496 Chapter 8 Eccentric Connections

and from AISC Equation J3-3b, the nominal tensile stress is

ΩFnt
Fnt′ = 1.3Fnt − frv ≤ Fnt
Fnv
2.00(90)
= 1.3(90) − (16.98) = 60.40 ksi < 90 ksi
54
The allowable tensile strength is

Rn Fnt′ Ab 60.40(0.4418)
= = = 13.3 kips > 6.875 kiips (OK)
Ω Ω 2.00

ANSWER The connection is satisfactory.

When bolts in slip-critical connections are subjected to tension, the slip-critical

strength is ordinarily reduced by the factor given in AISC J3.9 (see Section 7.9). The
reason is that the clamping effect, and hence the friction force, is reduced. In a con-
nection of the type just considered, however, there is additional compression on the
lower part of the connection that increases the friction, thereby compensating for the
reduction in the upper part of the connection. For this reason, the slip-critical strength
should not be reduced in this type of connection.

8.4 ECCENTRIC WELDED CONNECTIONS:

SHEAR ONLY
Eccentric welded connections are analyzed in much the same way as bolted connec-
tions, except that unit lengths of weld replace individual fasteners in the computa-
tions. As in the case of eccentric bolted connections loaded in shear, welded shear
connections can be investigated by either elastic or ultimate strength methods.

Elastic Analysis
The load on the bracket shown in Figure 8.16a may be considered to act in the plane of
the weld—that is, the plane of the throat. If this slight approximation is made, the load
will be resisted by the area of weld shown in Figure 8.16b. Computations are simpli-
fied, however, if a unit throat dimension is used. The calculated load can then be
multiplied by 0.707 times the weld size to obtain the actual load.
 8.4 Eccentric Welded Connections: Shear Only 497

FIGURE 8.16

An eccentric load in the plane of the weld subjects the weld to both direct shear
and torsional shear. Since all elements of the weld receive an equal portion of the
direct shear, the direct shear stress is
P
f1 =
L
where L is the total length of the weld and numerically equals the shear area, because
a unit throat size has been assumed. If rectangular components are used,
Px Py
f1x = and f1 y =
L L
where Px and Py are the x and y components of the applied load. The shearing stress
caused by the couple is found with the torsion formula
Md
f2 =
J
where
d = distance from the centroid of the shear area to the point where the stress is
being computed
J = polar moment of inertia of that area

Figure 8.17 shows this stress at the upper right-hand corner of the given weld. In
terms of rectangular components,
My Mx
f2 x = and f2 y =
J J

FIGURE 8.17
498 Chapter 8 Eccentric Connections

Also,

J = ∫ r 2 dA = ∫ ( x 2 + y 2 ) dA = ∫ x 2 dA + ∫ y 2 dA = I y + I x
A A A A

where Ix and Iy are the rectangular moments of inertia of the shear area. Once all
rectangular components have been found, they can be added vectorially to obtain the
resultant shearing stress at the point of interest, or

fv = (∑ f x ) 2 + (∑ f y ) 2

As with bolted connections, the critical location for this resultant stress can usually
be determined from an inspection of the relative magnitudes and directions of the di-
rect and torsional shearing stress components.
Because a unit width of weld is used, the computations for centroid and moment
of inertia are the same as for a line. In this book, we treat all weld segments as line
segments, which we assume to be the same length as the edge of the connected part
that they are adjacent to. Furthermore, we neglect the moment of inertia of a line seg-
ment about the axis coinciding with the line.

EXAMPLE 8.5

Determine the size of weld required for the bracket connection in Figure 8.18. The
service dead load is 10 kips, and the service live load is 30 kips. A36 steel is used
for the bracket, and A992 steel is used for the column.
FIGURE 8.18
 8.4 Eccentric Welded Connections: Shear Only 499

LRFD Pu = 1.2D + 1.6L = 1.2(10) + 1.6(30) = 60 kips

SOLUTION
The eccentric load may be replaced by a concentric load and a couple, as shown in
Figure 8.18. The direct shearing stress is the same for all segments of the weld and
is equal to
60 60
f1 y = = = 2.143 ksi
8 + 12 + 8 28
Before computing the torsional component of shearing stress, the location of the
centroid of the weld shear area must be determined. From the principle of moments
with summation of moments about the y axis,
x (28) = 8(4)(2) or x = 2.286 in.

