Module Four

Welding and Nondestructive Testing Symbols

Welding symbols provide a system for placing complete welding information on
drawings. They quickly indicate to the designer, draftsman, supervisors, and welding
personnel, including welding inspectors, which welding technique is needed for each
joint to satisfy the requirements for material strength and service conditions. For
layout and fitting personnel, welding symbols often relay information that affects the
finished size of a prepared part. For example, root opening changes will cause a chance
in the actual size of a member when only design size dimensions are provided on a
drawing. The inspector must be aware of these requirements, and the effects of changes
in the specified parameters. The welding inspector must be aware of the basic
information which can appear in a welding symbol, the identification of basic weld
symbols, the use of supplementary symbols, and an understanding of the terminology
associated with the basic welding symbol. Welding and nondestructive testing
symbols can be though of as a shorthand method for conveying information
ertinent to these oerations. Some of the information which can be described
through the use of a welding or nondestructive testing symbol includes:
Tye of joint configuration
Secific shae of weld rearation
Tye of weld
Welding rocess
!elevant secification or rocedures
"ocation of weld
#$tent of welding
Weld quality requirements
Methods for verification of weld quality
Weld sequencing
Weld si%e
Final weld configuration
Methods of roducing that configuration
The welding or testing symbol can be used effectively to provide a great deal of
information. The ey point is that the symbols must be properly used to be effective.
To aid in the correct understanding and interpretation of the welding and testing
symbols we will detail the steps used in the construction of that symbol. There are a
number of elements of the symbol which have some specific meaning due to their
location with respect to other parts of the symbol.
!
#lements of Welding Symbol
"efore attention is turned to the various parts of a welding symbol, it is important to
understand some of the terminology relating to the symbols. There is a basic distinction
which must be pointed out between the terms weld symbol and welding symbol. The
weld symbol identifies each secific tye of weld and is only art of the total
information contained on the welding symbol. The welding symbol indicates the
total symbol& including all information alied to it& to secify the weld required.
Welding symbols are made u of eight elements:
!eference line 'always shown hori%ontally(
)rrow
*asic weld symbol
+imensions and other data
Sulementary symbols
Finish symbols
Tail
Secification& rocess& or other reference
Figure ! shows parts of the welding symbol and placement of supplementary
information.
Figure ,
#
$n construction of a welding symbol it is important to remember the reference line is
always a horizontal line, because otherwise there is no significance whether information
lies above or below the line. The next element of the welding symbol is the arrow. This
is drawn on one end of the reference line and points to one side of the weld %oint. The
arrow gives significance to the terms arrow side and other side. That is, the side to
which the arrow points is referred to as the arrow side, while the opposite side is called
the other side. &nce the arrow side and other side have been assigned by the placement
of the arrow, it is now possible to specify information relating to either or both sides.
-nformation laced below the reference line relates to the arrow side of the weld
joint& and that information above the reference line describes what will occur on
the other side of the joint. This rule will never change, no matter which end of the
reference line is attached to the arrow or which direction the arrow may point. Figure #
illustrates this.
Figure .
&ne other way of drawing an arrow on the reference line is with a brea in the arrow.
When the arrow is shown with a break the broken arrow always oints toward the
member of the joint that is to be reared or shaed.
'
Figure /
The tail of the welding symbol is used to indicate the welding and cutting processes, as
well as the welding specification, procedures, or supplementary information to be used
in maing the weld. Then the welding process, specification, procedure, or
supplementary information is not necessary to identify the welding information, the tail
is omitted from the welding symbol. Figure ( shows the welding symbol with the tail
added.
Figure 0
&nce the reference line and arrow are in place, the next step is to place a weld symbol
on the reference line. The weld symbol, describes what the actual weld configuration
will be. The Weld symbol is a grahic character connected to the welding symbol
indicating the tye of weld. $f they are placed below the reference line they refer to
the arrow side of the weld %oint. $f they are placed above the reference line they refer to
the other side of the weld %oint. Weld symbols laced on both sides of the reference
line indicate the weld is to be made on both sides of the joint. Some weld symbols
can be laced with the reference line slitting them which indicates no side
significance and the weld can be laced on either side of the weld joint
)ome other features of weld symbol placement need to be remembered. Weld symbols
for fillet& bevel1groove& 21bevel& flare1bevel& and corner flange welds are always
drawn with the vertical leg of the symbol on the left& whether above or below the
reference line. 3ne weld symbol& the surfacing weld symbol always aears on the
arrow side of the reference line. Figure * shows the weld symbols and their
relationship to the reference line of a welding symbol.
