Weld　beading　is　one　of　the　typical　welding　defects　commonly　found　in　steel　connections.　Severe　defects　of　weld　beadings　may　significantly　decrease　the　welding　quality　between　the　steel　components;　therefore,　improving　the　safety　risk　in　steel　connection　joints.　To　obtain　a　prediction　model　for　shear　resistance　of　frontal　fillet　weld　(FFW)　with　weld　beading　defects,　the　influence　laws　of　the　weld　beading　on　the　shear　properties　of　(FFW)　was　investigated　in　terms　of　the　uniaxial　shear　loading　test　on　90　FFW　specimens.　The　test　results　show　that　FFW　specimens　with　a　higher　number　of　weld　beads　as　well　as　greater　toe　height　tend　to　suffer　shear　failure　on　one　side　of　the　weld.　The　contribution　of　the　extended　weld　length　to　the　strengthening　of　the　ultimate　shear　load　capacity　of　FFW　specimens　with　weld　defects　is　limited,　while　the　amplification　of　the　ductility　ratio　and　initial　shear　stiffness　is　more　pronounced.　When　the　weld　length　exceeds　200　mm,　the　difference　in　weld　toe　height　should　be　fully　considered　for　the　influence　on　the　shear　properties　of　the　frontal　fillet　weld.　Moreover,　if　the　ratio　of　weld　diameter　to　weld　toe　height　is　greater　than　2,　the　impact　of　weld　defects　on　FFW　shear　properties　rises　sharply　as　the　weld　diameter　increases.　A　prediction　model　for　the　shear　load　capacity　of　FFWs　with　weld　beading　defects　is　proposed,　which　matches　well　with　the　test　results　and　can　serve　as　guidance　for　assessing　the　shear　performance　of　FFWs　with　weld　beading　defects.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd