Experimental research on shear performance of frontal fillet weld with beading defects

Abstract

Weld beading is one of the typical welding defects commonly found in steel connections. Severe defects of weld beadings may significantly decrease the welding quality between the steel components; therefore, improving the safety risk in steel connection joints. To obtain a prediction model for shear resistance of frontal fillet weld (FFW) with weld beading defects, the influence laws of the weld beading on the shear properties of (FFW) was investigated in terms of the uniaxial shear loading test on 90 FFW specimens. The test results show that FFW specimens with a higher number of weld beads as well as greater toe height tend to suffer shear failure on one side of the weld. The contribution of the extended weld length to the strengthening of the ultimate shear load capacity of FFW specimens with weld defects is limited, while the amplification of the ductility ratio and initial shear stiffness is more pronounced. When the weld length exceeds 200 mm, the difference in weld toe height should be fully considered for the influence on the shear properties of the frontal fillet weld. Moreover, if the ratio of weld diameter to weld toe height is greater than 2, the impact of weld defects on FFW shear properties rises sharply as the weld diameter increases. A prediction model for the shear load capacity of FFWs with weld beading defects is proposed, which matches well with the test results and can serve as guidance for assessing the shear performance of FFWs with weld beading defects.