Evaluation of mechanical properties of electric resistance welded light gauge H-sections

This study investigates the mechanical properties and structural performance of electric resistance welded (ERW) light gauge H-sections. A combination of microstructural analysis, hardness testing, and tensile-shear tests was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and weld joints. The results revealed significant increases in hardness and strength in the HAZ compared to the base metal, attributed to localized heating during the ERW process. A tensile-shear test method was proposed to assess the shear performance of the web-flange joint, and a finite element analysis was conducted to support the experimental findings and explore additional parameters influencing joint behaviour. While the HAZ exhibited higher strength than the base metal, tests also showed that insufficient weld size or welding defects could lead to local failure in the welded region. These findings suggest that the proposed tensile-shear test can be used as a practical method for evaluating the weld quality of factory-manufactured ERW light gauge H-sections. The study contributes to establishing a performance-based evaluation approach for light gauge welded joints under shear loading.