Factored resistance of welded connections subject to shear and moment

Abstract

The ultimate capacity of eccentrically loaded fillet-welded connections was experimentally determined by Dawe and Kulak. They proposed an analysis technique for such connections based on an assumption of rigid body rotation of the connection plate about the instantaneous center and the use of weld group load–deformation curves. The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) published factored resistance tables for such connections based on this theory. Unfortunately, the theory and design tables can be subjected to the following criticisms : (1) the theory is complex and cannot be easily used for design purposes unless design tables are available; (2) the results from a modified theory were apparently used for comparison with the eight laboratory test results; and (3) the CISC design tables were obtained by using an analysis procedure that does not appear to satisfy all of the design code limitations given by CSA-S16.1-1974.In this paper the author examines the statical behavior of such connections. This study indicates that the overall effect of the last two points is not too serious. The author presents explicit equations approximating the factored load resistance. The use of these equations obviates the first criticism.The design equation developed in this study is very simple; it may be applied with ease in any system of units since it is essentially nondimensional; and it satisfies the specifications of the design code.