Cracked Column Flanges in Steel Moment Frame Buildings: Considerations for Their Repair including Report on Tests on Volumetric Weld Repairs

This paper presents recommendations on the repair of cracked columns based upon the writers’ experiences, found from repair of cracked column flanges following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. This paper also describes tests carried out using volumetric weld repairs on thick plates to evaluate acceptable procedures for the repair of column flanges with partial cracks damaged from earthquakes. Cracks were often found in the bottom flange of welded joints. In some cases, cracks propagated into column flanges, and in a few cases into their webs. Repairs of cracked welded joints are discussed at some length in other documents and thus are not part of the scope of this paper. One method for the repair of cracked columns involves replacement of the column flange with a new plate. Another method of repair involves the use of volumetric welds to replace the cracked portion of the column flange. This paper includes a description of the development of procedures and limited testing to assess the adequacy of the volumetric repair method of partial column cracks.