CHAPfER s-WELD JOII,¡T GEOi'ETRT AND WELDING TERMINOLOGY

APPLICABLEWELDS
BEVEL GFIOOT/E U€R@VE
FLARE BEVEL GROcn/E V.GROO'E
FLAREV€E@VE EDGE FIA}¡GE
J.GFIOC»'E BRAZE
SQTJARE GROOI/E

{A) BUTTJo|NT

APruCABLEWELDS
FILLET CORNERFLANGE
BEVELGFOCVE EDGEFLANGE
FLAREBEVELGROOVE PLUG
FLARE V€ROO/E SLOT
J.GROC}'VE SPOT
SOUAREGROOr'E SEAU
U.GROO/E PROJECTIO}I
V.GROCn/E BFAZE

(B) COñNEB JOlf.¡T

APPUGABLEWELDS

FILLET SLOT
BEVEL GROO/E SPOT
FLARE BEVEL GROO/E SEAM
J€ROCI/E PRO.,|ECTION
SOUABE GROO\IE BRAZE
PLUG

(clT-rotHT

APruCABLEWELDS
FILLET SLOT
BEVELGRO'VE SPOT
FLAREBEVELGROO/E SEAM
FLAFEV€ROC'I/E PAo.'ECTIOT,¡
J.GROO/E BBAZE
PLUG

(D) LAP Jo,lilT

APPLICABLE WELDS
BEVELGBOO/E V€BOü/E
FLAFE BEVELGROcn/E EDGE
FLARE V.GBOC'VE COBNER FLANGE
J.GHOOVE EDGE FLANGE
GROOIIE
SOIJARE SEAM
I,J.GROc,l/E

(E) EOGE J(}INT

Figune S.l-Joint Types

49
CHAPTER s_WELD JOINT GEOIIETRY AND WELDING TERMI}¡OLOGY

joint configuration, these features may assume slightly

dtfferent shapes (see Flgure 5.2).
A perfect example of thls ls the joint ¡oor, or 'that
portion of a joint to be welded where the members ap-
proach closest to each other. In cross section. theJolnt
root may be either a point. llne, or an area.-
Some other related terms are groove face, root face.
and root edge. By deflnitlon, groove faceis'that surface
of a member tncluded in the groove.' The root lace (also
commonly called the land. nose. or flat) ls 'that portlon
of the groove face adJacent to theJoint root.' The rDor
edge is dellned as 'a root face of zero wldth.'
Terms describlng actual shapes and dlmemlons a¡e
some of the other features that the welding lnspector may
be required to describe. Because these elemens are often
essential va¡iables for weld lng procedu re spec lñcarlons,
the welding inspector may be requlred to actually mea-
sure lhe elements to judge thelr compliance with applica-
ble drawings or other documens.
The rpol opening G"p) is described as 'a separaüon
benpeen the workpieces at theJoint r«Dt.' The áerel (also
referred to as chamfer) is 'an angular edge slope.' The
fuel anglels defined as 'the angle benryeen the ber¡el of a
jolnt member and a plane perpendicular to the surface of
the member.- The groove anglels'the total included
The ASME code llsts ttr¡ee t)"cs of rarl¡bles for ueld-
lng procedure specl0catlons (WPSs). Estcntlal ttart-
ablaa¡e ú§€ ln whld¡ change ls o¡rsldercd to alect
mechantcal propertles of the rcldJolnl or weldn¡nt.
For example, t ch¡ngÉ h tlr b6e rMl, weldln3 pro-
cess, flller nreul. prehea. or pcnreld heat úeatmenu
Supplemeatary essenttal varlables a¡e v¡rl¡bles ln
whlch churge ls onsldered to ¡ffcct ttrc notch toryh-
ness of the weld meul or the hest-sffected zone. A
change tn the weldlng process, verdcal up or do,vn
weldlng, heal lnpuL and/or pehert rre ocamples of
supplenentary esscntlal varlables. A clunge tn ellher
essentlal u supplanrentary essendal vrrlabtes rqulre
tha¡ rl* WPS be reqrnllflcd. Nsrsser¡rhl r¡¡rlebles are
tlrose ln wt¡ldr a drarge rmy be rnade ln Úrc WPS utllh-
out üe need fc rcqr¡allic¡don. AW§ Dl.l lt*s esim-
ttal v¡rtables rcqutrlngrl{PS rcqutll§Esüm fOi, *e
SMAW. SAW, GMAW, FCAW. srd GÍA\A, procosil§.
angle ofthe groove between workpieces.' For a slngle-
bevel-groove weld, the bevel angle and the groove angle
are equal. The final teÍn, grwve radlus, applles only to J-
and U-groove welds and is descrlbed as 'the radlus us€d
to form the shape of a J" or U-groove weld.- Normally, a

