Tensile strength of a specific electrode for an existing weld

[Logan82]

Hi,

On the datasheet of the electrode ESAB C6M (CWB CSA W48 E491C-6M-H4), it says on the electrode datasheet that the typical Tensile strength is 550 MPa.

Would you say it is safe to use this tensile strength for a structural calculation of an existing weld instead of using the minimum of 490 MPa specified by the CSA W48 for an electrode E490? The weld is on an handrail. I know that this is the electrode that was used by the contractor.

Thank you in advance!

 

[JStephen]

If the code specifies a MINIMUM tensile strength and they show TYPICAL tensile strength, that sounds like two different things.
Check wording and definitions in the code if possible.
If you can get clarification from the manufacturer that the TYPICAL values are also the minimum values that should be used for design, that would help clear things up.
In my mind, I'm equating "typical" with "average", which, if you have some variation up and down, is not "minimum".

 

[SWComposites]

No. Typical does not mean the strength of the particular wed rod you have; rather it means the average of a large number of weld rods tested. Your only “guarantee” is that a given weld rod has strength equal or higher than the min value.

 

[desertfox]

Definitely not, the yield strength is not the tensile strength. Yield strength is the point at which a bar or rod will not return to its original length on releasing the force stretching it and normally this would be considered a failure. The tensile strength is where the rod eventually breaks into two parts.

“Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater.” Albert Einstein

 

[Logan82]

Definitely not, the yield strength is not the tensile strength.

I am interested by the ultimate strength (Xu), not the yield strength.

If I am not mistaken, coefficients of reduction of material are used to account for the probability of a material with a lower strength than the average.

The CSA S16-19 Design of steel structures specifically says that "Xu = ultimate strength as rated by the electrode classification number". This code is for design only. In my case, I am doing a structural evaluation, however I haven't found see any code provision for structural evaluation, so I will use the design code.

 

[desertfox]

Perhaps I read your original post incorrectly I read 480Mpa for the yield on the data sheet you posted which seems pretty close to the 490Mpa you quoted in your message but when I responded I hadn’t noticed that difference

“Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater.” Albert Einstein