Strength of Fillet and Flare-Bevel Welded Connections in 2.5 mm Duragal Angle Sections (No. R805)

This report presents the laboratory test results on fillet and flare-bevel welded truss connections in 5 50× 50× 2. DuraGal® angle sections. The arc welded connections between the DuraGal® sections and 10-mm hot-rolled steel plates were fabricated using the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process. It was found that failures of the fillet and the flare-bevel welds occurred in both the weld metal and the DuraGal® angle section. The ultimate test loads of the connection specimens were compared with their predicted failure loads and their nominal capacities computed using the equations specified in the cold-formed steel standard AS/NZS 4600:1996 and the steel structures code AS 4100-1998, respectively. It is concluded through a reliability analysis that Clauses 5.2.3.2(a) and 5.2.6.2(3) of AS/NZS 4600 may be used to design fillet and flare-bevel welded connections in 2.5-mm DuraGal® angle sections, respectively. The use of Clause 9.7.3.10 of AS 4100 to compute the nominal capacities of the fillet and the flare-bevel welded connections in 2.5-mm DuraGal® angle sections fabricated in the present work was found to be conservative