1. FOOTOPENING: A separalion ar the jcint root bólmür tha worlqr.ra6"

2. ROOTFACE: Thsl portion ol th6 groot¡o feco aqac.nl to thc idnt ImL

3. GROOVE FACE: Ths surlaca ot a iint m€mbor hdudod ln th€ gtoot/€.

A. EEVELANGLE: Th€ and€ loñr6d botrvoon th6 pr€parÉd odg€ d a mornbet

and a plane po¡p€ndicular to th€ surlacc ol lha tñernbor'

5. GHOO/E ANGLE: fh6 total induded angb ol thc groovr b6twü6ñ u,orkpi€cEs.
6. GFOOI/E WELD SIZE: The ioinl ponotrarion ol a grow weld.

7. PrrTE THICKNESS (f): Thid<ne¡s ol tho basc molalr lo bo $roUod.

Figure 5.Z-Groove Wcld

50
 CHAPTER 5-WELD JOINT GEOMEÍRY AND WELDING TERMINOLOGY

J- or U-groove weld conflguration is speclfied by both a (5) U-groove weld

bevel (or groove) angle and a groove radius. (6) Flare-bevel- groove weld
Figure 5.3 illustrates the various parts of a flllet weld. (7) Flare-V-groove weld
(8) Flllet weld
(e) Edge weld
Types of Welds (10) Edge-flange weld

There are numerous welds that can be applied to üe (l l) Corner-flange weld

various types ofjolns. According to AWS A3.0. there are (r2t Spot weld
18 basic types of welds used in arc welding: (13) Seam weld
(l 4) Plug weld
(l) Square-groove weld (l 5) Slot weld
(2) Bevel-groove weld (¡6) Surfacing weld
(3) V-groove weld (l 7) Back weld
(4) J-groove weld (18) Backing weld

1. FILLETWELDTHROAf
a. THEORETICALTHROAT:
The distanco troñl üe beginning ol the idnt root p€rpendkrdar lo the
hlDolonuss of lho Lergost righl lríangle lhat can b€ insctibed within lhe
cross soci¡ori ol a ñllot weH. This dimensim is bas€d on tha assurnption
that the root op€ning is 6qual lo z610.

b. EFFECTIVETHROAI The minimum distarrce minus arry coovexi§ b€lw€€n lhe wdd rooi and
the lace ol a filcl weH.

c. ACTUALTHROAT: The shortest d¡stance behvoon the wdd rod and lh6 lac€ ol the fitet ureld.

2- WELD ROOT: The pornts, sfiolm in a cross seclion, al whicñ the root 6urfac€ inters€c{B
lho basa metál sulac€s.

3, FILLET WELD LEG: The dislance lro.ri the icinl root to the loe ol the fikt wdd.
4. WELD TOE: The ¡unction of the weló laco and ths base melal.

5. WELD FACE: Thc exposed sudaca of a wab on the side lrorn whi*r weklng was done.

6. DEPTH OF FUSION: The distancs that lusion €xtonds inlo the bas€ metal or prst/iorJs boad
,rom th6 surleco molted during wolding.

7. FILLET WELD SIZE: For equal leg fillel mHe, tho lengths ol ths larg€§t isoccslos rigñt tdangl€
that can be inscrib€d wilhin lhe lillet wcld cro$ s,€c{on. For uncqual log
lillol udds, th€ l€g longths ol tho largsst rigñt lrLngúo that can b€ Inscrib€d
úth the l¡llet web cross seclion.

