What is the effective area of a 5/16 inch fillet weld connecting two 1/2 inch steel plates in a "T" configuration with a length of 6 inches?

To determine the effective area of a 5/16 inch fillet weld connecting two 1/2 inch steel plates in a "T" configuration, you must calculate the area based on the dimensions of the weld and the length of the weld.

The effective throat thickness of a fillet weld is calculated as a function of the leg size. For a fillet weld, the throat thickness can be found by taking the leg size (in this case, the size of the weld, which is 5/16 inches) and multiplying it by a factor of 0.707 (the sine of 45 degrees), because fillet welds form a right triangle between the weld legs and the throat.

First, calculate the throat thickness:

Throat thickness = Leg size × 0.707 Throat thickness = (5/16 inches) × 0.707 ≈ 0.1101 inches

Next, to find the effective area, multiply the throat thickness by the length of the weld. The length of the fillet weld is given as 6 inches.

Effective area = Throat thickness × Length Effective area = 0.1101 inches × 6 inches ≈ 0.6606 sq. in