On the design of fillet welds made of ultra-high-strength steel

Abstract

Current static design approaches for fillet arc welds made of high- or ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) do not differ from the design of welds made of conventional steels. However, important issues such as potential softening in heat-affected zone (HAZ), strength at fusion lines, optimal reinforcement geometry, load capacity changes due to local bending moment, and the effect of post-weld treatments on the joint strength require careful consideration in order to ensure optimum performance from these steels. This paper reprises results of previous research works and recent findings and summarizes key aspects of weld design specific to UHSS welds.