Flgure 5.3-Fillet Weld

5r
CHAPTER s_WELD JOINT GEOMETFI^I AND WELDING TERi'INOLOGY

With this rariery of weld geometries arzllable, the

welding fabricator can c]roose the one that best sults the
specificatlons. This choice could be based on consider-
ations such as accessibiliry. type of welding process being
used, method ofjoint preparation, and adaptaüon to par-
ticular designs of the structure being fabricated. Figure I,
whlch shows the various types of weld joints, also indi-
cates whlch of the prwlous welds can be applied to each
of the five types of weld Joints.
The flrst soren types of welds refer to dlfferent groove
conñguratlons. Their names lmply what the actual con-
SII{GLE \':GROOVE WELD
flguratlom look like when vler,ved in cross sectlon. All of
these groove weld types can be applled tojoints that are
welded frorn a slngle side or both sides. A slngle-welded
Tbmr ls joint that is welded from one side only,' while
'a
a double-weldd jo.inr is 'aJolnt üat is welded from both
sldes' (see Figure 5.4).
The next category of weld ls the f//el weld, defined by
AWS A3.0 as 'a weld of approximately trlangular cross
sectlonJo¡nlng two surfaces approxlmately ar rlght an-
gles to each other in a lapJoint. T-jolnt, or cornerJolnt."
The fillet weld is posslbly the most commonly used type
of weld. NOTE: A lillet weld is not a üf ofjoint: nthec
It ¡s a particular tW of weld that can be applied to a lap, DOUBLE \'.GROOVE WELO
T-, or comerjoint.
An edge p'eld is described as "a weld in an edge joinr
(see Flgure 5.5). Ftgure 5.{-Gmove Welds
The next type of weld to be discussed is the spot weld,
which is deñned as 'a weld made between or upon over-
lapplng members in which coalescence (the act of com-
bining or uniting) may start and occur on the faying
surfaces or may proceed from the ouler surface of one
¡nember. The weld cross section (plan vlew) ls approxl-
mately circular" (see Figure 5.6). Spot welds are most
comnronly associaled with resistance welding. which is
used extensively in the automotive and aerospace indus-
rries. However, a very effective way to join a lap joint
configuration is through the use of an arc spot weld. A
faying surfacels'the matlng surface of a member that ls
in contact rvith or in close proxlmity to another member
to rvhlch it lsJoined.' ln the case of arc spot welding, üe
weld is accomplished by meltlng through the top mem-
ber using one of the arc weldlng processes, so that fuslon
occurs benveen it and the member whlch it overlaps.
A similar rype of weld ls the sear¡, ¡+e/d. which is de-
fined as 'a continuous weld made berween or upon over-
lapplng members, ln whlch coalescence may start and Ftgure 5.S-Edge Weld
occur on the faying surfaces, or may have proceeded from
the outer surface of one member.' lnstead of belng ap-
plied ln a slngle spot, the seam weld forms a continuous overlapping spot welds. Like the arc spol weld. the arc
weld having some length (see Flgure 5.7). As was üe seam weld extends through one member lo provide fusion
case for spot welds, seam welds can be accomplished to the member that ls overlapped.
using resistance or arc welding methods. The continuous Two other types of welds that are used for joining
weld may consist of a stngle weld bead or a serles of overlapplng members are plug and slot welds. These two

