TWI CSWIP 3.1 WIS 10 Senior Welding Inspection Welding Symbols & Weld Preparation Section 6

TWI
CSWIP 3.1
WIS 10
SENIOR WELDING INSPECTION
WELDING SYMBOLS &

WELD PREPARATION
SECTION 6
Copyright © 2004, TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
Weld symbols on drawings
Joints may be indicated:
- by detailed sketches, showing every dimension
- by symbolic representation
A method of transferring information from the
design office to the workshop is:
Please weld
here
The above information does not tell us much about

the wishes of the designer. We obviously need some
sort of code which would be understood by everyone.
Most countries have their own standards for symbols.
Some of them are BS 499 Part 2, AWS A2.4 &

BS EN 22553 (ISO 2553)
Advantages of symbolic representation:
• simple and quick plotting on the drawing
• does not over-burden the drawing
• no need for additional view
• gives all necessary indications regarding the
specific joint to be obtained
Disadvantages of symbolic representation:

• used only for usual joints
• requires training for properly
understanding of symbols
Usually, the symbolic representation
includes:
• an arrow line
• a reference line
• an elementary symbol
The elementary symbol may be completed by:
• a supplementary symbol
• a means of showing dimensions
• some complementary indications
Weld elementary symbols
Various categories of joints are characterised by
an elementary symbol.
This symbol is similar to the shape of the weld to
be made.
Weld type Sketch Symbol
Square butt weld
Single V butt weld
Single-V butt weld
with broad root
face
Single bevel butt

weld
Single bevel butt

weld with broad
root face
Backing run
Single-U
butt weld
Single-J
butt weld
Surfacing
Fillet weld
Arrow line
Convention of the arrow line (BS EN & AWS):
a) Shall touch the joint intersection

b) Shall not be parallel to the drawing
c) Shall point towards a single plate
preparation (when only one plate has
preparation)
Reference line
Convention of the reference line AWS A 2.4
a) Shall touch the arrow line
b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing
Reference line
Convention of the reference line
(BS EN ISO 22553):
a) Shall touch the arrow line
b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the
drawing
c) There shall be a further broken line above
or beneath the reference line (Not necessary
where the weld is symmetrical!)or
AWS A 2.4 rules
Welds “on arrow side” of joint go underneath the
reference line while welds “the other side” of the joint,
go on top of the reference line
Symbols with a vertical line component must be drawn
with the vertical line to the left side of the symbol
All CSA dimensions are shown to the left of the symbol
All linear dimensions are shown on the right of the
symbol i.e. number of welds, length of welds, length of
any spaces
Included angle and root opening are shown on top of
the symbol
AWS A 2.4 rules-example
10 3 x 50 (70)
70
50
10
BS EN 22553 rules
Welds this side of joint, go on the unbroken reference
line while welds the other side of the joint, go on the
broken reference line
Symbols with a vertical line component must be
drawn with the vertical line to the left side of the
symbol
All CSA dimensions are shown to the left of the
symbol
All linear dimensions are shown on the right of the
symbol i.e. number of welds, length of welds, length
of any spaces
Included angle and root opening are shown on top of
the symbol
BS EN 22553 rules - example
All leg lengths shall be preceded by z and throat by a
or s (in case of deep penetration welds)
z 10 3 x 50 (50)
50
50
10
Fillet welds
Fillet weld dimensions according AWS A 2.4
8
8
5 leg on
5x8
vertical
member
5
8
Fillet welds
Fillet weld dimensions according BS EN 22553
z8
or
z8
8
a 5 (z 8)
or
a 5 (z 8)
5
Intermittent fillet welds
Chain intermittent fillet weld
pitch (e) length (l) a
z n×l(e) a n×l(e)
z n×l(e) a n×l(e)
or
Symbol to BS EN 22553
Chain intermittent fillet weld
pitch (e) length (l)
z l-e
z l-e
Symbol to AWS A2.4
Staggered intermittent fillet weld
pitch (e) length (l) a
z n×l (e) a n×l (e)

z n×l (e) a n×l (e)
or
Symbol to BS EN 22553
Staggered intermittent fillet weld
e/2
pitch (e) length (l)
z l-e
z l-e
Symbol to AWS A2.4

