Butt Weld Prequalification 1

[phamENG]

Curious if anyone is aware of a prequalification for the weld shown below. It feels like a 'hold the plate in place' sort of weld. It's a 1/2" plate on top of a W12x65. TC-L1-GF/S comes close, but maxes out at a 3/8" plate. This stuff is existing, and we're adding a small moment to this plate. If I ignore prequalification, then it just barely squeaks by...but if it's not prequalified I can't really put load on it.

(I say existing...this is under construction and I've been asked to design the connection of a component to this column...my gut tells me to add flange plates to the column and be done with it, but it's going to cause a fight with a big firm that I'd like to avoid if there's an ethical way of doing so. The owner is under the impression that this was designed to receive the piece we're adding and my check is more or less a pro forma activity...if I start calling for all sorts of field mods and fabrication it'll likely cause a stink.)

 

[Enable]

I guess your also not at liberty to change weld details at all without it being an issue?

Anyways see if these from CSA W59 work for you (not quite what you need but may help you feel better?).

 

[phamENG]

No, can't change the details. It's already in place. I can add more stuff using bolts (it's galvanized, so field welding is frowned upon for good reason), but what's there is staying.

Your TC-L1 is a little more accommodating with the member thickness. Do those require backing, though?

 

[Enable]

Requires a "back weld" but not a backing bar.

 

[dik]

...with a little care this can be done. From my notes:

-IF WELDING OF HDG STEEL IS REQUIRED, REMOVE ALL GALVANIZING FROM AREAS TO BE WELDED TO PROVIDE 1" MIN BASE METAL AROUND ALL WELDS. WORK SHALL BE DONE IN ACCORD WITH AWS RECOMMENDATION WZC. PROVIDE VENTILATION AS REQUIRED. CLEAN FINISHED WELD AND TOUCH UP WITH TWO COATS OF ZINC RICH PRIMER. PRIMER SHALL OVERLAP EXIST GALVANISING BY 1/2" MIN.
-CONFIRM TOPCOAT, IF APPLIED TO HDG, IS COMPATIBLE WITH HDG MATERIAL.
-RED OXIDE PRIMER SHALL BE USED AS SPEC’D. THE EOR/ARCH HAS SPEC’D THE PRIMER; THE EOR/ARCH SHALL CONFIRM THAT IF A TOPCOAT IS APPLIED, IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PRIMER.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[JLNJ]

If your loads are not too big you might be able to fillet weld the flanges from below.

Another idea is to prepare the plate with a bevel and weld it along the flange.

 

[phamENG]

It's in place already. I'll bolt flange plates on it to develops a proper moment connection before triggering requirements for special inspections of fields welds.

 

[phamENG]

Well I've combed through AWS D1.1, and as far as I can tell this doesn't exist as a prequalified corner joint. So I'll let the fabricator produce a PWS, or they'll have to drill some holes and bolt through the flange. C'est la vie.

 

[dauwerda]

I agree with your conclusion phamENG, I have gone down a similar path previously and came to the same conclusion.