how-to-calculate-throat-size-of-fillet-weld

Design of Fillet Welded Connections

The calculation of a fillet weld size or let us say dimensions for throat size (a) or leg length (z) is the task of the design engineer for the welded part.

This calculation is based on the type of loading, the amount of loading, and other operational factors.

The design strength of a fillet weld depends on the (as highlighted in the below sketch):

Design strength = Theoretical throat (a) X Effective weld length (L)

Figure 1. Nomenclature of fillet weld dimensions

Concave or Convex or flat fillet weld

Concave fillet weld is better for stress flow compare to convex fillet weld condition to that the size of the fillet welds meets the minimum throat size.

Although due to less weld volume in the weld throat zone, during weld solidification & shrinkage stresses, concave fillet welds are prone to have cracking issues if sufficient weld volume is not present to withstand those stresses.

Figure 2. Mitre, Convex, and Concave fillet weld

Minimum size of fillet weld

Often, in fabrication, it happens many instances where a fillet weld size is not clear on the given in the drawings. , Sometimes, the weld size details are missing.

Under such conditions, we should consult the designer for the required fillet weld size. Otherwise, as a thumb rule, weld a minimum of 2 weld passes with a leg size of 0.25 inches (6 millimeters).

Minimum fillet size required according to AWS D1.1: If fillet weld size is not specified in the drawing, the general guidelines of AWS D1.1, Table 7.7 shall be followed.

The table below gives the minimum fillet size required for different base metal thicknesses.

Table 1. Minimum fillet size requirement

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) 360-16 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings you’ll find this on Table J2.4 as given below:

Maximum size of fillet weld

The maximum size of fillet weld will be= 0.7 x T, where T is the base metal thickness. In case of dissimilar thickness, we should consider the thinner base metal thickness.

Use the Fillet weld size formula to calculate fillet size.

The reason is the thin member will fail first in case of the applied stresses value exceed. Making a fillet weld considering the thickness of thick member, will add no additional weld joint strength.

Types of loading in fillet welds:

Fillet welds joints are most commonly used in fabrication and structures. A fillet weld joint can be loaded in any direction in shear, compression, or tension loading. However, fillet weld always fails in shear loading.

The shear failure of the fillet weld happens along a plane through the throat of the weld, as shown in the Figure below.

Throat size (a) to Leg length (Z) conversion formula

The throat size ‘a’ size is calculated from the previous corner of the workpiece before welding until the 45° created middle of the welding seam.

The sidewall – connection between the welding seam and the base material is called – ‘z’. The ‘a’ size is nothing more than the Hypotenuse of an isosceles triangle.

For a fillet weld with equal leg lengths, the cross-section triangle is a right-angle triangle with angles of 45 degrees in each corner. The relationship between weld throat ‘a’, and leg length z is given by:
a ≈ 0.7z and z ≈ 1.4 a
(For the maths loving people, we can say: 0.7 is 1/√2 and 1.4 is √2).