Supplementary symbols
Supplementary weld symbols
Toes to be ground
Site Weld smoothly (BS EN only)
Concave or Convex
Weld all round
Supplementary symbols
Supplementary weld symbols
Ground flush Welding process

numerical BS EN
111
MR M
Removable Permanent
backing strip backing strip
Further supplementary information, such as WPS

number, or NDT may be placed in the fish tail
Double side weld symbols
Representation of welds done from both sides of
the joint intersection, touched by the arrow head
Fillet weld Double bevel Double J
Double V Double U
Example:
Produce a drawing giving symbols for the weld given
as shown below to the specification AWS A2.4
Weld Drawing MMA
Symbol Drawing
Example:
Draw the symbols for the weld given as shown
below to the specification BS EN 22553
Weld drawing MMA
Symbol Drawing 111
Student symbols exercise
Complete a symbols drawing for the welded joint
given below to AWS A2.4 & BS EN 22553
7
10
35 20
15 30
All fillet weld leg lengths are 10 mm
Solution AWS A2.4

10
30
20
10
10
35
15
10
Solution BS EN 22553 z 10
s 30
s 20
z 10
a 7 z 10
s 35
s 15
z 10
Weld preparations
The purposes of a weld preparation is to allow
access for the welding process, penetration and
fusion through the area of the joint and its faces
The basic rule is this:

The more you take out, then the more you must put
back in!
This has major effects on economics and distortion

control!
Weld preparation
Weld preparation depend on:
•welding process
•preparation method available
•access
•type of joint
•type of parent material
•thickness
•welding position
•in-service type of loading
Weld preparation for arc welding - see BS EN 29692!
Weld preparation
Welding process impacts upon weld preparation
Arc welding EBW
Weld preparation
Welding process impacts upon weld preparation
MMA MAG
high heat input process allow a larger root face, less weld
metal required, less distortions, higher productivity
if gap is too big risk of possible burn-through

if gap is too small risk of lack of penetration
Weld preparation
Preparation method impacts upon weld
preparation
Requires machining slow and Can be flame/plasma cut fast

expensive and cheap
Tight tolerance easier set-up Large tolerance set-up can be
difficult
Weld preparation
Preparation method impacts upon weld preparation
Variations in Variations in
cutting line cutting angle
Root face too large lack of Included angle too large

penetration heavy distortions, increase
amount of filler metal
Root face too small burn-
required
through
Included angle too small
lack of penetration, lack of
side wall fusion
Weld preparation
preparation - corrective measures
No root face
Backing strip (6 mm or
more, same material)
Root face too large Recut groove preparation

Increase root gap and
use backing strip
Weld preparation
preparation - corrective measures
Too big/too small

included angle Recut groove preparation
Increase root gap and
use backing strip
Warning! Backing strips give a built-in crevice

•susceptible to corrosion
•give a lower fatigue life
Weld preparations
Access impacts upon weld preparation
Weld preparations
Weld preparations
Pipe weld preparation - one side access only!
for wall thickness up to 3 mm
for wall thickness 3 to 20 mm
for wall thickness over 20 mm

Weld preparations
Pipe weld preparation - one side access only!
•self-adjusting items
•no danger of burn-through
•susceptible to corrosion
•lower fatigue life
To ensure minimum root

mismatch, the internal
bore is sometimes
machined with a low
angled bevel
Weld preparations
Type of joint impacts upon weld preparation
•corner joints require offset
offset
•danger of burn-through •easy set-up

•difficult to set-up •no burn-through
Weld preparations
Type of joint impacts upon weld preparation
•lap and square edge butt joints do not require
preparation
Bevel angle = 30º Included angle = Bevel