52
CHAPTER s-WELD JOINT GEOijtETRY AiID WELDIi.IG TERTIINOLOGY
INTEBFACE
(A) GROOVEUÍELD
DEPTH OF FUSION
(c) suRFAclt{cwELD
Figure 5.
Ftgure 5. l3-Incomplete Jolnt
Penetraüon or Partial Joint Penetration
(3) The actual thrcatis described as "the shortest dis-
tance between the weld root and the face of a fillet rveld."
The actual throat, takes into account both thejoint pene-
tration and any additional convexity present at the weld
face. For a concave fillet weld, the effective throat and
actual throat a¡e equal, since there is no corwexlql present
(see Figure 5.17).
The weldlng inspector may also be asked to determine
the sizes of other types of welds, for example, a spor or
seam weld, where the weld slze is equal to the actual spot
diameter or seam width (see Figure 5.18). For an edge or
{B}FTLLETWEU)
l2-Fusion Welds
rt.
:ii. ili
§§
t:m
HEAT.AFFECTEOZONE WELDMETALABEA
Figure 5.14-Heat-Afrected Zone
flange weld, the weld size is equal to the total thickness
of the rveld fmm the weld root to the weld face.
Weld Application Terminolory
To complete this discussion of welding terms and def-
initions, it seems appropriate to mention some of the ter-
minolory associated with the actual application of welds.
Since some welding procedures refer to these details, the
welding inspector should be familiar with their mean-
tngs. The ñrst aspect is the difference among the terms
56
 CHAPTER 5_WELD JOINT GEOMETRY AND WELDING TERMINOLOGY
JONT
WEID SIzE, E, EOUALS El PLUS E2
Ii{COiIPLETE JOINT PENETFATON
OB PAFMAL Jo|i¡T PENTTRANON
JOINI PENETRATIOi'¡
GOTIPLETE JOIIi'T PENETRATION
ffur€ 5.15-Jotnt Penetraüon
weld pass, weld bead. and weld layer. A weld pass is "a
single progression of welding along ajoint. The result of
a pass is a weld bead o¡ weld layer which is defined as
"a stratum of weld metal consistlng of one or more weld
beads^" A weld layer may consist of a single bead or
multiple beads (see Figure 5.19).
When a weld bead is deposited, it can have a different
name, depending upon the technique used by the welder.
A type of weld bead made wlthout appreciable weavlng
motion fs referred lo as a strlnger bead. A weave bead,
which is defined as 'a type of weld bead made with
transverse oscillation," results when the welder manipu-
Figure 5.16-Unequal Leg Fillet Weld
57
lates the electrode laterally, or slde to side, as the weld is
deposited along the joint. The weave bead is typically
wider than the str¡nger bead. Due to the amount of lateral
motion used, the travel speed (as measured along the lon-
gitudinal axis of the weld) is less than would be the case
for a stringer bead (see Figure 5.20).
There are several terms tlnt describe the actual se-
quence in which the welding is to be done. This is com-
monly done to reduce the amount of distortion caused by
welding. Three common techniques, backstep sequence,
block sequence, and cascade sequence, are defined as
follows:
(l) A backstep sequence is "a longitudinal sequence
in which weld passes are made ln the direction opposite
to the progress of welding."
(2) A block sequencels "a combined longitudinal and
cross-sectional sequence for a continuous multiple pass
weld in which separated increments are completely or
partially rvelded before intervening increments are
welded." Wth the block sequence, it ls important that
each subsequent layer is slightly shorter than the previ-
ous one so that the end of the block has a gentle slope.
This will provide the best chance of obtaining adequate
fusion rvhen the adjacent block is filled in later.
(3) A cascade sequence is "a combined longitudinal
and cross-sectional sequence in which weld passes are
made in overlapping layers.' This method differs from
the block sequence in üat each subsequent pass is longer
than the previous one (see Figure 5.21).
When fillet welds are required, occasionally the de-
sign wtll not warrant the use of continuous welds; there-
fore, the designer may speclfy intermittent ñllet welds. If
there are intermittent fillet welds specified on both sides
of a particularjoint, they can be detailed as either chaln
intermittent or staggered lntermlttent flllet welds. The
chain lntermitÍent frllet weldis defined as 'having an in-
rermittent weld on both sides of a Joint in which the weld
increments on one side are approximately opposite to
those on the other side.'
CHAPTER s-WELO JOINT GEOT'ETRY AND WELDING TERMIñIOLOGY

