Weld Symbols Page 1 of 3

Deciphering Weld Symbols

When welds are specified on engineering and fabrication drawings,
a cryptic set of symbols is used as a sort of shorthand for describing
the type of weld, its size, and other processing and finishing
Company information information. The purpose of this page is to introduce you to the
common symbols and their meaning. The complete set of symbols
Directory of Services is given in a standard published by the American National
Personnel Standards Institute and the American Welding Society:
Michael J. Clemens
David E. Dix ANSI/AWS A2.4, Symbols for Welding and Nondestructive
Mark A. Lawrence Testing.
Lori A. Streit Our thanks to Dr. Kent L. Johnson, past Chairman of the AWS
Fee Schedule Chicago Section, for his many helpful comments on the content of
Location our welding pages.
Scanning Electron
Microscope

Case histories
The structure of the welding symbol
Residential
construction
Sagging/spreading
roofs
Bracing failures
More to come...

Science/engineering
information The horizontal line--called the reference line--is the anchor to
which all the other welding symbols are tied. The instructions for
Hardness conversions making the weld are strung along the reference line. An arrow
connects the reference line to the joint that is to be welded. In the
Bolt information
example above, the arrow is shown growing out of the right end of
Bolt head markings the reference line and heading down and to the right, but many
Bolt head other combinations are allowed.
dimensions
Bolt tension &
clamping
Welding symbols
primer
Fillet welds
Groove welds

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Weld Symbols Page 2 of 3

Groove welds
Plug & slot welds Quite often, there are two sides to the joint to which the arrow
Weather's effect on points, and therefore two potential places for a weld. For example,
failure when two steel plates are joined together into a T shape, welding
may be done on either side of the stem of the T.
Unified News articles

Photo enhancement
Surface analysis
The use of ultraviolet
light
Measurement The weld symbol distinguishes between the two sides of a joint by
techniques using the arrow and the spaces above and below the reference line.
The side of the joint to which the arrow points is known (rather
Flammability testing prosaically) as the arrow side, and its weld is made according to the
Computer-based instructions given below the reference line. The other side of the
animation joint is known (even more prosaically) as the other side, and its
Safety signs weld is made according to the instructions given above the
reference line. The below=arrow and above=other rules apply
© 1996-2004 regardless of the arrow's direction.
Unified Engineering, Inc.
3056 Weber Drive The flag growing out of the junction of the reference line and the
Aurora, IL 60504 arrow is present if the weld is to be made in the field during
630/851-4214 erection of the structure. A weld symbol without a flag indicates
Email that the weld is to be made in the shop. In older drawings, a field
weld may be denoted by a filled black circle at the junction between
the arrow and the reference line.

The open circle at the arrow/reference line junction is present if the

weld is to go all around the joint, as in the example below.

The tail of the weld symbol is the place for supplementary

information on the weld. It may contain a reference to the welding
process, the electrode, a detail drawing, any information that aids in
the making of the weld that does not have its own special place on
the symbol.

Types of welds and their symbols

Each type of weld has its own basic symbol, which is typically
placed near the center of the reference line (and above or below it,
depending on which side of the joint it's on). The symbol is a small
drawing that can usually be interpreted as a simplified cross-section

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Weld Symbols Page 3 of 3

of the weld. In the descriptions below, the symbol is shown in both

its arrow-side and other-side positions.

Fillet Plug welds and

Groove welds
welds slot welds

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Fillet Weld Symbols Page 1 of 2

Fillet Welds

Company information The fillet weld (pronounced "FILL-it," not "fil-LAY") is used to
make lap joints, corner joints, and T joints. As its symbol suggests,
Directory of Services the fillet weld is roughly triangular in cross-section, although its
Personnel shape is not always a right triangle or an isosceles triangle. Weld
Michael J. metal is deposited in a corner formed by the fit-up of the two
Clemens members and penetrates and fuses with the base metal to form the
David E. Dix joint. (Note: for the sake of graphical clarity, the drawings below do
not show the penetration of the weld metal. Recognize, however, that
Mark A. Lawrence the degree of penetration is important in determining the quality of
Lori A. Streit the weld.)
Fee Schedule
Location
Scanning Electron
Microscope

