Moments about a line weld with S=0?
Moments about a line weld with S=0?
(OP)
Does anyone know of any documented statements regarding the loading of a line weld with a transverse moment about its weak axis? I need to convince a fabricator that their details are not acceptable, but I don't want to argue this alone. A statement from a credible source would greatly support my case. I have pondered Blodgett, AISC, AWS and Salmon and Johnson, but haven't come across anything convincing yet. I suspect that this condition is so unacceptable, that it isn't even worthy of attention in textbooks.
To elaborate, a flat plate is being welded flat to another steel plate, but only along one edge. The welds aren't even returned around the corners. The plate is then being pryed off the base plate by pulling from the end opposite the weld. This places a direct moment about the weakest axis of the weld.
To elaborate, a flat plate is being welded flat to another steel plate, but only along one edge. The welds aren't even returned around the corners. The plate is then being pryed off the base plate by pulling from the end opposite the weld. This places a direct moment about the weakest axis of the weld.





RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
I agree with you entirely, the weld position you describe is not satisfactory.I like you cannot find a case to cover your situation for bending of that welded joint, however looking in "Schaum's Outline Series Machine Design" they treat welds just as lines and if the contractor welded round the corners as you put it, to make an inverted 'u'section as shown:-
-----------------
| |
| |
| |
Zw= 2*b*d + d^2/(3)(for the top of the weld)
and Zw=d^2*(2*b + d)/(3*(b+d) (for the bottom of the vertical legs)
where Zw=section modulus
b= horizontal weld line
d= vertical weld lines
If you divide Zw by your bending moment it will give you the
force per unit length of weld,from which you can workout your stresses in the usual way.If these stresses prove to be okay you can ask the fabricator to weld round the joint to improve the design.
hope this is of some help
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
^ P
|
|<---- L ---->|<-- a -->|
|
--------------+ |/
-----------------|/
|/
Thus, I = (b*te^3)/12, where b = length of weld line (same as also shown in desertfox's post), assumed equal to top and bottom plate width. Therefore sigma = Mc/I = 6*P*L/(b*te^2). Stress level R1 = sigma/Sta_w, where Sta_w = weld allowable tensile stress or base metal haz allowable tensile stress, whichever is less. If R1 > 100%, it indicates the weldment is overstressed.
Also, checking bending stress at fixed support, sigma = 6*P*(L+a)/(b*t2^2), where t2 = thickness of bottom plate. Stress level R2 = sigma/Sta, where Sta = allowable non-haz tensile stress of bottom plate material. If R2 > 100%, bottom plate is overstressed at fixed support. Note, if R2 > R1, failure mode would be bottom plate bending upward at fixed support prior to (or instead of) weldment failure.
No need to check shear strength in the above problem because bending stress greatly dominates, for both R1 and R2 failure modes.
Note that if the sense of P were reversed, you would of course have a completely different scenario and analysis, involving shear stress on the weld effective throat; you would have a fairly strong connection (though the analysis for R2 would remain the same).
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
Thanks for drawing the picture, you interpreted what I said just right. But to make matters more troubling, the plate of width L is continuous into the page. Point '+' is being assumed as a pinned connection with a stitch weld of about 1 1/2" weld at 16" o.c. The force P is pulling up at a point which is fixed against rotation.
The plate at the location of P has been designed and sized for M = P x L. The effect of only 1 1/2" of base metal per 16" acting to resist bending at the other end of the plate (point '+') is not even considered (because it is assumed pinned.) For magnitude, distance L is typically 1"-3", P is 200-500 pounds, and the plate is 1/8" to 3/16".
I am hoping to find some "smoking gun" documentation on weld design to dispute the comment that this has worked (and been stamped approved) for years, so why should it be changed now.
^ P
|
|<---- L ---->|
/- |
| --------------+
\- > -----
M /////
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
On the right-hand end of your diagram, at the weld, it's of course not pinned. I assume your given load P is the total load every 16 inches, o.c. According to your diagram, you have (or need) a completely fixed support at the weld; therefore the continuous problem can thus be modeled as a beam strip for the purpose of roughly approximating the maximum bending moment on the right-hand end.
Checking a beam table for a beam having one fixed support and one slider support constrained against rotation, it appears bending moment on the weld every 16 inches would be M = 0.50*P*L. Bending stress on weld throat would thus be sigma = Mc/I = 6*M/(b*te^2), where b = total weld length every 16 inches. In your stated problem, b = 1.5 inch, so for P = 500 lbf, L = 3 inch, and te = 0.125 inch, sigma = 192 ksi.
This would indicate the weldment is overstressed. I don't know why it worked in the past, unless the fixed support drawn on the right-hand end of your diagram is not truly a fixed support. E.g., if the bottom plate has significant flexibility, its deflection and rotation at the weld would reduce M. If this is the case, you would probably need to include the material and dimensions back to the true fixed support and solve the statically indeterminate beam problem to get a rough approximation of the actual M value at the weld. Are you sure an essentially fixed support exists at the weld, as shown in your diagram?