(
Figure 4
5roove Weld +etailing
+fter designating the type of groove weld required and at which side or sides of the
%oint it will be deposited, other information is necessary. ,ost of this data relates to
dimensional requirements. Features needing dimensions include: the %oint type, weld
size and the extent of welding. )ome of the groove weld dimensions are placed within
or slightly outside the weld symbol. There are specific and definite locations on the
welding symbol that designate weld dimensions. The weld6s si%e or strength& length&
itch& or number can be secified. -n addition& dimension information regarding
root oenings& deth of fill& deth of rearation& and groove angle rearation
can also be included. &f all the weld symbols shown in Figure * above there are eight
that reresent groove welds. These are shown in Figure -. )ll groove welds have an
arrow side& other side& and both sides significance& meaning the weld can be started
from either side. +s with other weld symbols, location is determined by the side of the
reference line on which the symbol is placed. !emember with the bevel1groove& 21
groove and the flare bevel groove weld symbols the use of a broken arrow
identifies the joint member that must be reared.
*
Figure 7
)ingle groove dimensions are placed on the same side of the reference line as the
symbol. .ouble groove dimensions are placed on both sides of the reference line for
each groove, except for the root oening which aears only once. .imensions that
are common to all groove welds include& +eth of rearation 'bevel(& groove weld
si%e& root oening& and groove angle. +dditional dimensioning applicable to / and 01
groove welds includes a radius and root face. 2adius is also used in the size
specification for flare1bevel and flare13 groove welds.
+eth of rearation 4bevel5 dimensioning is laced to the left of the weld symbol
represented by 6)7 in Figure 8. +eth of rearation or bevel is defined as the
erendicular distance from the base metal surface to the root edge or beginning
of the root face.
5roove weld si%e is& the joint enetration of the weld laced into a groove, and is
represented by 495 in Figure 8. This dimension is also laced to the left of the groove
weld symbol and appears between the depth of preparation dimension and the weld
symbol. This dimension can be related to the effective throat of the weld made. For
-
groove welds& if no dimensions for deth of rearation or effective throat are
secified& the required weld is considered to be a comlete enetration weld.
The use of 892:; in the tail of the welding symbol can be used to indicate comlete
joint enetration.

Figure <
9xcept for square1groove welds, groove weld size 64957, in relation to the depth of
preparation 6)7, is shown at 6)4957 to the left of the weld symbol. "ecause of %oint
geometry, square edge shapes, only weld size is shown for a square groove weld.
!oot oening is a searation at the joint root between the work ieces forming the
joint. The root of a %oint is either open or closed. When a separation or root opening is
indicated, the dimension aears inside the groove weld symbol. This dimension is
specified only once for double groove welded %oints, generally in the arrow side weld
symbol.
5roove angle& is secified outside the weld symbol& ositioned above or below the
symbol deending uon if the symbol is on the reference line on the arrow side or
other side. +ngle dimensioning is secified by degrees, indicating the angle formed
by the members to be welded together. 5roove angle is the total angle of the groove.
The bevel angle for each member equals half the given dimension. Figures : and ;
show examples of how these dimensions might be used.
8
Figure =
Figure >
The final iece of dimensional information necessary for a groove weld is the
required length. This detail is shown to the right of the weld symbol. $f no
dimension is shown it is assumed that the specified weld is to run the entire length of
:
the %oint. $f a dimension is present to the right of the weld symbol, it refers to the length
of groove weld segment required.
;
Figure ,,
!<
Figure ,.
!!