Case histories

Residential
construction
Sagging/spreading
roofs
The perpendicular leg of the triangle is always drawn on the left side
Bracing failures
of the symbol, regardless of the orientation of the weld itself. The leg
More to come... size is written to the left of the weld symbol. If the two legs of the
weld are to be the same size, only one dimension is given; if the weld
Science/engineering is to have unequal legs (much less common than the equal-legged
information weld), both dimensions are given and there is an indication on the
drawing as to which leg is longer.
Hardness
conversions
Bolt information
Bolt head
markings
Bolt head
dimensions
Bolt tension &
clamping
Welding symbols
primer
Fillet welds
Groove welds
Plug & slot welds
Weather's effect on
failure

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Fillet Weld Symbols Page 2 of 2

Unified News articles

Photo enhancement The length of the weld is given to the right of the symbol.
Surface analysis
The use of ultraviolet
light
Measurement
techniques
Flammability testing
Computer-based
animation
Safety signs

© 1996-2004 If no length is given, then the weld is to be placed between specified

Unified Engineering, dimension lines (if given) or between those points where an abrupt
Inc. change in the weld direction would occur (like at the end of the plates
3056 Weber Drive in the example above).
Aurora, IL 60504
630/851-4214 For intermittent welds, the length of each portion of the weld and the
Email spacing of the welds are separated by a dash (length first, spacing
second) and placed to the right of the fillet weld symbol.

Notice that the spacing, or pitch, is not the clear space between the
welds, but the center-to-center (or end-to-end) distance.

For more information, see ANSI/AWS A2.4, Symbols for Welding and
Nondestructive Testing.

Weld symbol links

General weld symbol Fillet Groove Plug and slot
info welds welds welds

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Groove Weld Symbols Page 1 of 5

Groove Welds

Company information

Directory of Services
Personnel
Michael J. Clemens The groove weld is commonly used to make edge-to-edge joints,
although it is also often used in corner joints, T joints, and joints
David E. Dix between curved and flat pieces. As suggested by the variety of
Mark A. Lawrence groove weld symbols, there are many ways to make a groove weld,
Lori A. Streit the differences depending primarily on the geometry of the parts to
Fee Schedule be joined and the preparation of their edges. Weld metal is
Location deposited within the groove and penetrates and fuses with the base
metal to form the joint. (Note: for the sake of graphical clarity, the
Scanning Electron drawings below generally do not show the penetration of the weld
Microscope metal. Recognize, however, that the degree of penetration is
important in determining the quality of the weld.)
Case histories
The various types of groove weld are:
Residential
construction
Sagging/spreading
The square groove weld, in which the "groove" is created by either
roofs
a tight fit or a slight separation of the edges. The amount of
Bracing failures separation, if any, is given on the weld symbol.
More to come...

Science/engineering
information

Hardness
conversions
Bolt information
Bolt head markings
Bolt head
dimensions
The V-groove weld, in which the edges of both pieces are
Bolt tension & chamfered, either singly or doubly, to create the groove. The angle
clamping of the V is given on the weld symbol, as is the separation at the root
Welding symbols (if any).
primer
Fillet welds
Groove welds
Plug & slot welds
Weather's effect on
failure

Unified News articles

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Groove Weld Symbols Page 2 of 5

Photo enhancement
Surface analysis If the depth of the V is not the full thickness--or half the thickness in
The use of ultraviolet the case of a double V--the depth is given to the left of the weld
light symbol.
Measurement
techniques
Flammability testing
Computer-based
animation
Safety signs

© 1996-2004
Unified Engineering,
Inc.
3056 Weber Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
630/851-4214
Email
If the penetration of the weld is to be greater than the depth of the
groove, the depth of the effective throat is given in parentheses
after the depth of the V.

The bevel groove weld, in which the edge of one of the pieces is
chamfered and the other is left square. The bevel symbol's
perpendicular line is always drawn on the left side, regardless of the
orientation of the weld itself. The arrow points toward the piece that
is to be chamfered. This extra significance is emphasized by a break
in the arrow line. (The break is not necessary if the designer has no
preference as to which piece gets the edge treatment or if the piece
to receive the treatment should be obvious to a qualified welder.)
Angle and depth of edge treatment, effective throat, and separation
at the root are described using the methods discussed in the V-
groove section.

