Complete-joint-penetration (CJP) groove welds joining the beam flanges to the column flanges provided on the majority of RBS test specimens have been made by the self-shielded flux cored arc welding process (FCAW-S) using electrodes with a minimum specified Charpy V-notch toughness. Three different electrode desig- nations have commonly been used in these tests: E71T-8, E70TG-K2, and E70T-6. Further, for most specimens, the bottom flange backing was removed and a reinforc- ing fillet added, top flange backing was fillet welded to the column, and weld tabs were removed at both the top and bottom flanges.
Test specimens have employed a range of weld access-hole geometries, and results suggest that connection performance is not highly sensitive to the weld access-hole geometry. Consequently, prequalified RBS connections do not require a specific access-hole geometry such as that specified in AWS D1.8/D1.8M, clause 6.11.2 (AWS, 2021). Weld access holes should satisfy the requirements of AISC Specification Section J1.6. The commentary of Section J1.6 shows three alternatives for weld access hole geometry. Alternatives 1 or 2 are preferred for beams with RBS connections, whether the beam is a rolled shape or a built-up shape. Alternative 3 is for built-up shapes assembled after cutting the weld access hole. However, Alternative 3 is not intended for use with built-up shapes where the web is connected to the flanges using CJP groove welds, as required when built-up shapes are used for beams with RBS connections. Consequently, the Alternative 3 weld access hole geometry is not appropriate for RBS connections with built-up beams. Further guidance on weld access hole geometry is provided in AWS D1.1/D1.1M, clause 7.16 (AWS, 2020).