AWS Welding Symbols for Five Most Useful Weld Types

AWS welding symbols are widely accepted for welding drawings. AWS symbols and ANSI symbols are same. He we discuss five common AWS symbols in some detail.

All AWS welding symbols are derived from the standard AWS A2.4.

1. Butt Joint                                                                   

If you have two work pieces aligned approximately in the same plane that need to be welded, then you should go for butt joint. See the picture below for better clarity:

AWS Welding Symbol for Butt Joint: Different types of butt joint weld and their symbols are as below:

○ Square groove weld butt joint: If the cross section of the weld groove is square in shape, then the weld will be called a square groove weld. Square groove weld is represented as:

○ V-groove weld butt joint: As name indicates, the cross section of these types of weld groove is in a "V" shape. A v-groove weld can be represented as:

○ Bevel groove weld butt joint: These types of grooves are made by chamfering one of the work pieces. A bevel groove weld can be represented as:

2. Corner Joint

Right angled welding joints of an L-shape are called corner joints. Typically a corner joint looks like below:

AWS welding symbol for corner joints: Different types of corner joints and their symbols are as below:

○ Bevel groove corner joint: Bevel groove is prepared by chamfering one of the work pieces. Bevel groove corner joint can be represented as:

○ J-groove corner joint: Instead of chamfer, a round is given to one of the work piece for preparing the j-groove. J-groove corner joints can be represented as:

○ Square groove corner joint: Square grooves in the case of corner joints are represented as:

3. T-Joint

Right angled welding joints of T-shape are called corner joints. Typically a T- Joint looks like below:

AWS welding symbol for T- joint: Different types of T-joints and their symbols are shown below:

○ J-groove T-weld: J-groove for T-weld is represented as:

○ Flare bevel groove T joint: A flare bevel groove is prepared by providing round to one of the work pieces, but in outward direction. See below:

○ Bevel groove T-joint: A bevel groove for T-weld joints is represented as:

4. Lap Joint

The welding joints between two fully or partially overlapped work piece is called a lap joint. The picture below shows a lap joint:

AWS welding symbol for lap joint: Different types of lap joints and their symbols are shown below:

○ Bevel groove lap joint: The bevel groove lap joint is represented as:

○ J-groove lap joint: The j-groove lap joint is represented as:

○ Flare bevel groove lap joint: A flare bevel groove lap joint is represented as:

5. Edge Joint

When two work pieces are placed on two parallel or nearly parallel edges and welding is done between the two work pieces then the welding is called an edge weld joint. See the below picture for better clarity:

AWS welding symbol for edge joint: Different types of edge joints and their symbols are shown below:

○ Bevel groove edge joint: The bevel groove edge joint is represented as:

○ Square groove edge joint: A square groove edge joint is represented as:

○ U-groove edge joint: U-groove edge joints are represented as: