×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Weld Question

Weld Question

Weld Question

(OP)
I have a problem at a weld connection (gravity column to cap plate). The cap plate was 1" thick. The HSS column had a 1/2" thickness. The weld specified was 5/16" (code minimum). The contractor used a 1/4" weld. Is that fine or should I ask him to redo the weld.

RE: Weld Question

The 13th edition steel specification revised the minimum, to match AWS.  Under this code, the 1/4" weld does not violate this requirement, as it would be based on the thinner plate.

If 1/4" works for strength, I'd be inclined to leave it be.

RE: Weld Question

I'm looking at the 13th edition and for a 1/2" piece, the min fillet weld is 3/16.  I don't see a problem (unless you're not using low hydrogen rods - then you need to base it on the thicker part joined).

RE: Weld Question

A 1/4" weld can be added to with ease, (another pass), not necessary if strength is sufficient using 1/4" weld.

RE: Weld Question

(OP)
The connection does work w/ a 1/4" weld.

This maybe a theoretical question, why is there a minimum size of weld for a particular thickness. Does a smaller weld fail when connecting two thicker parts?
 

RE: Weld Question

Read the commentary in the Manual.

It is a requirement based on the quenching effect of a thick piece of metal (even though the requirement is based on the thinner piece being joined).

A thick piece of metal rapidly conducts heat away from the weld, leading to rapid cooling which results in a loss of ductility.

RE: Weld Question

Since you are dealing with a minimum weld size, be sure to get the ones you have inspected by a Certified Welding Inspector.  A 1/4 inch fillet weld on thicker material is, as frv pointed out, subject to relatively fast cooling.  Depending on the welding process used, this can result in porosity, edge lap, lack of penetration, convexity, and lack of fusion.

 

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources