c A

(12.13)

where each weld is a line segment of unit width and c is one-half the weld
dimension parallel to the y axis.
The evaluation of (12.13) is illustrated by evaluating the section property
Zw when the weld pattern consists of two welds parallel to the z axis with the
dimensions b and h as shown in Table 12.1 (Case 3). The section property
Zw is
Zw =

1 2
y dA
c A

Since there is a pair of welds and c = h/2 while dA = (1)dz, the integral for
Zw is
2
b/2
2
h
Zw =
2 (1) dz
h/ 2 -b/2
which equals

Zw = b h

(12.14)

Weld patterns that lack symmetry relative to the z axis can be analyzed
using (12.8) where
I = y 2 dA
(12.15)
A

has to be evaluated on an individual basis. The location of the maximum

shear flow also has to be determined by inspection.

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

Table 12.1
Section properties of fillet welds.
Shape

Bending

Torsion

Z w=

h
6

Z w=

h
3

J w=

h
12

y
z

J w=

h( 3b 2 + h 2 )
6

y
z

Z w= b h

J w=

2
3
b + 3 bh
6

y
z
z

h
Z w= b h+

b
z=

h
6

J w=

(b + 2 h)3 b 2(b + h )2
( 2b + h)
12

b2
(2b + h)

y
z

h
Z w= b h+
3

J w=

(b + h )3
6

y
z

2
Z w= r

3
J w= 2 r

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

12.2.4 Moments about the x Axis: Torsion

A pair of horizontal welds subjected to a twisting moment, Mx, are shown in
Figure 12.5. The shear stress in a weld subjected to a twisting moment is
calculated using
M r
= x
(12.16)
J
where

J = r 2 dA = ( x 2 + y 2 ) dA
A

(12.17)

is the polar moment of inertia. Equation (12.16) parallels the analysis of a

circular bar in torsion and does not describe what happens in a welded joint
to a high degree of accuracy. This is one reason for the relatively high safety
factor for welded joints. Since welds are represented by rectangles of thickness t and a length, the elemental area becomes dA = (t)dy or dA = (t)dz depending on the orientation of the weld. The thickness dimension can be
taken outside the integral and (12.16) can be written as

Mx r

(12.18)

t r 2 dA
A

where the dA is now dA = (1)dy or dA = (1)dz. Multiplying through by the

thickness produces the shear flow equation
Mx r
Jw

(12.19)

J w = r 2 dA

(12.20)

t = q=
where

dz
r
z

y
+
Mx

b
Figure 12.5 A pair of welds subjected to a twisting moment.

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

and dA = dy or dA = dz. The quantity Jw is the section property that is used

in the analysis and design of welded joints subjected to a twisting moment.
The shear flow q is assumed to act perpendicular to the radial arm from the
centroid to a point on the weld. A radial distance to a location must be substituted into (12.20) before a value for q can be determined.
The section property Jw is relatively easy to evaluate because most welds
consist of horizontal and vertical line segments. Consider the pair of welds
in Figure 12.5. The elemental area is dA = (1)dz and the integral in (12.20)
becomes

J w = ( y 2 + z 2 ) dA = 2
A

Jw =

which equals

b/2

z 2 dz + 2

-b/2

b/2

h
2 dy
-b/2

3hb + b3
6

(12.21)

Equations for Jw for several common weld patterns are given in Table 12.1.
A more extensive list is given in Hall et al. (1961).
The section properties Zw and Jw as given in Table 12.1 have different
units because the location of the maximum shear flow is built into Zw while
(12.19) is left in terms of a radial distance r. The shear flow q is assumed
to act perpendicular to r and must be resolved into y and z components before it can be combined with other shear flow values. Consider the location
shown in Figure 12.6. The radial distance r has an angle relative to the y
axis. The y and z components of the shear flow are
q y = q sin
qz = q cos

(12.22)

Substituting (12.19) for q produces

qy =

and

qz = -

M x r sin M x z
=
Jw
Jw

(12.23)

M x r cos
M y
=- x
Jw
Jw

(12.24)

because r sin is a distance in the y direction and r cos is a distance in the

z direction. The values of y and z are the coordinates of a point on the weld
relative to the centroid of the pattern. The sign on the shear flow is usually
determined by visual inspection and the negative signs in (12.22) and
(12.24) are deleted.

