A multi-segment tube is one that is cut and welded to another tube before attaching to the main hoop. The critical factor is whether the bending moments in the shoulder harness bar are transferred across a weld. It is ok to weld a brace to a continuous shoulder harness bar, but is to not acceptable to have the bending loads go across a weld. In a frontal impact the shoulder harness bar is expected to yield plastically, so loading (bending) through the brittle heat effected zone is not allowed.
John Burford