The eccentricity e is 10 + 8 – 2.286 = 15.71 in., and the torsional moment is

M = Pe = 60(15.71) = 942.6 in.-kips
If the moment of inertia of each horizontal weld about its own centroidal axis is
neglected, the moment of inertia of the total weld area about its horizontal centroidal
axis is
1
Ix = (1)(12)3 + 2(8)(6)2 = 720.0 in.4
12
Similarly,

I y = 2 ⎡ (1)(8)3 + 8(4 − 2.286)2 ⎤ + 12(2.286)2 = 195.0 in.4

1
⎢⎣ 12 ⎥⎦
and
J = Ix + Iy = 720.0 + 195.0 = 915.0 in.4

Figure 8.18 shows the directions of both components of stress at each corner
of the connection. By inspection, either the upper right-hand corner or the lower
right-hand corner may be taken as the critical location. If the lower right-hand cor-
ner is selected,
My 942.6(6)
f2 x = = = 6.181 ksi
J 915.0
Mx 942.6(8 − 2.286)
f2 y = = = 5.886 ksi
J 915.0
fv = (6.181)2 + (2.143 + 5.886)2 = 10.13 ksi = 10.13 kips兾 in.
for a unit throat dimension.
Check the strength of the base metal. The bracket is the thinner of the connected parts
and controls. From Equation 7.35, the base-metal shear yield strength per unit length is
⎛ 9⎞
φ Rn = 0.6 Fy t = 0.6(36) ⎜ ⎟ = 12.2 kips兾in.
⎝ 16 ⎠
500 Chapter 8 Eccentric Connections

From Equation 7.36, the base-metal shear rupture strength per unit length is

⎛ 9⎞
φ Rn = 0.45Fu t = 0.45(58) ⎜ ⎟ = 14.7 kips兾in.
⎝ 16 ⎠

The base metal shear strength is therefore 12.2 kips兾in. > 10.13 kips兾in. (OK)
From Equation 7.29, the weld strength per inch is

φ Rn = φ ( 0.707 wFnw )
The matching electrode for A36 steel is E70. Because the load direction varies on
each weld segment, the weld shear strength varies, but for simplicity, we will con-
servatively use Fnw = 0.6FEXX for the entire weld. The required weld size is therefore

φ Rn 10.13
w= = = 0.455 in.
φ (0.707) Fnw 0.75(0.707)(0.6 × 70)
Alternatively, for E70 electrodes, fRn = 1.392 kips兾in. per sixteenth of an inch in
size. The required size in sixteenths is therefore

10.13 8 1
= 7.3 sixteenths use in. = in.
1.392 16 2

ANSWER Use a 1⁄2-inch fillet weld, E70 electrode.

ASD The total load is Pa = D + L =10 + 30 = 40 kips.

SOLUTION
The eccentric load may be replaced by a concentric load and a couple, as shown in
Figure 8.18. The direct shearing stress is the same for all segments of the weld and
is equal to
40 40
f1 y = = = 1.429 ksi
8 + 12 + 8 28
To locate the centroid of the weld shear area, use the principle of moments with
summation of moments about the y axis.
x–(28) = 8(4)(2) or x– = 2.286 in.
The eccentricity e is 10 + 8 − 2.286 = 15.71 in., and the torsional moment is
M = Pe = 40(15.71) = 628.4 in.-kips
If the moment of inertia of each horizontal weld about its own centroidal axis is
neglected, the moment of inertia of the total weld area about its horizontal centroidal
axis is
1
Ix = (1)(12)3 + 2(8)(6)2 = 720.0 in.4
12
 8.4 Eccentric Welded Connections: Shear Only 501

Similarly,

⎡1 ⎤
I y = 2 ⎢ (1)(8)3 + 8(4 − 2.286)2 ⎥ + 12(2.286)2 = 195.0 in.4
⎣ 12 ⎦
and
J = Ix + Iy = 720.0 + 195.0 = 915.0 in.4
Figure 8.18 shows the directions of both components of stress at each corner
of the connection. By inspection, either the upper right-hand corner or the lower
right-hand corner may be taken as the critical location. If the lower right-hand cor-
ner is selected,
My 628.4(6)
f2 x = = = 4.121 ksi
J 915.0
Mx 628.4(8 − 2.286)
f2 y = = = 3.924 ksi
J 915.0
fv = (4.121)2 + (1.429 + 3.924)2 = 6.756 ksi = 6.756 kips兾in.
for a unit throat dimension.
Check the strength of the base metal. The bracket is the thinner of the connected
parts and controls. From Equation 7.37, the base metal shear yield strength per
unit length is

Rn ⎛ 9⎞
= 0.4 Fy t = 0.4(36) ⎜ ⎟ = 8.10 kips兾in.
Ω ⎝ 16 ⎠

From Equation 7.38, the base metal shear rupture strength per unit length is

Rn ⎛ 9⎞
= 0.3Fu t = 0.3(58) ⎜ ⎟ = 9.79 kips兾in.
Ω ⎝ 16 ⎠

The base metal shear strength is therefore 8.10 kips兾in. > 6.756 kips兾in. (OK)
From Equation 7.30, the weld strength per inch is

Rn 0.707wFnw
=
Ω Ω
The matching electrode for A36 steel is E70. Because the load direction varies on
each weld segment, the weld shear strength varies, but for simplicity, we will
conservatively use Fnw = 0.6FEXX for the entire weld. The required weld size is,
therefore,
Ω( Rn 兾Ω) Ω( fv ) 2.00(6.756) 1
w= = = = 0.455 in. ∴ Use in.
0.707 Fnw 0.707 Fnw 0.7077(0.6 × 70) 2