CONVEX RLLETWELD

Figure5. I $-Cmss-Sectional
Welüng Sequence

COIICAVE FILLETWEU}

Figurc 5.17-Fil¡et Welds

STRIHGER AEAD

WEAVE BEAO

Figure 5.lt-Stze of Seam

or Spot WeId Figune 5.20*Weld Beads

58
 CHAPf ER 6-WELDII'IG AND i.¡ONDESTRUCTIVE €XAIIIHAf IOI'I SYMEOLS

FINISH SYMSOI GROOr'E ANGLEj |a{CLUDEO ANGLE

coNfouR sYM8ot OF MUNTERSINX FOR PLUG WELDS

ROOT OPENIT{G DEPTH OF FILUNG

FOR PtUG AND SLOT WELDS

LENGTH OF WELD
PIfCH (CENTER.TGCENT€N
SPACING) OFW€LDS

PFTOCESS
OF OTHER \
-
FEFEFENcE T
{s i,ú FIELD WELD
SYMAOL

WELDALL.
AFIOT'ND
SYMAOt

TAIL Oñ'ITTEO
WHEN REFERENC€
IS NOT
{s EH}
¿REFEREN.E
'
WELD SYMBOL ,/-(N) AFrcW CONNECTING
Z ñ¡uueEn or spot sE^r¡. REFERENC€ UNE TO
STUO PLUG. SLOÍ, OR ANFOW SIDE MEMBER
PFO.JECIION WELDS OF JOI¡IT OR ARrcU¡
gDE OF JOI¿f

ELEMENTS I'{ ÍHIS

AF€ REMAITI AS STIOIV'Y
WHEN TAIL ANO ARRO}II
ANE REVERSEO

Ftgurc 6.1-Standard [.ocadon of Elemms of a Welding Symbol

Armw Baslc Wcld Symbols

The next element of the weldlng symbol ls the ar¡ovt
which ls üe line segment that connects to one end ofthe
reference line and polñts to one side of the weld jotnl.
The s¡de ro which the anow points is referred lo as the
arrcw slde, whlle the opposlte slde Is called the oráer
side Once the ar¡ow stde and other slde have been de-
term¡ned by the placement of the ar¡ow. loformatlon re,
lailng to elther or borh sides can lhen be speclfled (see
Figure 6.2).
The AWS rule is rhar ary informatton placed below
the reference lioe relates lo the arrow side of thejoint.
and that ¡¡formalion above the reference ¡lne desc¡lbes
whal will occur on the othe. stde of thejoint. No matte.
which end of the refere¡ce llne h attached to rhe a[ow o¡
whlch dlr€ctlon úle afiow may polnt, the ru]e remalns the
same. Even with the ¿rrow oriented lr dlffe.enl dlrec-
tlons a¡d ar e¡ther eñd of rhe reference ltne. the opera-
t¡ons w¡ll b€ performed on rhe side of thejoim lo whtch
the aíow polnts.
Once rhe reference line ard arro¡ a¡e ln place, the
weld symbol that descrlbes what lhe actual weld conf¡gü-
rarion wlll be can be added. W€ld symbols rhar depict
arrow slde welds wlll be poslflon€d b€low the reference
llne and symbols refen¡,lg ro other slde welds wlll be po-
sltloned above the .eference llne, Note th¿t some weld
symbols are plac€d so úat the refe.ence line spllts them
in half (e.9., spot, projectlon. and seam welds). whlch
means rhal the weld has no slde slgnificance, and either
side can b€ called the arrow side. With the exception of
¡he sur{aclnq weld and üE stud, whlch alwa¡a apryac as
ao arrow s¡de ',aleld, all other types c¿n be shc¡,vr as a.row
side. other side. or both sld€s.
Because mosr of the weld symbols resemble the aclual
weld conñguralion. ¡t 15 easle. to remember exaclly what
type of weld ls speclr¡ed by a parúc!¡la¡ weld symbol.
Nore that for weld sjmbols ü¡t r€prr6€ñt welds wlth
only one of the trrc m€mú¡s p¡efÉrfi., the Frpnd¡cular
side ot the swbl w l alwass appear on tl* bn sde (e.g.,

