Weldcalcs

The WeldCalcs engineering App builds on the capabilities of the original WeldEquations App.  In addition to computing the section properties for typical welding patterns, the WeldCalcs App also determines the magnitude of the maximum resisting force and the initial size of a fillet weld.  The WeldCalcs App also includes 14 additional Weld Groups commonly used in steel construction for a total of 28 Weld Groups. Sample screen shots from the App are presented below.  

First, select a Weld Group from the list.

Next, input data for the Weld Group dimensions along with any Applied Forces and/or Moments.  After choosing the of Design Method (LRFD or ASD) and setting the Weld Filler Metal Strength (Fexx), tap "CALCULATE" to display the summary calculation results for each quadrant of the Weld Group, which includes the magnitude of the Resisting Resultant Force, the Initial Fillet Weld Size and the Initial Fillet Weld Size rounded up to the nearest 1/16 of an inch.

Tap the “WELD GROUP #” on any screen to display an enlarged view of the current Weld Group and the SX-SY Diagram.

Tapping "Results" presents detailed information regarding the calculations performed by the app for each quadrant of the Weld Group. A summary of the Input Data is listed first.

AVAILABLE WELD GROUPS

METHOD OF SOLUTION

The calculations performed by the WeldCalcs app are based on the Elastic Method.  This approach treats the weld as a line or a group of lines. This allows the weld group section properties to be determined without knowing the size of the weld. The section properties and the applied loads are used in structural engineering formulas to determine the maximum resisting resultant force along the weld.  This resultant force is expressed in terms of force per unit length.

Since the weld is evaluated based on a force per unit length, in lieu of stresses, combining the effects from different load types (shear, axial, moment, torsion) is easily accomplished.  The applied moments and torsions are resolved into vertical, horizontal and axial components and then vectorially combined with the directly applied shears and axial forces. All of the applied loads are assumed to act through the center of gravity of the weld. Therefore, each segment of the weld resists an equal share of the direct shear and axial forces and a proportional share of the bending moments and torsions relative to the weld segment's distance to the centroidal axis of the weld group.

The fillet weld size is determined by dividing the maximum resisting resultant force by the available strength of the weld.  For practicality, both weld dimensions 'd' and 'b' are limited to a minimum value of 0.25 inches and a maximum value of 100 inches. Dimensions 'tw' and 'tf' are limited to a minimum value of 0.125 inches and a maximum value of 10 inches. The applied forces are limited to a range of -99,999 to +99,999 kips. The applied moments are limited to a range of -99,999 to +99,999 kip-inches. The equations for the section properties and resultant forces used by the app are available for reference and manual verification by the user. The general equations for the resisting forces in each quadrant are based on the applied forces and moments all acting in the positive direction.

For the linear and rectangular patterns in weld groups 1-13 & 15-28, the location of the maximum resisting resultant force will typically occur at an end point of a weld segment or at a corner of the weld group. For each weld group quadrant, the section moduli are computed at points that are farthest from the center of gravity with respect to the centroidal axes.

For the circular pattern in weld group 14 an approximate solution is used.  The section properties, the resisting forces and the initial fillet weld size are calculated and displayed at points along the circumference intersected by a radial line located at \u{03B8} angles of 1\u{00B0} increments relative to the portion of the X-X axis in Quadrant Q1.",

APP LIMITATIONS

The WeldCalcs app is intended for users that are educated and experienced with structural engineering principles and the design of welded connections.  The calculations performed by the app to determine the section properties, the resisting forces and the initial fillet weld size are based on the weld group dimensions, the applied loads, the weld metal strength and the design method, as input by the user.

The WeldCalcs app does not account for various code requirements and other considerations that apply to the design of welded connections. These include, but are not limited to: the minimum size of fillet welds, the maximum size of fillet welds, the minimum length of fillet welds, the effective length of fillet welds, the thickness of the base metal, the material strength of the base metal, the joint type, joint fit-up and tolerances, constructability issues, the minimum shelf dimensions for fillet welds, termination details for fillet welds, access necessary to place welds, skewed connections, fillet welds combined with bolts or other weld types, ductility of the weld group, effects due to the load angle, fatigue and high-cycle loading, seismic loads, one-sided fillet welds when lateral deformation is not prevented, shear lag factors, effects from heat distortion due to excessive weld amounts, effects due to restraint against weld shrinkage, effects due to residual stresses in the connected elements, effects due to lamellar tearing, and the welding process used for placing the welds.

The user is responsible for evaluating these code requirements and other considerations which may result in a required fillet weld size that is different from the initial fillet weld size computed by the WeldCalcs app.  The user is responsible for providing the appropriate type of applied loads, factored or unfactored, that is consistent with the Design Method selected (LRFD or ASD).  The app does not apply load factors to the forces and moments input by the user. The values for the Design Method and the weld metal strength, Fexx, are initially set to LRFD and 70 ksi, respectively.  These design parameters are reset to these initial values when a new weld group is selected and when the app is closed and re-opened. The section properties calculated by the WeldCalcs app do not include the effect of corner radii.  A 90° angle is assumed at the intersection of horizontal and vertical weld segments.",

Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions &

LICENSED APPLICATION end user license agreementDownloading, installing, accessing or using the WeldEquations and/or the WeldCalcs and/or the Table8welds Licensed Applications (Apps) requires agreement to the terms and conditions described in Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions by Apple®. This agreement incorporates additional App Store® terms and conditions relating to the licensing of App Store content including, but not limited to, the LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT.  Any Glendale Coding Labs, Inc. App that you acquire via the App Store is governed by the LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (“Standard EULA”), unless Apple or Glendale Coding Labs, Inc. provide an overriding custom license agreement (“Custom EULA”).