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Groove Weld Symbols Page 3 of 5

The U-groove weld, in which the edges of both pieces are given a
concave treatment. Depth of edge treatment, effective throat, and
separation at the root are described using the methods discussed in
the V-groove section.

The J-groove weld, in which the edge of one of the pieces is given a
concave treatment and the other is left square. It is to the U-groove
weld what the bevel groove weld is to the V-groove weld. As with
the bevel, the perpendicular line is always drawn on the left side and
the arrow (with a break, if necessary) points to the piece that
receives the edge treatment. Depth of edge treatment, effective
throat, and separation at the root are described using the methods
discussed in the V-groove section.

The flare-V groove weld, commonly used to join two round or

curved parts. The intended depth of the weld itself are given to the
left of the symbol, with the weld depth shown in parentheses.

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Groove Weld Symbols Page 4 of 5

The flare bevel groove weld, commonly used to join a round or

curved piece to a flat piece. As with the flare-V, the depth of the
groove formed by the two curved surfaces and the intended depth of
the weld itself are given to the left of the symbol, with the weld
depth shown in parentheses. The symbol's perpendicular line is
always drawn on the left side, regardless of the orientation of the
weld itself.

Common supplementary symbols used with groove welds are the

melt-thru and backing bar symbols. Both symbols indicate that
complete joint penetration is to be made with a single-sided groove
weld. In the case of melt-thru, the root is to be reinforced with weld
metal on the back side of the joint. The height of the reinforcement,
if critical, is indicated to the left of the melt-thru symbol, which is
placed across the reference line from the basic weld symbol.

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Groove Weld Symbols Page 5 of 5

When a backing bar is used to achieve complete joint penetration,

its symbol is placed across the reference line from the basic weld
symbol. If the bar is to be removed after the weld is complete, an
"R" is placed within the backing bar symbol. The backing bar
symbol has the same shape as the plug or slot weld symbol, but
context should always make the symbol's intention clear.

For more information, see ANSI/AWS A2.4, Symbols for Welding

and Nondestructive Testing.

Weld symbol links

General weld symbol Fillet Groove Plug and slot
info welds welds welds

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Plug and Slot Weld Symbols Page 1 of 2

Plug and Slot Welds

Company information Plug welds and slot welds are used join overlapping members, one
of which has holes (round for plug welds, elongated for slot welds)
Directory of Services in it. Weld metal is deposited in the holes and penetrates and fuses
Personnel with the base metal of the two members to form the joint. (Note: for
Michael J. Clemens the sake of graphical clarity, the drawings below do not show the
penetration of the weld metal. Recognize, however, that the degree
David E. Dix
of penetration is important in determining the quality of the weld.)
Mark A. Lawrence
Lori A. Streit For plug welds, the diameter of each plug is given to the left of the
Fee Schedule symbol and the plug-to-plug spacing (pitch) is given to the right. For
Location slot welds, the width of each slot is given to the left of the symbol,
the length and pitch (separated by a dash) are given to the right of
Scanning Electron
the symbol, and a detail drawing is referenced in the tail. The
Microscope
number of plugs or slots is given in parentheses above or below the
weld symbol. The arrow-side and other-side designations indicate
Case histories
which piece contains the hole(s). If the hole is not to be completely
filled with weld metal, the depth to which it is to be filled is given
Residential within the weld symbol.
construction
Sagging/spreading
roofs
Bracing failures
More to come...

Science/engineering
information

Hardness
conversions
Bolt information
Bolt head markings
Bolt head
dimensions
Bolt tension &
clamping
Welding symbols
primer
Fillet welds
Groove welds For more information, see ANSI/AWS A2.4, Symbols for Welding

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Plug and Slot Weld Symbols Page 2 of 2

, , y f g
Plug & slot welds and Nondestructive Testing.
Weather's effect on
failure
Weld symbol links
Unified News articles General weld symbol Fillet Groove Plug and slot
info welds welds welds
Photo enhancement
Surface analysis
The use of ultraviolet
light
Measurement
techniques
Flammability testing
Computer-based
animation
Safety signs

© 1996-2004
Unified Engineering,
Inc.
3056 Weber Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
630/851-4214
Email

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