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

q
a
r
z

qy

Mx

qz

Figure 12.6 Components of the shear flow for torsion.

12.2.5 Section Properties for Intermittent Welds

The intersection of members in complicated three-dimensional machines
may make it difficult or nearly impossible to use the weld patterns given in
Table 12.1. It may be necessary to use several short welds. The welds, however, still need to be analyzed to make sure they are adequate, which involves the evaluation of the section properties Zw and Jw.
The properties of lines and curves are discussed in most statics books and
the first and second moments of curves have the same interpretations as the
first and second moments of areas. The first moment defines the centroid
y dL = y dL

(12.25)

y ( Li ) = yi Li

(12.26)

which becomes

for a shape composed of several line segments. The second moment is

I z = z 2 dL
L

(12.27)

This equation also has a parallel-axis theorem which is

I z = I o + Ld 2

(12.28)

where Io is (12.27) about the centroid of the line, L is the length of the line,
and d is the distance between the centroid of the line and the z axis.
The evaluation of the polar moment of inertia for a line segment parallels
the evaluation for an area
J = r 2 dL = ( y 2 + z 2 ) dL
L

(12.29)

with the parallel-axis theorem of

J = J o + Lr 2 = J o + Ly 2 + Lz 2

(12.30)

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

where r is the radial distance from the point to the centroid of the line segment, and Jo is the polar moment of inertia for the line segment about its
centroidal axis. The value for Jo is the first selection in Table 12.1 and
(12.30) becomes
L3

J w = + Ly 2 + Lz 2
(12.31)
12

for a group of line segments.

Example 12.1

150 mm

Evaluate Jw for the weld pattern consisting of three straight line segments as
shown. The weld size is 6 mm.

100

80

Solution:

The first step is to determine the dimensions of the effective length of each
weld. This is done by keeping the centroid of each line segment at its original position. The y and z axes, shown below, are used as the reference point
for determination of the centroid of the weld pattern which has a horizontal
axis of symmetry. The location of horizontal centroid z is given by
z=

zi Li 140(138) + (0)(68) + (0)(68)

=
= 70.5 mm
(138 + 2(68))
Li

The reference point for determining the centroid and the final set of dimensions for the effective weld pattern are shown below.
69.5 70.5

68

75

y
z

75

z'

138 mm

y'
150

138 mm

140

68

The section property Jw is given by (12.31). Substitution of the appropriate

values gives

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

Jw = (
Jw =

L3
+ L( y 2 + z 2 )
12

683

1383
+ 138(0 + 69.5) 2 + 2
+ 68(752 + 70.52 )
12
12

J w = 2 379 000 mm3

Example 12.2

Evaluate Zw for the symmetric weld pattern shown. The bracket has an open
area to accommodate a structural component. The weld size is 1/4 inch.

Solution:

The dimensions of the original (left) and effective weld (right) are shown
below.
10
3 in

3.5

3.5

3 in
y

2.5

2.5

The centroid of each weld segment retains its original value. Note that the
weld segments are symmetrical about the z axis, therefore, the parallel-axis
theorem must be used with each segment. Since each segment has the same
dimensions
I z = 4 I z' + Ld 2

where I z' is the area moment about its centroidal axis. The evaluation of Zw
follows the calculation of Iz. Substituting the appropriate values gives

(2.5 in)3

h3
+ (2.5 in)(3.5 in)2 = 127.7 in3
I z = 4 + hd 2 = 4

12

12

374

DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

The section property Zw = Iz/c where c is the distance from the z axis to the
outer most location or
Zw =

