UW-15 WELDED CONNECTIONS pressure parts within the limitations given elsewhere in

this Division. Particular care shall be taken in the layout

(a) Nozzles, other connections, and their reinforcements of joints in which fillet welds are to be used in order to
may be attached to pressure vessels by welding. assure complete fusion at the root of the fillet.
Sufficient welding shall be provided on either side of (b) Corner or tee joints may be made with fillet welds
the line through the center of the opening parallel to provided the plates are properly supported independently
the longitudinal axis of the shell to develop the strength of such welds, except that independent supports
of the reinforcing parts as prescribed in UG-41 through are not required for joints used for the purposes
shear or tension in the weld, whichever is applicable. enumerated
The strength of groove welds shall be based on the area in UG-55.
subjected to shear or to tension. The strength of fillet (c) Figures UW-13.1 and UW-13.2 show several
welds shall be based on the area subjected to shear construction
(computed details that are not permissible.
on the minimum leg dimension). The inside diameter (d) Unless the sizing basis is given elsewhere in this
of a fillet weld shall be used in figuring its length. Division, the maximum allowable load on fillet welds shall
(b) Strength calculations for nozzle attachment welds equal the product of the weld area (based on minimum
for pressure loading are not required for the following: leg dimension), the maximum allowable stress value in
(1) Figure UW-16.1, sketches (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), tension of the material being welded, and a joint efficiency
(f‐1), (f‐2), (f‐3), (f‐4), (g), (x‐1), (y‐1), and (z‐1), and all of 55%.
the sketches in Figures UHT-18.1 and UHT-18.2
(2) openings that are exempt from the reinforcement
requirements by UG-36(c)(3)
(3) openings designed in accordance with the rules
for ligaments in UG-53
(c) The allowable stress values for groove and fillet
welds in percentages of stress values for the vessel material,
which are used with UG-41 calculations, are as
follows:
(1) groove‐weld tension, 74%
(2) groove‐weld shear, 60%
(3) fillet‐weld shear, 49%
NOTE: These values are obtained by combining the following factors:
871/2% for combined end and side loading, 80% for shear strength,
and the applicable joint efficiency factors.

UW-18 FILLET WELDS

(a) Fillet welds may be employed as strength welds for