Formi:
Obviously, you don’t have a normal flange to web welding situation in the last set of sketches you have shown, or with material which is that thick. You are not trying to tie parts together the way we might in building up a normal WF or box shape. But, you must account for any shear flow which might occur btwn. the various parts and you must pay attention to individual pl. buckling, as well as total section buckling, where shear flow comes back into play. Then, you will have some special welding considerations w.r.t. AWS and AISC and min./max. weld sizes vs. plate thickness. Actually this is really a heat input issue, so that the large heat sinks/plates don’t cool the weld so quickly that it cracks or causes inferior HAZ’s. That means pre and post weld heating to the proper temps. and time durations. Then, you have an AISC ‘end bearing’ issue, you must end mill these types of heavy sections for good bearing. Finally, I can imagine some load transfer problems when sections or individual plates change sizes and locations; end splices will be complicated. I don’t think much of this requires full pen. welds, just imagine what a night mare that would be, in terms of prep. and weld costs and in terms of final section deformation from welding. Butt splices (in compression) btwn. pieces of pl. probably do need full pen. welding, and pl. edge prep. will be critical for fit-up and welding. You would weld something like this section from the middle outward, with much welding automation, repositioning for welding and deformation control.