Iz
127.7 in 3
=
= 26.9 in 2
c [3.5 + (2.5 / 2)]in

12.2.6 Resultant Shear Flow

Shear flow has the units of kip/in or kN/mm. If we specify a very small distance around any point, the shear flow values become forces that can be
added as vectors. The final step in the analysis or design procedure is to
evaluate the resultant shear flow using
QR = qx2 + q 2y + qz2

(12.32)

which is similar to the equation used to determine the magnitude of a force

when the values of its components are known.
The shear flows resulting from positive values of Px and Mz are shown in
Figure 12.7. There are one or more locations on the weld where qx resulting
from the two loadings add together. The same is true when one of the loadings is negative or when both loadings are negative. The equation for the
largest value of qx is
P
M
qx = x + z
Lw Z w

(12.33)

Since qx is squared in (12.34), the sign that denotes tension or compression

is usually deleted.
The shear flow quantities qy and qz at the corners of a rectangular weld
subjected to the twisting moment Mx are shown in Figure 12.8. The corners
Px
y
Mz
qx
Due to Px

Figure 12.7 The shear flow component qx.

qx

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SHEAR FLOW IN FILET WELDS

qy
Due to Py
qz

Py

qz
qy

qz

qy

Mx

Pz

qy
Due to Pz

qy

qz

qz

Figure 12.8 Shear flow components qy and qz.

are selected because qy and qz obtain the largest values when the distances z
and y in (12.23) and (12.24) have their maximums. There is at least one location where the qy value resulting from Mx adds to the qy value resulting
from Py. The combined equation is
qy=

Py
Lw

Mxz
Jw

(12.34)

This equation holds when either one of Py or Mx are negative or when both
are negative. The same situation is true for qz and
qz =

Pz M x y
+
Lw
Jw

(12.35)

Equations (12.33) through (12.35) are the shear flow equations for a
weld subjected to a set of combined loadings. When one or more forces or
moments are zero, the corresponding terms are deleted. The joints in plane
frames and the brackets welded to the top or bottom of a member usually
support Px, Py, and Mz loadings and the terms containing Pz and Mx disappear. Brackets welded to the side of a member support Py, Pz, and Mx loadings and the terms containing Px and Mz disappear. The joints in a plane grid
support Py, Mx, and Mz and the terms containing Px and Pz are absent.
The location of the maximum shear flow QR is usually determined by inspection when doing hand calculations. Computer analyses of welded joints
usually incorporate a sign with the magnitude of the load and provide the
location of QR as part of the output.

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

12.3 Analysis of Welded Connections

The shear flow equations for five types of loadings that can act on a fillet
weld were discussed in the previous section. Equations (12.33) through
(12.35) and the section property equations for Zw and Jw given in Table 12.1
summarize the results. Our immediate objective is to calculate the resultant
shear flow QR for three different joints with combined loadings and determine whether the weld is adequate using
QR
1
Qall

(12.36)

The first example is a welded joint from a plane frame. The second example is a joint from a plane grid. The forces acting on these joints are obtained from a structural analysis as discussed in Chapter 10 or 11. The third
example is a bracket supporting a hydraulic cylinder.
The analysis problem is relatively straightforward. You evaluate all of the
parameters and check the shear flow ratio (12.36). The only item to be careful about is the effective length of the welds. The AISC ASD manual does
not allow the start and stop distances to be included in the calculations of
single welds, but it does allow the use of the actual length when the weld
goes around a corner. We will hold true to this requirement in both the
analysis and design calculations, although many books that discuss the
analysis and design of fillet welds do not subtract the start and stop lengths.
We start our calculations by determining the effective weld dimensions
when necessary. When the weld consists of intermittent welds, we will keep
the centroid of each weld in its original location.

