scope:

The program leading to this report was formally initiated by Battelle-Columbus Laboratories' proposal to the Welding Research Council dated December 13, 1974. At that time, Welding Research Council Bulletin No. 193 (April, 1974) had been prepared by P. W. Marshall and constituted an excellent review of available data relevant to tubular joint design. However, there was an assumption that a substantial amount of unpublished data existed which, if acquired and evaluated, would add significantly to the published data. Accordingly, one of the goals of the program was to acquire this unpublished data, along with published data.