73
CHAPTER o_WELDING AND NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION SYMBOLS
OTHER SIDE
ARBOIA' SIDE
OTHER SIDE
Figurc 6.2-Arrow l¡cation Signlffcance
bevel, J- and flare-bevel gfooves. fillet, and comer-flange
welds). For these groove welds, the designer can deslg-
nate whlch of the n¡o members actually receives the prep-
aration by uslng an arrow with a break in the line. The rale
is that ürc last sqment of the anow polnts to that membr
receiving the spiffed prcpantion (w Figure 6.3).
Dimensions and Othcr Data
Groott Wcld Dctdling
After designating the type of groove weld required
and determining at which side or sides of theio¡nt the
weld wü be depoited, oth¿r data are rncessary-prinurily
relatlrg to dimersional requlrernents. Groove weld features
that need dimensions include the jolnt conñguratlon, weld
slze. and the extent of welding.
Some of the gtoove weld dimenslons are placed
within, or slightly outside, the weld symbol. A dimen-
sion withln the weld symbol indlcates the requlred root
opening,while a dimenslon just outslde (above or belo,v)
the weld symbol refers to the necessary groove angle.
Another important dimension for the preparatlon of the
groove is the depth of preparation. Thls dimenslon is al'
ways shown to the lelt of the groove weld symbol. This
depth is measured from the base materlal surface. ln each
case, the speciñed depth of preparation is that dl¡nension
outside of the parentheses. In general. dimenslons to the
left of the weld symbol refer to the weld size required.
The dimensions (in parentheses) placed to the left of
the symbol refer to the groove weld size (or joint pene-
tration) required. For groove welds. absence of dimen-
sions for depth of preparation or weld size inrplies that
the required weld is to have complete jolnt Penetration
(see Figures 6.4-6.6). The ftnal plece of dlmenslonal in-
formation necessary for a groove weld ls the requlred
length. Thls detail is always shown on üe weldlng sym-
bol to the rlght of the weld symbol. If no dlmension is
shown, it is assumed that the specified weld is to be the
74
ARROTA/ SIDE
entire lengh of the joint. A dimension to the right of the
weld symbol refers to the length of groove weld segment
required.
Fl¡lct WGld lhtatllng
There ls also dimenslonal tnformatlon peninent to fll-
let wetds. As was üe case for groove welds, the slze of a
fillet weld ls dlmensloned to the left of üe weld symbol.
Another feature identical to the groove weld applica-
tion is that the length of a ñllet weld ls dlmensloned to
the right of the weld symbol.
No dimension to the rlght of the fillet weld symbol in-
dicates that the fillet weld is to be continuous for the en-
tire length of the joint. A sPecific length of ñllet weld is
denoted by the single dimersion to the right of the weld
symbol. This dimenslon. hororer. does not indicate where
¡he rveld is to be placed. Such information musl be pro-
vlded elsewhere; for examPle, the tall, the drawing, etc.
(see Figure 6.7).
A common welding practice ls to use intermitlent fil-
let welds instead of a continuous fillet weld to reduce
dlstortion and the amount of time required for welding.
The dimensions for intermittent fillet welds a¡e shown as
two numbers sep¡ratd by a hyphen. The flnt number ls
rhe length of each indlvldual weld segment and the sec-
ond number refers to the center-to-center spacing of
these *'eld segments. The spaclng from one segment to
the next h refened to as the pitch.The pitch ls measured
as the center-to-center distance of each adjacent length of
ñlle¡ weld.
Interm¡tlent ñlle¡ welds may be applled to both sides
of ajoint in one of two ways. If the lndlvidual segments
are dlrectly opposlte each other. the applicatlon ls re-
ferred to as chain intermitten! welding. When the seg-
ments on eirher side of the joint coincide with spaces
between indlvidual segments on the other slde of the
joint, the appllcation is refer¡ed to as staggercd inlermlt'
tent weldlng. ln both types of inrerm¡ttent welds. the
 CHAPTER o_WELDING AÑD NONDESÍRUCTIVE EXAMINAÍION SYMBOLS

GROol'E

SOI,ARE SCARF v BEVEL U J FLTRE.V FL RE€EVEL

__tt__ z__ \,/ v-- -v__ _Y-_- __\r__ __J-r__

-7\. - --t\-
tI Z A r\ A ñ

PI.UG sFor BACK FTII{GE

FILLET OR STUD OR SEATI OR
SLOT BACXT{G EOGE CORT{ER

__o_ g -v
-t\- r_:l_ .6- -o- _tt-
-v- E.I €- _^-
\.f,,
-J-L
-Tr -Tr' -

o €-
(NOTE: fHE BEFERENCE UNE lS SHO1 /N DASHED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES.)