12.3.1 A Welded Joint in a Plane Frame

Section 72, a 350.250 RST, is connected to a support by placing a 0.1875
(3/16) inch fillet weld on each side. The structural analysis of the plane
frame containing this member indicates the member is subjected to the
forces shown in Figure 12.9: Px = 4.91 kips, Py = 3.54 kips, and Mz = 28.7
kipin at the support. The objective is to determine whether this weld is adequate for an E70 rod and a safety factor of N = 2.80.
The analysis problem is straightforward. We evaluate all of the parameters and check the shear flow ratio in (12.36). The analysis begins by calculating the effective dimensions, which are the outside dimensions of the
member since the weld is continuous and goes around the corners. The dimensions are b = 3 inches and h = 5 inches. The weld length is the distance
around the rectangular shape or
Lw = 2(b + h ) = 2(3 + 5) = 16.0 in

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ANALYSIS OF WELDED CONNECTIONS

Px = 4.91 kips
#72

M z = 28.7 kipin
Py = 3.54 kips

Figure 12.9 The support forces for a fixed joint in a plane frame.
The allowable shear flow is given by (12.1)
Qall =

49.5w 49.5(0.1875)
=
= 3.31 kips/in
N
2.80

(12.37)

The section property Zw for bending is obtained from Table 12.1 Using
the outside dimension, since the welds goes around the corners, gives
Z w = (b )( h ) +

h2
52
= (3)(5) +
= 23.3 in 2
3
3

This completes the evaluation of the basic properties.

This joint has shear flow values in the x and y coordinate directions. The
shear flow qx is a combination of values while qy results from the shear force
Py. Starting with (12.33),
qx =

Px M z
4.91 kips 28.7 kip in
+
=
+
= 1.54 kips/in
16.0 in
Lw Z w
23.3 in 2

The shear flow in the y direction is given by (12.34) where Mx = 0. This

value is

qy =

Py
Lw

3.54 kips
= 0.221 kips/in
16.0 in

The resultant shear flow is

QR = qx2 + q2y = 1.542 + 0.2212 = 1.55 kips/in

(12.38)

and the shear flow ratio is

QR 1.55 kips/in
=
= 0.47 < 1
Qall 3.31 kips/in

(12.39)

which is more than adequate. The engineer would investigate whether a 1/8

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DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

inch weld is adequate if this was a design problem. If the weld had not been
adequate, the engineer is faced with the decision of whether to increase the
weld size or change the cross-sectional shape of the tube to increase the
weld length.

12.3.2 A Welded Joint in a Plane Grid

One of a pair of wheels mounted behind a machine such as a forage mower
is shown in Figure 12.10. This configuration produces a shear force Py and
two moments at the connection. The primary component is #9, a 76766.4
RST, connected to the structure using an E70 rod and a 4 mm weld that goes
completely around the tube. Our objective is to determine whether this weld
is adequate when the safety factor is N = 3.0.
The applied loadings can be calculated from the information in Figure
12.10, which gives
Py = 6.70 kN, Mx = 1.68 kNm, and Mz = 5.03 kNm
These values are shown on a segment of the member in Figure 12.10. The
allowable shear flow is given by (12.2)

Qall =

0.341w 0.341(4)
=
= 0.455 kN/mm
N
3.0

(12.40)
y

y
z

#9

0.250 m
6.70 kN

0.750 m
6.70 kN

Py = 6.70 kN

Mz = 5.03 kNm

Mx = 1.68 kNm

Figure 12.10 A welded joint in a wheel assembly.

ANALYSIS OF WELDED CONNECTIONS

379

The effective dimensions of the weld are b = h = 76 mm. The length of

the weld is
Lw = 2(b + h ) = 2(76 + 76) = 304 mm

while the section property for bending is

Z w = bh +

h2
762
= 76(76) +
= 7700 mm 2
3
3

The section property for torsion is

Jw =

(b + h)3 (76 + 76)3

=
= 585 300 mm3
6
6

Three different shear flows occur in the weld, qx, qy, and qz. The shear
flow in the x direction results from the bending moment and is
qx =

