Weld Types and Positions

Overview
Any discussion on weld types and positions starts with the idea that it is important to distinguish between the joint
and the weld.

Each must be described to completely describe the weld joint.

There are many different types of welds, which are best described by their shape when shown in cross section.

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The most popular weld is the fillet weld, named after its cross-sectional shape. Other types of welds include flange
welds, plug welds, slot welds, seam welds, surfacing welds, and backing welds.
Joints are combined with welds to make weld joints.

Illustrations of Various Types of Weld Joints

Types of Welds
Fillet Welds
A fillet weld joins two surfaces at an approximate right angle to each other. There are several types of fillet weld:

A full fillet weld is a weld where the size of the weld is the same as the thickness of the thinner object joined
together.
A staggered intermittent fillet weld refers to two lines of intermittent welding on a joint. An example is a tee
joint (see below) where the fillet increments that are in one line are staggered in comparison to the other line.
Chain Intermittent Fillet Weld: Refers to two lines of intermittent fillet welds in a lap joint or T where the
welds in one line are approximately opposite those in the other line.

Other terms associated with fillet welds include:

Boxing which refers to the continuation of a fillet weld around a corner of a member. It is an extension of
the principal weld.
Convexity: Refers to the maximum perpendicular distance from the face of a convex fillet weld to a line
joining the toes.

See figure 6-31 below for fillet weld positions.

 
 Illustrations Depicting Types of Fillet Welds Shown Above

Groove Welds
The second most popular type of weld is the groove weld. There are seven basic types of groove welds, which are
shown in figure 6-25.

The groove weld refers to beads that are deposited in a groove between two members to be joined.

 
 Illustrations of Basic Groove Welds

More examples are shown in figure 6-26. The type of weld used will
determine the manner in which the seam, joint, or surface is prepared.

See figure 6-27 for the standard types of groove welds.

Groove Welds
 Illustrations of Types of Groove Welds

Surfacing Weld
These are welds composed of one or more strings or weave beads
deposited on an unbroken surface to obtain desired properties or
dimensions.

This type of weld is used to build up surfaces or replace metal on worn surfaces. It is also used with square butt
joints.

See figure 6-28 below for examples.

Plug Weld
Plug welds are circular welds made through one member of a lap or tee joint joining that member to the other.

The weld may or may not be made through a hole in the first
member; if a hole is used, the walls may or may not be parallel and the
hole may be partially or completely filled with weld metal.

Such welds are often used in place of rivets.

NOTE

A fillet welded hole or a spot weld does not conform to this definition.

See figure 6-28 below for examples.

Slot Weld
This is a weld made in an elongated hole in one member of a lap or
tee joint joining that member to the surface of the other member that is
exposed through the hole.

This hole may be open at one end and may be partially or completely filled with weld metal.

NOTE: A fillet welded slot does not conform to this definition.

Illustrations of Surfacing, Plug and Slot Welds

Flash Weld
A weld made by flash welding. Flash welding is referred to as a resistance welding process where fusion is
produced over the entire abutting surface. Heat is created by the resistance to the current flow between two surfaces
and by the application of pressure after heating is mostly complete. Flashing is accompanied by the expulsion of
metal from the joint.

See Figure 6-29 below for an example of a flash weld.

Seam Weld
A weld made by arc seam or resistance seam welding where
the welding process is not specified.  This term infers resistance seam
welding.

Refer to figure 6-29 below for an example of a seam weld.

Spot Weld
A spot weld is a weld made by arc spot or resistance spot welding where the welding process is not specified. This
term infers a
resistance spot weld.

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Upset Weld
A weld made by upset welding. An upset weld is a resistance welding process where fusion occurs progressively
along a joint of over the entire abutting surface. The application of pressure before heating is required and occurs
during the heating period. Heat comes from the resistance to the flow of electric current in the area of contact
between the surfaces.

 
 Illustrations of Flash, Seam, Spot and Upset Welds

Welding Positions
Welding is often done on structures in the position in which they are found.

Techniques have been developed to allow welding in any position.

Some welding processes have all-position capabilities, while others may
be used in only one or two positions.

All welding can be classified according to the position of the

workpiece or the position of the welded joint on the plates or sections
being welded.

There are four basic welding positions, which are illustrated in figures 6-30 and 6-31.

 
 Illustrations of Groove Welding Positions

Fillet Weld Positions

 
 Fillet, Groove, and Surface welds may be made in all of the positions shown in figure 6-31 above.

Flat Position Welding

In this position, the welding is performed from the upper side of the
joint, and the face of the weld is approximately horizontal.

Flat welding is the preferred term; however, the same position is

sometimes called downhand. (See view A, figure 6-30 and view A, figure
6-31 for examples of flat position welding for fillet and groove welds).

Horizontal Position Welding

The axis of a weld is a line through the length of the weld, perpendicular to the cross section at its center of gravity.

a. Fillet Weld.

In this position, welding is performed on the upper side of an

approximately horizontal surface and against an approximately vertical
surface.

View B, figure 6-31, illustrates a horizontal fillet weld.

b. Groove Weld.

In this position, the axis of the weld lies in an approximately

horizontal plane and the face of the weld lies in an approximately
vertical plane. View B, figure 6-30, illustrates a horizontal groove
weld.

c. Horizontal Fixed Weld.

In this pipe welding position, the axis of the pipe is

approximately horizontal, and the pipe is not rotated during welding.
Pipe welding positions are shown in figure 6-32.

d. Horizontal Rolled Weld.

In this pipe welding position, welding is performed in the flat

position by rotating the pipe. Pipe welding positions are shown in
figure 6-32.

Vertical Position Welding

a. In this position, the axis of the weld is approximately vertical.
Vertical welding positions are shown in view C, figures 6-30 and 6-31.

b. In vertical position pipe welding, the axis of the pipe is

vertical, and the welding is performed in the horizontal position.

The pipe may or may not be rotated. Pipe welding positions are figure shown in figure 6-32.

Overhead Position Welding

 In this welding position, the welding is performed from the underside of
a joint. Overhead position welds are illustrated in view D, figures
6-30 and 6-31.

Pipe Welding Positions

Pipe welds are made under many different requirements and in different welding situations.

The welding position is dictated by the job.

In general, the position is fixed, but in sane cases can be

rolled for flat-position work. Positions and procedures for welding pipe
are outlined below.