Ftgure 6.3-Weld Symbols

pitch distance refers to the center-to-center spaclng on
that side of the joint only. The dlmeruions for either stag-
gered or chain intermlttent weldlng do not lndicate where
the weld is to begln; such lnformation n¡ust be provlded
elsewhere (see Flgure 6.8).
U§. Custoreryrd Mcrdc lrnttl
The same qñtem that ls thc st¡ndrd fu thcdrmtngl
strall be tsed on weldlrg symbols" Dr¡al unls sh¡ll not
be used on weldlng symbols. If lt ls dtslred to show
co¡n¡erclom from metrlc to U.S, ct¡stortr¡ry. or vlce
lrers¡,,a.table of co¡trer¡lom tnay bG lncludcd on thc
&crrhg. forgukhrne ln dretr¡tg;tild¡re, rcfennco b
nude ¡o ANSI Yl{, Dnftlry knt lFor s¡Uanor dr
ttruqáf.¡rrt¿c (SD unlt* ¡eft¡cnoe l¡ndstoAWS
Fú;L l&¡rtc kxtta 6,tu fr tu lñé*drg lrúñy.
Plug and Sh,t Wcld OaetUng
The symbollzatlon of plug and slot welds irn¡olves
several different features. due to the unlqueness of thelr
conliguratlons. Both weldsJoln overlapplng members by
fflling a hole ln the top member to connect lt to the back-
ing rnember. The symbol for both plug and slot welds is
slnrply a rectangular box.
Dimensions for plug welds include plug weld size,
depth of fllling, pltch dlstances beiween adJacent plugs,
and groove angle for tapered plug holes. The plug weld
size dlmenslon app€ars ¡o the left o[ the weld symbol and
indlcates ls diameter. If the hole ls lntended to be only
partially ftlled, the requlred depth of fllling ls lndlcated
within the plug weld symbol. Pitch distances are shown
to the right of the plug weld symbol. If the hole is to be
rapered to pmvlde better root access, the angular dimen-
sion appearsjus ouslde (abow or belor) the weld symbol.
In general, the rules for plug welds also apply to the
welding symbols for slot welds. A number to the left of
rhe slot weld symbol indlcates the wldth of the slot. I[ the
hole ls lntended to be only partlally ñlled, the required
depth of ñlling ls indlcated within the slot weld synbol.
The number to the rlSht of the symbol speclfles lts length.
If another number appears farther to the right. h lndicates
the pltch of the slot welds. A number dlrectly above or
below ¡he symbol indlcates the counterslnk, and a num-
ber above that in parenthesls speclfles the number of slot
welds (see Figure 6.9).

75
CHAPTER 6_WELDING AHD NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAI'IT.¡AT}ON SYMBOLS

r/4
L í

(A) WELO CROS§ SECT¡ON SYMBOL

1tl-l i-3/8

{B} WELD CBOSS SECnON SYITBOL

NOfE OI/EBLAP OF
1/4 -r
Y

--r
L3E
(c) WELD CROSS SECTIOII SYilBOL

NOTE: TOTAL WELD SIZE : 5€ in.