M z 5 030 kNmm
=
= 0.653 kN/mm
Zw
7 700 mm 2

(12.41)

The shear flow in the y direction is composed of the two components given
in (12.34). The largest value occurs at the corner. We use values of 38 mm
(76/2) for the y and z directions in (12.34) and (12.35).
qy =

Py
Lw

Mxz
Jw
(12.42)

qy =

6.70 kN (1 680 kNmm)(38 mm)

+
= 0.131 kN/mm
304 mm
585 300 mm3

The third shear flow, qz, results from the torsion moment and is

qz =

M x y (1 680)(38)kNmm 2
=
= 0.109 kN/mm
Jw
585 300mm3

(12.43)

Combining the three shear flow values using (12.32) produces

QR = qx2 + q 2y + qz2

(12.44)
QR = 0.6532 + 0.1312 + 0.1092 = 0.675 kN/mm

and the shear flow ratio is

380

DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

QR 0.675 kN/mm
=
= 1.48 > 1
Qall 0.455 kN/mm

(12.45)

The weld is not adequate. This result was obvious from (12.41). Anytime
one of the shear flow components exceeds the allowable value, the weld is
inadequate. You should do all of the calculations, however, in order to determine which loading governs the design. In this example, the bending
moment governs the design and a rectangular tube is probably more appropriate for the primary structural component.

12.3.3 A Weld for a Bracket

The bracket shown in Figure 12.11 supports a 32 kN force and is welded to
the side of a structural member. A similar bracket and loading exists on the
other side of the member. The weld is made using an E60 rod and has a leg
dimension of 4 mm. Determine whether the weld is adequate when the safety factor is N = 2.75. Assume the weld is continuous around the corners.
10.9 kN

64 kN
20

30 kN

137.6

75

40
y

76

80

50

180 mm

17.4
y

180 mm

Figure 12.11 The weld for a side bracket.

Since the weld is on the side of the member, the x axis is perpendicular to
the page and the applied force can be resolved into y and z components of
10.9 kN and 30 kN, respectively. The effective values for b and h are b =
180 mm and h = 80 4 = 76 mm. The weld size is only subtracted from the
ends of the vertical welds. The distance in the y direction from the weld to
the centroid of the weld pattern can be obtained from Table 12.1 by interchanging the variable names or from Hall et al. (1961). The location of the
centroid from the base, b, is
2

y=

( 76 mm )
h2
=
= 17.4 mm
b + 2h 180 + 2 ( 76 ) mm

The force components and the dimensions for the effective weld are also

ANALYSIS OF WELDED CONNECTIONS

381

shown in Figure 12.11. The shear force values are Py = 10.9 kN and Pz = -30
kN. The bottom or horizontal portion of the weld remains 155 mm from the
applied load. The moment about the x axis is
+

= (40 mm)(10.9 kN) (137.6 mm)(30 kN) = 3 692 kNmm

A visual inspection indicates the location A is the critical location where the
y and z shear flow components resulting from Mx add to the components
produced by the two shear forces.
The section properties for the weld are
Lw = b + 2h = 180 + 2(76) = 332 mm

and from Hall et al. (1961),

Jw =

(b + 2h)3 h 2 (b + h) 2

12
(b + 2h)

Jw =

3323 762 (76 + 180) 2

= 1 909 362 mm3

12
332

The shear flow component qy is

qy =

Py
Lw

M x z 10.9 3 692(90)
=
+
= 0.207 kN/mm
Jw
332 1 909 362

while qz is
qz =

Pz M x y 30 3 692(76 17.4)
+
=
+
= 0.204 kN/mm
332
1909 362
Lw
Jw

The resultant shear flow is

QR = q 2y + qz2 = 0.207 2 + 0.2042 = 0.290 kN/mm

The allowable shear flow is

Qall =

0.293w 0.293(4)
=
= 0.426 kN/mm
N
2.75

and the shear flow ratio is

QR 0.290
=
= 0.68 < 1
Qall 0.426

The weld is adequate.

