Strength of joints that combine bolts and welds

In steel construction, Sometimes bolts and welds must be combined in a single joint. Provisions for the design of these combination joints can be found in existing specifications, but the design rules generally have not been verified by physical tests. In addition, the rules appear to be illogical in some cases. An experimental study using full-scale tension lap splices that combined high-strength bolts and fillet welds was carried out in order to develop a better understanding of combination joints. The results showed that the orientation of the welds and the bearing condition of the bolts are two key factors that must be considered when determining the extent of load sharing in combination joints. Design recommendations based on the results of this study are presented.