Flgure G.4-Speciffcation of Grmve Weld Size and Depthof Bevel

Spot and Scam Wcld Detallng
Spot and seam welds can also be descrlbed by the use
of welding symbols. The size dimenslon that refers to the
diameter of the spot or width of the seanl is shor,m to the
left of the weld symbol. Another *'ay to describe degree
ofwelding is by specifylng the required shear strenglh of
the resulting spot weld or the shear strength per inch of
weld for a seam weld.
The pitch distance of adjacent spot welds is shown in
th€ same manner as for plug and slot welds. The required
number of spots ls shorvn by the number enclosed in pa'
renthesesjust above or below the weld symbol. ln seam
welds, the first number to the riSht of the symbol is úe
Iength of the seam weld, while the second nun¡ber is the
pitch. The symbol does not indicate where il¡e weld is to
start; that information must be provided elsewhere (see
Figure 6. l0).
Back and Backlng U¡eld Ihta¡ürg
Two other ty'pes of welds are the back and backing
welds- While bolh are represenled by the same weld sym-
bol, they differ in that the back weld is deposited afier
one side has been welded and the backing weld is depos-
ited before depositing the opposite side. Some t¡eatrBent,

76
 CHAPTER o_WELDING AND NONDESÍRUCTIVE EXAMINATION SYMBOLS

WELD CROSS SECTION

Ftgurc 6.5-Grmw Wcld Symbol with Combtured D{menslons

BACKGOUGE

,60P1

WELD CROSS SECTION

Flgurc 6.6-Symmetrlcal Groove Welds wtth Backgouging

such as backgouging. may be required before appllcation
ofa back weld and afler the deposition ofa backing weld.
There are two ways to describe the sequencing of these
welds. They can be dlfferentlated by using a symbol with
a note in the tail or by using multiple reference lines ro
show a sequence of operations (see Figure 6. I l).
Surfrclng Wcld Dctalllng
The detalltng of surface welds ts qulte simple-the
primary lnformation requlred is the thlckness of rhe sur.
facing and the weld ñller metal. The wetding symbol
must then lndlca¡e the reglon of rhe parr requlrlng rhe
surfaclng treatment. The surfacing symbol appears only
as an arrow slde weld (see Flgure 6.12).
Stud Wcld Deteil¡nt
The stud weld symbol appears as a circle with an en-
closed 'X' and is only shown as an arrow slde weld. A
dimenslon io the Ieft of the stud weld symbol refers to lts
required slze. The number ofstuds required can be indl-
cated by a number enclosed ln parenthesesJust belo,v the
stud weld symbol. To lndicate the spacing of adJacent
studs. a number can be placed to the right of the stud weld
symbol (see Figure 6.13).

77
CHAPTER 6_WELDING AND NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION SYMBOLS

-l Fgrs
D=l-r*'
l-lr
WELD CHOSS SECTION SYMEOL
(A) SIZE OF SINGLE FILLETWELD

,"# gWELDCROSSSECTIO¡¡

r/4+l
(B) SIZE OF EOT AL DOUBLE+ILLETWELDS

l-l l+3s

WELD CROSS SECT]ON

SYMBOL

SYMBOL

'"#-*E*É-:;*'
(C) StrE OF UNEOUAL OOUBLE.FILLETWELDS

WELD CROSS SECTIO}.I SYMBOL

(D) SIZE OF UNEOUAL LEG FILLETWELD

WELD CROSS SECTION SYMBOL

(E) CONTIilUOUS FILLET IVELD

l-,t-',
m -l
WELO SYMBOL

(R LENGTH OF RLLETWELD

Figure 6.?-Speci§cation of Size and Length of Fillet Welds

 CHAPTER 6-WELOING AND NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINAIION SYMEOLS

WELDS SYMBOL

(A) STUOWELO SYHBOLWITH COMBINED Olr¡ENSIONS

l- 8 -.¡
1
ooooo ---t¿--/-/----.¡---
t//r
T t./ / ¡

ooooooo _t_
I
---r-/-------+---
t/
I r

ooooooo )_ --_-t_---------T---

WELOS
WELOS SYMBOL

(B) Sn D WELD SYTBOL FOB raULflPLE RO¡VS

Ftgurt 6.f ÍI-Applicadons of Stud Weld Symbols

BACX¡NG CO TOUR
WELDALI. I¡ELf OR
ñELD ITELO NSEAY
lnou o THMUGH
(so{xRE)
SPACER FLUSs
coxvEt co¡rcavE
(RECÍ ÑGL OR FLAÍ

, D- /^ + =. Y \-

Figure 6.14-Supplementary Symbols