Slot welds can be used for connections in cold-formed steel (CFS) structures. However, structural engineers will find AISI S100, "North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members" (AISI 2016) - which can be used for guidance in calculating structural capacity of many welds types - silent on this specific application.Research at the University of Colorado Denver has been directed toward determination of the strength of slot welds in sheet steel. A comprehensive series of tests were performed to determine structural capacity and ductility of various slot weld widths using a metal inert gas (MIG) welding process. A slot weld connection between two pieces of sheet steel was designed, one with punched slots of various widths, and the other a blank piece to receive the weld. Weldability problems associated with slot welds of various widths on galvanized sheet steel were encountered. The testing program to investigate slot widths to address these concerns is reported upon.A program of monotonic tension tests was conducted. This testing program built on 1979 research by Pekoz and McGuire at Cornell University for fillet welds on lap joint specimens. While AISI is silent on slot weld design criteria, the authors found certain slot widths were more advantageous than others.
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