Longitudinal Fillet Welds in Thin Cold-Formed RHS Members

Abstract

This paper describes welded connection tests that were performed on square (SHS) and rectangular hollow sections (RHS) with a thickness ranging from 1.6 to 3.0 mm. Longitudinal fillet welds were tested. The test results are compared with existing American, Australian, Canadian, and European design formulas. The effect of the direction of loading, the weld length, the end return welds, and the orientation of an RHS on the weld strength are studied. Proposed design formulas are given. The reliability analysis method is used to calibrate the existing and proposed design formulas.