Included angle = 60º angle = 50º
Weld preparations
Type of parent material impacts upon weld
preparation
•to reduce distortions on stainless steels welds,

reduce included angle and increase root face
•to avoid lack of side wall fusion problems aluminium
require larger included angles than steel
60º 70-90º
30º 35-45º
Steel Aluminium
Weld preparations
Thickness of parent material impacts upon weld
preparation
•a single bevel groove requires a volume of weld
metal proportional to the square of plate thickness
•its lack of symmetry lead to distortions
Reduce shrinkage by:

•reduce weld volume
•use single pass welding
Weld preparations
preparation
Reduce weld volume by:

•reduce included angle
•reduce root gap
Weld preparations
preparation

•increase root face
•use double bevel weld prep
Weld preparations
preparation

•use U prep instead V prep
U prep better than V prep
V prep better than U prep
Weld preparations
preparation
Reduce distortions by using an asymmetric V prep

instead of a symmetric V prep
t/3
t
•weld first into deeper side

•after welding half of depth, root back gouging
•weld completely on backside
•complete welding on first side
Weld preparation
Welding position impacts upon weld preparation
60º
30º 60º
15º
PF symmetric
preparation PC asymmetric
preparation
If symmetric preparation is used in the PC position the
weld may spill out of the groove
Weld preparation
Type of loading impacts upon weld preparation
Static loads - prohibited application of one sided
fillet weld
Weld preparation
Static loads - equal throat T joints
13 mm
13 mm
60º
weld area = 160 mm2 weld area = 90 mm2

•no preparation required •preparation required
•danger of lamellar tearing •reduced distortions
Weld preparation
Static loads - equal throat T beams in bending
neutral
axis neutral
axis
normal fillet deep penetration

welds fillet welds
Lower neutral axis is more advantageous (also
helps to reduce residual distortions!)
Weld preparation
Dynamic loads - full vs. partial penetration welds
cyclic load
fillet welds double bevel weld
Lack of penetration promotes cracking!
Weld description
Design throat
thickness Excess
weld metal
Actual throat
Leg length thickness

TWI CSWIP 3.1 WIS 10 Senior Welding Inspection Welding Symbols & Weld Preparation Section 6

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WELDING SYMBOLS &

The above information does not tell us much about

Most countries have their own standards for symbols.

Some of them are BS 499 Part 2, AWS A2.4 &

Disadvantages of symbolic representation:

The elementary symbol may be completed by:

Weld type Sketch Symbol

Square butt weld

Single V butt weld

Single bevel butt

Single bevel butt

a) Shall touch the joint intersection

a) Shall touch the arrow line

b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing

pitch (e) length (l) a

pitch (e) length (l)

Symbol to AWS A2.4

pitch (e) length (l) a

z n×l (e) a n×l (e)

Symbol to AWS A2.4

Weld all round

Ground flush Welding process

Further supplementary information, such as WPS

Fillet weld Double bevel Double J

Weld Drawing MMA

Weld drawing MMA

Symbol Drawing 111

All fillet weld leg lengths are 10 mm

Solution AWS A2.4

The basic rule is this:

This has major effects on economics and distortion

Arc welding EBW

if gap is too big risk of possible burn-through

Requires machining slow and Can be flame/plasma cut fast

Root face too large lack of Included angle too large

Root face too large Recut groove preparation

Too big/too small

Warning! Backing strips give a built-in crevice

for wall thickness up to 3 mm

for wall thickness 3 to 20 mm

for wall thickness over 20 mm

To ensure minimum root

•danger of burn-through •easy set-up

Bevel angle = 30º Included angle = Bevel

•to reduce distortions on stainless steels welds,

Reduce shrinkage by:

Reduce weld volume by:

•reduce root gap

Reduce weld volume by:

•use double bevel weld prep

Reduce weld volume by:

U prep better than V prep

V prep better than U prep

Reduce distortions by using an asymmetric V prep

•weld first into deeper side

weld area = 160 mm2 weld area = 90 mm2

normal fillet deep penetration

fillet welds double bevel weld

Lack of penetration promotes cracking!

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