Figure ,/
!#
There are also dimensional information partinent to some of the weld configuratins
other than grooves. &ne of those is the fillet weld. +s was the case for groove welds,
the si%e of a fillet weld is dimensioned to the left of the weld symbol. .imensions for
fillet welds are located on the same side of the reference line as the weld symbol.
.ouble fillet dimensions are placed on both sides of the reference line whether they are
different or not. $n the case of unequal leg fillet sizes the dimension is still to the left of
the weld symbol and not enclosed in parentheses. Figure !( gives some examples.
Figure ,0
+ common welding practice is to use intermittent fillet welds instead of a continuous
fillet weld to reduce distortion and the amount of time required for welding. The
dimensions for intermittent fillet welds, length and itch& are shown as two numbers
searated by a hyhen. *oth dimensions are laced to the right of the weld
symbol. The first number is the length of each individual weld segment and the
second number refers to the center1 to1 center sacing of these segments. The
spacing from one segment is referred to as the pitch and is measured from the center of
one segment to the center of the next. Figure !* gives illustrations of length and pitch
dimensioning.
!'
Figure ,4
$ntermittent fillet welds may be applies to both sides of a %oint in one of two ways. -f
the individual segments are directly across from each other& it is referred to as
chain intermittent fillet welding. The fillet weld symbols are laced directly across
the reference line from each other and the dimensioning for both sides generally is
the same. )taggered intermittent fillet welds are made when segments on either side of
the %oint coincide with spaces between segments on the other side. The fillet weld
symbols are placed on the reference line in a staggered manner. The dimensions for
length and pitch are still placed to the right of the respective arrow and other side weld
symbols. Figure !- shows chain and staggered intermittent fillet welding symbols.
Figure ,7
!(
!*
Figure ,<
!-
Figure ,=
!8
:lug and Slot Weld +etailing
The symbolization of the next types of welds involves several different features because
of the uniqueness of their configurations. They are the lug and slot welds. They are
both welds joining overlaing members by filling a hole in the to member to
connect it to the other member. The symbol for both is simly a rectangular shae.
Three dimensioning elements distinguish plug welds from slot welds: first, plug weld
diameter is measured as size, while slot welds are measured for width. =lug weld size is
indicated through the use of a diameter symbol. This symbol is omitted in the width
specification for slot welds. )econd, a length dimension is used for slot welds. The
spacing 4pitch5 dimension for a plug weld is located in the same position as slot weld
length. Third, the location and orientation of slots must be shown on the drawing.
Figure !; shows some examples of plug and slot weld symbols.
Figure ,>
=lus welds are dimensioned according to weld size, angle of countersin, depth of
filling, pitch and the number of welds required. =lug weld information is placed on the
side of the reference line where the weld symbol appears.
!:
Si%e is located to the left of the symbol, regardless of arrow or other side significance.
)ize is determined by the diameter of the hole at the faying surface or the oint
where the surfaces of the members come in contact with each other.
)ngle of countersink for lug welds is located above or below the weld symbol
depending upon if it is on the arrow side or other side of the reference line. )ngle of
countersink is the included angle for taered holes.
+eth of filling is indicated by placing the filling dimension inside the lug weld
symbol for filling that is less than comlete. -f the dimension has been omitted&
this indicates that the hole is to be comletely filled.
Sacing or :itch& is laced to the right of the weld symbol. :lug weld sacing in
any configuration other than s straight line must be dimensioned on the drawing.
>umber of plug welds. When a definite number of plug welds is required& the desired
number is secified in arentheses on the same side of the reference line as the
weld symbol. This dimension is located above or below the weld symbol deending
uon symbol lacement on the reference line. Figure #< shows plug weld
dimensions.
Figure .?
)lot welds are dimensioned according to width, length, angle of countersin, depth of
filling, pitch and number of welds. Slot weld width is located to the left of the
symbol, regardless of arrow or other side significance. Width is the dimension of the
slot& measured in the direction of the minor a$is at the faying surface.
Slot weld length is located to the right of the symbol, regardless of arrow or other
side significance. "ength is the dimension of the slot& measured in the direction of
the major a$is at the faying surface.
!;
)ngle of countersink for slot welds is located above the symbol and is the included
angle for taered slots.
+eth of filling is indicated by lacing the dimension inside the slot weld symbol
just like for lug welds.
Sacing or itch 'center1to1center distance( is laced to the right of the length
dimension& searated by a hyhen.
Number of slot welds is secified in arentheses on the same side of the reference
line as the weld symbol. This dimension is located above or below the weld symbol
depending upon symbol placement on the reference line. $f angle of countersin is
indicated the number of welds would be place above that dimension. Figure #! shows
slot weld symbol dimensions.
Figure .,
Sot and Seam Weld +etailing
)pot and seam welds can also be effectively described using welding symbols.
)pot welds and pro%ection welds share the same symbol, a circle laced above& below
or straddling the reference line. They are differentiated by the welding process, %oint
design, detailing on the drawing, and the reference placed in the tail of the welding
symbol.
Welding symbol dimensions for spot welds include: weld size or strength, spacing and
number of spot welds required. The welding process is always indicated in the tail of
the welding symbol. .imensions are placed on the same side of the reference line as
the symbol.
Sot weld si%e or strength dimensions are laced to the left side of the weld symbol.
Weld si%e is measured by the diameter of the weld at the oint of contact between
#<
the faying surfaces of the members. 9ither size or strength, but not both dimensions
will appear in con%unction with the welding symbol.
Sacing or itch of two or more sot welds made in a straight line are indicated by
lacing the aroriate distance dimension to the right of the sot weld symbol.
The number of sot welds required is laced above or below the symbol, depending
upon symbol placement on the reference line, and is secified in arentheses. Figures
## and #' show spot and pro%ection weld symbols.
#!
Figure ..
Figure ./
The seam weld symbol, dependent upon its location on the reference line and the
welding process used, may or may not have arrow side or other significance. When the
symbol is placed centered on the line, it does not indicate a both sides designation?
rather, it specifies no side significance. )eam welds are dimensioned according to size
or strength, length and@or pitch and the number of welds required. The welding process
used will be specified in the tail of the welding symbol.
Si%e or strength dimensions are laced to the left of the symbol on the same side as
the weld symbol to the reference line. Seam weld si%e is measured according to the
width of the weld at the faying surfaces of the members. )trength is specified by
pounds per linear inch or in newtons per millimeter for metric measurements. )ize and
strength designations are not specified at the same time.
"ength and itch of seam welds is laced on the right side of the weld symbol.
"ength dimensioning is omitted if the seam e$tends for the full length of the weld
joint.
##
)ome times seam welds are made intermittently. $n these instances the itch
dimension will be laced to the right of the length dimension searated by a
hyhen. Aength and pitch are understood to measure along the weld axis.
The number of seam welds required is laced in arentheses and is above the weld
symbol. Figure #( shows seam weld dimensions.
Figure .0
#'
Stud Welds
The stud welding symbol does not indicate the welding of a joint. For this reason it
has no arrow side or other side significance. The symbol is always laced on the
arrow side of the reference line and oints directly to the surface where the studs
are welded. Studs are dimensioned according to stud si%e in diameter and is
laced to the left of the weld symbol. The number of studs required is laced
below the symbol in arenthesis. The location of the first and last stud will have to be
dimensioned on the drawing. Figure #* shows typical usage of the stud weld symbol.
Figure .4
Surfacing Welds
,any times welders will be called upon to place layers of welds or buildup on metal
surfaces, or mae cross hatched surfacing patterns on the outside of heavy equipment
#(
parts. "uildup of shafts or other pieces of materials to be machined down is also liely.
Surfacing welds are employed to do this type of wor. )urfacing is also used to
provide corrosion or heat resistant surfaces. $n certain applications butter passes are
welded to the surfaces of existing members, before the prepared parts are installed.
"uttering is done to eep the weld metal metallurgically compatible, and in some
applications, mae a transition between two dissimilar weld metals. )urface welds can
be applied using single or multiple pass welds, and can include single or multiple layers.
Surfacing weld symbols like stud welds symbols do not indicate welded joints@
therefore& there is no arrow side or other side significance. The symbol is always
laced on the arrow side of the reference line. .imensions are placed on the same
side of the reference line as the weld symbol and the arrow of the welding symbol will
always point to the surface to be welded.
Si%e dimensions are laced to the left of the weld symbol and reresent the
minimum thickness of the surface weld. +dditional welding direction is placed in the
tail of the welding symbol or specified on the drawing. The e$tent of weld desired&
location& and orientation will be shown on the drawing. Figure #- gives examples of
how surface weld symbols are used.
#*
Figure .7
*ack or *acking Weld Symbols
*ack and backing weld symbols are identical. The term bac weld or bacing weld
is specified in the tail of the welding symbol and provides an indication of the welding
sequence when used in a combined weld symbol having a single reference line.
*acking welds are made to the oosite side of a groove weld joint before the
groove weld is alied.
*ack welds are made after the groove has been welded& usually after some tye of
back gouge oeration has been erformed to ensure the root of the first weld is
sound. Figure #8 shows bac and bacing weld symbols.
Figure .<
#-
Flange Weld Symbols
The final welds symbols to be discussed are those for the flange welds. Their
dimensioning show not only the si%e of the weld but also details as to how the
flange is to be formed. There are two types of flange weld symbols, the edge flange
symbol and the corner flange symbol. Flange weld symbol usage is intended for
sheet metal joints. The members are prepared by flanging one or both of the outside
members of the %oint. ) flanged joint may also include multile members laced
between the two outer members.

The corner flange symbol has a straight line drawn to the left side and a straight
line which curves at the end towards the reference line on the right. The edge
flange symbol is drawn with two straight lines that curve outward at the reference
line end. "oth symbols are used on arrow side or other side but there is no both sides
representation.
Three dimensions are applied to the flange weld symbols, radius of the flange& flange
si%e and weld si%e 'thickness(. +ll the dimensions are placed to the left of the weld
symbol. .imensions are read from left to right, radius first, then flange size followed
by the weld size centered directly under these two dimensions. Sometimes a root
oening dimension is alied to the welding symbol for flange welds. This
dimension goes inside the weld symbol. Figure #: shows flange weld symbols.
#8
Figure .=
#:
+lthough we have discussed the basic weld symbols and how they are dimensioned,
there are still additional symbols which can be applied to detail other important
information. This group of symbols is referred to as the supplementary symbols.
Figure #; shows these symbols.
Figure .>
The first of these symbols to be discussed is the weld all around symbol. This symbol
is drawn as a circle around the junction of the arrow and the reference line& and
describes a weld which is to be continuous around some %oint. The weld all around
symbol is not used for circumferential welds made around ie. Figure '< shows
this symbol.
Figure /?
+ commonly used supplementary symbol is the field weld symbol. This symbol is
drawn as a flag at the junction of the arrow and reference line. The symbol
represents welds made at the final oint of assembly. This symbol can appear above
or below the reference line and has no significance to weld symbols placed above or
below the reference line. Figure '! shows how this symbol is used.
#;
Figure /,
The melt through symbol is also commonly used and denotes comlete root
enetration is desired lus visible root reinforcement. The symbol is a darkened1in
half circle laced oosite the reference line from another weld symbol. +
dimension may be placed to the left of the symbol to indicate the height requirement
of the root reinforcement. This is shown in Figure '#.
Figure /.
9onsumable inserts are strips or rings of filler metal, added to the weld %oint, that
completely fuse to the %oining members. The insert may have a special composition of
filler metal to prevent porosity and enable the weld metal to meet specific requirements.
$nserts are used on certain groove welded plate and pipe %oints to improve the lielihood
of full penetration. 5enerally they are used with the 5T)W welding rocess. The
symbol is specified by placing a square oosite a groove weld symbol on the
reference line. + consumable insert class type is placed in the tail of the symbol.
Figure '' shows this symbol.
'<
Figure //
2oints with backing are specified by placing the bacing symbol on the side of the
reference line opposite the groove weld symbol. $f the bacing is to be removed after
welding an 8!; or 8M!; is laced in the backing symbol. The material and
dimensions of the bacing are specified in the tail of the symbol or in a note placed on
the drawing. *acking is material or a device laced on the back side of the groove.