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
That is the $10 question of the day. If the weld is so underdesigned that it has minimal bending capacity ( or that it only carries the shearing load, P ) then it becomes so flexible that it is essentially a pinned connection. Hence, therein lies the oxymoron, and the short-sighted arguement that the connection works. That and the fact that there have not been any catastrophic failures as of yet to this product.
I agree with your analysis, and it reinforces the approach I would take, should this perhaps be acceptable. But I want to believe that there is some cardinal law of engineering/welding that says "Thou shalt not permit rotation about the centerline of a weld, nor allow any bending stresses to be applied to the root of a weld."
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
So as soon as the wall is loaded with insulation and finish material, and well before the wind begins to blow, the support plate has already begun to rotate due to these forces. One worst case scenario I just analyzed has a 1/2" deflection of the wall due to sagging/rotation of this plate. The analysis assumes that the weld to stud is a "pinned" connection.
That should leave you with no question as to why I can't sleep at night. This method has been used simply because it is quick and dirty and cheap. We have alternates to this design, but they are relatively more expensive and time consuming. The more I ask around, the more I hear from people that don't like it, and don't understand it. So I just want all the ammo prepared to eliminate it all together.
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
A few thoughts that might help substantiate your suspicion when presenting your case to the detailer:
AISC Specification 1.17.6 Lap Joints
'The minimum amount of lap on lap joints shall be 5 times the thickness of the thinner part joined, but not less than 1". Lap joints joining plates or bars subjected to axial stress shall be fillet welded along the end of both lapped parts, except where the deflection of the lapped parts is sufficiently restrained to prevent opening of the joint under maximum loading.'
From this I intrepret that it is not permissible to allow the root of the fillet weld to open. In your case, I agree with the others, on that the root will undergo tension due to bending in a fashion that will cause the joint to open.
AISC Specification 1.17.7 End Return of Fillet Welds
'Side or end fillet welds terminating at ends or sides, respectively, of parts or members shall, wherever practicable, be returned contintuously around the corners for a distance not less than 2 times the nominal size of the weld. This provision shall apply to side and top fillet welds connecting brackets, beam seats and similiar connections, on the plane about which bending moments are computed.'
This may not help in your case with the 'infinite' length of line weld. However, since it may not be 'practible' you could ask that the lap be puddled welded from above in addition to the detailed weld. This will keep the weld from opening. I imagine the detailer's case is founded on ease of construction. For example,when laying decking for a concrete floor, it is easier to weld from above rather than below.
Blodgett's Design of Welded Structures, chapter 7 Joint Design and Production may prove somewhat beneficial in proving your case, but it does not specifically state that you cannot place a weld into bending.
One other point, the typical 'Properties of Weld Treated as Line Table' seen in machine design text books does not account for bending stresses in welds. These tables convert bending stress into shear or transversly applied tensile stress on the weld on a per unit length basis. This table can be found in the aforementioned reference to Blodgett.
FYI the Blodgett reference can be purchased from Lincoln Arc Welding for $15.00. You can order from their web site or maybe send them an e-mail to check with the experts. Book stores are much more expensive than the Lincoln company store.
My AISC references where taken from the Manual of Steel Construction, 8 ed. I know it is old, but I left my current edition at work. I don't think these provision have changed or become unfounded in the time between versions.
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
Blodgett's Design of Weldments 2.6-6 Load and Stress Analysis, Analysis of Bending, Rule #4 Place Joints in Low Stress Areas. It further illustrates an example of placing groove butt welds at a point of zero moment to avoid flexing problems. Again not a 'smoking gun' but another reference to not place a single weld in bending about the longitudinal axis of the weld.
The same reference, 3.2 Designing for Fatigue Loads, states that fillet welds and lap joints have a lower fatigue strength due to geometry. He also states again to 'avoid placing a weld in an area which flexes'
A common sense approach,
Watch a welder weld pipe. You cannot clamp your ground to the round pipe, so you fillet weld a piece of bar stock to the pipe to provide a clamp point. You use a one sided fillet weld to make it easier to remove by bending towards the weld.
Best of luck with this. The situation you describe disturbs me. Especially since this single weld (according to the drawing) appears to be taking the largest moment along this 'beam'.
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
"Single fillet welds:
Single fillet welds are limited to low loads. Bending moments that result in tension stresses in the root of a fillet weld should not be permitted because of the notch condition. For this reason, single fillet welds should not be used with lap joints that can rotate under load. The welds should not be subjected to impact loads. When used with fatigue loading, the allowable stress range must be subject to stringent limitations."
AWS Handbook Volume 1, welding technology, eigth edition.
RE: Moments about a line weld with S=0?
Combining this note with the one from the AWS handboook, I am satisfied enough to take this one to task.