382

DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

12.4 Design of Welded Connections

The design of welded connections is an interactive process that involves all
of the steps in the analysis procedure. You make an educated guess at the
overall dimensions and the leg size and then check to see if the weld is adequate. If the weld is oversized, you reduce the dimensions and check the design again. If the weld is undersized, you increase the dimensions and do the
analysis calculations again.
There are no design assistance tables for weld design because of the
complicated interactions between the leg sizes, the effective values of b and
h, and because QR is related to the square root of the sum of squared quantities, (12.32). The best design assistance for weld design is to place the calculations in a spreadsheet and do a group of what-if calculations involving b,
h, and the leg dimension, w.
Since the design calculations are basically the same as analysis calculations, we will not go through a design example. There are several comments,
however, that can be made relative to the design process. First, select the
members in a plane frame or plane grid problem before doing weld design
calculations. The outside dimensions of the members define b and h for the
weld. If b and h are not adequate, select a new member. The usual procedure
is to increase h and decrease b because the strength of the member and the
weld are a function of h squared and linear in b. Remember that plane
frames and plane grids are statically indeterminate and a change in the
member size changes the support forces, which change the final dimensions
of the weld.
Second, you can not reverse the last step in the analysis calculations and
come up with a leg size. Return to the example in Figure 12.10. The resultant shear flow in (12.44) was QR = 0.675 kN/mm, and the allowable shear
flow is defined by (12.4). If we equate these two relationships, we can solve
for the leg size by
Qall =

0.341w
= 0.675 kN/mm = QR
N

(12.46)

Since N = 2.75, the solution yields w = 5.44 mm. It appears that a 6 mm

weld is adequate. The mistake in this approach is that both section properties, Zw and Jw, are a function of the start and stop distances. An increase in
the leg size decreases the effective values of b and h, which decreases the
values of Zw and Jw. The final result is that QR increases and the 0.675
kN/mm value used in (12.46) is not correct. The calculation defined in
(12.46) can be used to make an educated decision about the adjustment of
the values for b, h, and w.
The third comment relates to unsymmetrical brackets similar to the one
in Figure 12.11. The design of unsymmetrical brackets is complicated by the
fact that the torsion moment Mx is a function of the weld dimensions. Each

383

PROBLEMS

time the value of b and/or h is changed, the location of the weld centroid
changes and Mx must be re-evaluated. The evaluation of Mx can be incorporated into a spreadsheet with proper planning. The spreadsheet is usually
developed specifically for this type of bracket rather than for the shape of
the weld.

Problems
12.1 Verify the equation for Jw given in Table 12.2 for a pair of vertical
welds.
12.2 Verify the equations for Jw given in Table 12.2 for the circle.
12.3 Evaluate the section property equation Zw for the group of four welds
shown. Each weld has a length of h and the spacing between each pair
is h. Do the evaluation by (a) evaluating the integral in (12.13) and
(b) using the parallel-axis theorem in (12.28).
y
y

h
z

h
h

x
b

h
b

P12.3

P12.4

12.4 Determine the section property equation Jw for the group of four
welds in P12.4 above. Each weld has a length b and the spacing between each pair is b. Do the evaluation by (a) using the integral in
(12.29) and (b) using the parallel-axis theorem in (12.31).
12.5 Rectangular tubes welded to the supports are subjected to the support
forces given in the table below. The tube is defined by the section
code SC while the weld leg dimension is given by w. Determine
whether the welds are adequate when N = 2.75 and an E60 rod is
used. The member is welded on each side but the welds are discontinuous at each corner. The effective length of each weld is the member dimension minus the start-and-stop distances. The positive
direction for each force or moment is in the positive coordinate direc-

384

DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

tions as shown in Figure 12.1. The 1-1 axis of the section is aligned
with the z axis. Information is provided in each system of units. The
reader is encouraged to develop a spreadsheet to solve the problems.
USCS Units
Problem
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