This is very different from the bac or bacing weld symbolBs meaning. Figure '(
shows the bacing symbol.
Figure /0
The next supplementary symbol to be discussed is the symbol for a spacer. /oints that
require spacers are specified by modifying the groove symbol to show a rectangle
within it. The spacer is applied to %oints welded from both sides and is generally
centered on the root faces of the prepared members. $t may be used to hold critical %oint
openings in position. )ometimes the spacer is removed after welding from one side has
been completed or may remain as part of the welded %oint. Figure '* shows the spacer
symbol.
'!
Figure /4
9ontour symbols denote how the face or crown of the finished weld is to be shaped.
They are included with a weld symbol when the finished face is to appear flush 'flat(&
conve$ or concave. The contour symbol is placed on the welding symbol above the
weld symbol. +t times the contour symbol is accompanied by a finish symbol that
indicates what method is to be used to achieve the particular contour desired. This letter
will appear on the welding symbol above the contour symbol. The meaning of the
letters are as follows: 89; A 9hiing& 85; A 5rinding& 8B; A Bammering& 8M; A
'#
Machining& 8!; A !olling& and 8C; A Cnsecified. Figure '- shows contour and
finish symbols.
Figure /7
Multile !eference "ines
&ne way to describe a sequence of operations is to combine several individual reference
lines on the same arrow. 9ach reference line could contain information to be applied at
a certain step in the welding operation. The order of the oerations deends on the
relative location of each reference line with resect to the arrow. The first
oeration is described by the reference line closest to the arrow.
Figure /<
''
*ra%ing Symbols
The use of a welding symbol can also be applied to various brazing %oints. When a
brazing symbol is used there are certain dimensions which should be specified to fully
describe the important aspects of the braze %oint. The 6Cl7 dimension within the scarf1
groove symbol describes the amount of clearance between the two members when fit
up. The 6A7 dimension refers to the amount of overlap, and the 6)7 details the size of
the reinforcing fillet on the outside of the %oint.
Figure /=
'(
Nondestructive Testing Symbols
&nce welded, it may be necessary to inspect those %oints to determine if the applicable
quality requirements have been satisfied. There are numerous nondestructive tests
which can be performed. Those tests can be specified through the use of nondestructive
testing symbols which are constructed in the same manner as the welding symbols.
Figure '; shows the general arrangement of the nondestructive testing symbol.
Figure />
+s is the case for weld symbols, information below the reference line is arrow side and
above the reference line is other side. $nstead of weld symbols, there are basic testing
symbols which are simply letter designations for the various testing processes.
)coustic #mission )#T
#ddy 9urrent #T
"eak Test "T
Magnetic :article Test MT
Neutron !adiograhic Test N!T
:enetrant Test :T
:roof Test :!T
!adiograhic Test !T
Cltrasonic Test CT
'*
Disual Test DT
+lso as in the case of weld symbols testing symbols can be applied to the arrow side,
other side or both sides of the reference line. $f it is not significant which side is to be
tested, the test symbol can be centered on the reference line.
)ome dimensions can also be applied to the testing symbol. .imensions to describe the
extent of testing required are placed to the right of the test symbol and can denote length
of the %oint to be tested or the percentage to be tested. $f no dimension exists to the right
of the test symbol it implies that the entire length of the %oint is to be tested. &ther
dimensions might include the number of pieces to be tested. This number will be above
the test symbol and in parenthesis. Figure (< shows the dimensions we have taled
about so far.
Figure 0?
$f testing is to be performed entirely around a %oint, the test all around symbol can be
applied as shown in Figure (!
'-
Figure 0,
$n the case of radiographic or neutron radiographic testing, it may be helpful to describe
the placement of the radiation source to optimize the information received from these
tests. $f desired, the orientation of the radiation source can be symbolized as illustrated
in Figure (#.
Figure 0.
Test symbols can also be combined with weld symbols to denote a complete list if
information about a single %oint. Figure (' shows some examples of this combination
of weld and test symbols.
'8
Figure 0/
':