Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
(OP)
Hello everyone,
This is just a general question and would like everyone's input on it. Lets say for example, I have a double angle all side welded connection connecting a steel beam (W12x19) to Girder(W14x22) steel beam. There a minimum base metal thickness requirement for shear rupture for fillet welding which in my case will be 6.19D/Fu at the beam web. I believe this formula is correlated with the strength of the weld. But is this requirement because while welding, the strength of steel is compromised so if I use a larger weld larger more steel may be compromised?
I am just curious that while welding, does the strength of the steel decrease. Since the metals are melted, I am guessing that it will to some extent. Please provide your input. Appreciate all your help in advance.
Thank you
This is just a general question and would like everyone's input on it. Lets say for example, I have a double angle all side welded connection connecting a steel beam (W12x19) to Girder(W14x22) steel beam. There a minimum base metal thickness requirement for shear rupture for fillet welding which in my case will be 6.19D/Fu at the beam web. I believe this formula is correlated with the strength of the weld. But is this requirement because while welding, the strength of steel is compromised so if I use a larger weld larger more steel may be compromised?
I am just curious that while welding, does the strength of the steel decrease. Since the metals are melted, I am guessing that it will to some extent. Please provide your input. Appreciate all your help in advance.
Thank you






RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
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RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
I would be inclined to think so however I don't know of a specific code reference that accounts for that except for effective area.
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
HAZ of "regular" (low-carbon) steel has mech properties that are about the same of the base material. If this weren't true, welded beams for eg. cranes and longer than standard lengths would need to be calculated with the welded zones as the weakest link, and this isn't done - provided good workmanship has been delivered.
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
D is the fillet weld size in 1/16
Fexx = 70 ksi
Fu = base metal strength
0.6Fut = 2 welds x 0.6 Fexx[(D/16)(0.707)]
solving for t become t = 6.19D/Fu
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
"while welding, does the strength of the steel decrease. Since the metals are melted ..."
doesn't seem to ask "once cooled is there a reduction in strength in the area of the weld"
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
I don't believe that 6.19D/Fu has been adjusted in any way to account for a decrease in steel strength during welding.
The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
The reason I raised this question is, if I weld only on one side then the steel melting occurs only on one side but if I weld on both side the melting occurs on both sides. Due to which the the properties at the cross section at that particular joint may be different/reduced.
Sorry may be I am just imagining thing which might be wrong :)
Please share your thoughts.
thanks
RE: Does welding reduce the strength of a steel member?
i don't think there's a problem ... think "full penetration weld", i know we weld and reweld the same strucutre, so multiple weldings shouldn't be a problem either. i think the biggest issue with welding on one side of a piece is that it is probably more likely to distort.
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?