SC
58
62
71
86

w, in
0.2500
0.1250
0.1875
0.2500

Px, kips
6.40
8.60
17.3
15.6

Py, kips
3.20
3.10
9.50
12.4

M, kipin
22.5
12.3
22.7
52.4

Py, kN
14.2
13.8
42.3
55.2

Mz, kNmm
2540
1390
2560
5920

SI Units
Problem
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

SC
58
62
71
84

w, mm
6
4
5
6

Px, kN
28.5
38.3
77.0
69.4

(a)

1.25 in
32 mm
L

(b)

6 in
150 mm

4 in
100 mm

Problems 12.6 12.7 The brackets for these problems, below, have a pair of
E60 welds subjected to an axial force, a shear force, and a bending moment
about the z axis. The location of the hole in each bracket has the same relative dimensions for each problem. Use the brackets shown below. The dimension L is the specified length and not the effective length. Use a safety
factor of N = 3.0 for each problem. This group of problems is best solved by
developing a spreadsheet that incorporates the qx equation in (12.32) and the
qy equation in (12.7). Calculate the force and moment components from the
input data for the applied load and angle, which is always less than 90.
There is a single bracket in each case.
x
P
P

y
z

385

PROBLEMS

12.6 The weld length and leg dimension as well as information on the type
of bracket and applied load are presented in the table below. Determine whether the weld is adequate.
Problem

Bracket

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)

Problem

Bracket

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)

USCS Units
w, in
L, in
0.1875
0.2500
0.2500
0.1875
SI Units
w, mm

P, kips

7.00
6.00
6.00
6.50

6.83
7.45
6.92
7.80

30
38
45
62

L, mm

P, kN

180
200
150
180

31.2
41.2
29.4
31.2

35
28
51
65

5
6
5
4

12.7 Calculate the leg dimension w for the weld length and loading information presented in the table below. Use an E60 rod and a safety factor of N = 3.0. The leg dimension should increase in 1 mm or 1/16
inch increments. The ratio QR/Qall should be greater than 0.80. The solution procedure is trial and error. One procedure is to assume the full
length of the weld is the effective length and calculate the dimension
w. Select a standard dimension w and calculate the shear flow ratio
using the correct effective length.
Problem
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Problem
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

USCS Units
Bracket
L, in
(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)
Bracket
(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)

5.50
6.75
5.00
7.00
SI Units
L, mm
180
170
140
150

P, kips

8.34
9.56
7.83
10.3

55
20
70
40

P, kN

38.6
31.6
42.3
34.3

42
24
64
35

386

DESIGNING FOR COMBINED LOADS: WELDED CONNECTIONS

12.8 The brackets in this problem are welded to the side of a member using
an E60 rod. The welds are subjected to two shear forces and a twisting moment about the x axis. The location of the hole in each bracket
has the same relative dimensions for each problem. The dimension for
a is the specified length and not the effective length. The effective
length for b is the full length. Use a safety factor of N = 3.0 for each
problem. This group of problems is best solved by developing a
spreadsheet that incorporates equations (12.16), (12.32), and (12.36).
The force and moment components should be calculated from input
data for the applied load and angle which is always less than 90. The
weld length b and the leg dimension w as well as information on the
type of bracket and applied load are presented in the table below. Determine whether the weld is adequate. Use the value a = 1.5 inch or a
= 40 mm for all of the problems. The applied load is supported by
two brackets in each case.
P

x
y

3 in 75 mm

3 in 75 mm
40
1.5

P12.8(a)

P12.8(b)

USCS Units
Problem
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Bracket
(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)

w, in
0.1875
0.2500
0.1875
0.2500

b, in
7.00
6.50
4.25
6.00

P, kips
13.6
15.2
11.9
15.8

30
38
62
33

b, mm
180
200
160
200

P, kN
57.2
82.4
58.8
90.0

35
28
51
24

SI Units
Problem
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Bracket
(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)

w, mm
5
6
5
6