A Study of Strength and Behavior of Angle Welded Connection by Full-scale Tests

American Institute of Steel Construction Specification (AISC) recommends that design of welded end connection of single angle, double angle, and similar members need not consider the effect of eccentricity. However, the eccentricity in the angle may affect strength of the connections, especially welded connection at the end of single angles which out-of-plane bending naturally occurs. This research was aimed to study the effects of eccentricity on the strength and behavior of the welded connection in the angle tension member by experiments. Specimens included single and double angles with balanced and unbalanced weld arrangements and various lengths and gauges of the welded connection. Every specimen was designed so that weld rupture would be the governing limit state. The results showed that unbalanced weld arrangements, increased gauge lengths due to sizes of angles, and out-of-plane bending could altogether reduce weld rupture strength from nominal value up to 20 %.  In addition, lengths of welds used in the research, which were less than 100 times weld thickness, the number within the recommended values by AISC, results in weld strength being 20% below the predicted values in many cases.