Weld Group Tool Analyze and Design Eccentrically Loaded Weld Groups
What is the Weld Group Tool?
Structural Central's Weld Group Tool is structural engineering software that allows you to quickly generate the calculations required to analyze an eccentrically loaded group of welds used in a structural connection and design the welds for the required strength.
The calculations consider a load that is oriented in any direction, and use it to determine the shear stress in each weld. This gives you the ratio of the applied load to the maximum weld stress (weld group coefficient), which can then be used to determine the total load-carrying capacity of the welds.
▸ Inputs
▸ Drawing
▸ Results Summary
▸ Calculations
Interface Preview
How does the software work?
INPUT
OUTPUT
Weld Pattern & Dimensions
Weld Stresses
Applied Load Location & Direction
Weld Size & Electrode
Weld Group Capacity
What can the Weld Group Tool do?
Weld Group Tool Features
Weld Patterns
Determine the load-carrying capacity of the following weld patterns: single, double, L-shaped, C-shaped, and rectangular in any orientation. These are the weld patterns that are commonly found in steel connections.
SingleDouble
L-ShapedC-ShapedRectangular
Elastic and Inelastic Methods
The two most common analysis methods for welded connections are included, so you can select whichever method applies to your design. The procedures for both of these methods are as described in Part 8 of the Steel Construction Manual produced by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).
Analyze or Design
The calculations automatically adjust, based on your input, to be just for analysis or also design. The ratio of the applied load to the maximum weld linear reaction is always determined, but if you also provide the design load, the minimum weld size will be found. Alternatively, you can provide the weld size, and then the stresses in the welds will be calculated instead.
Design Code
Calculate weld capacities per the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360) which is the Referenced Standard for steel design of the International Building Code (IBC).
Design Criteria
Determine the strength of the welds using Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) or Allowable Strength Design (ASD).
The nominal stress of the weld metal will be for the E70 electrode by default which is the matching filler metal for the preferred material specifications for structural shapes and plates, or you can select another welding electrode, or just set the nominal stress, FEXX, directly.
Factored or Unfactored Loads
The applied load can be entered as either a single load or as multiple loads with different load types (Dead, Live, Wind, etc). Multiple loads will be combined automatically using the LRFD or ASD load combinations provided by Chapter 16 of the International Building Code.
Instant Results
The inelastic method, or instantaneous center of rotation method, is normally an iterative procedure that requires guessing many points of rotation until equilibrium is met. The Weld Group Tool includes an algorithm for identifying this location automatically, so you don't have to.
What do the calculations look like?
Are there other structural engineering calculators available?
It is free to sign up for Structural Central, which will allow you to access all of the tools. In the future, some features will be limited to users with paid licenses such as saving and printing.
How do I get started?
Click the sign up button below, confirm your email address, and then start generating structural engineering calculations!
