Weld Acceptance Criteria for Seismically Loaded Steel Structures

Fracture mechanics can be used to determine allowable flaw sizes for welds in steel structures. Models are developed, both for pull-plate tests and for building connections. Building connections are more severe because of stress concentration in the center of the weld length and column bending. Ultrasonic acceptance criteria are described, based on size of flaw, for surface and embedded flaws.