60 Welding Technology and Design

1.4.2 Type of welded joints

1.4.2.1 General
The important consideration of designing a weldment is the selection of the
best type of edge preparation for the given application. During the selection the
following main factors must be considered.
1. Magnitude and type of loading i.e., static compression or tension, fatigue,
bending, impact etc.
2. The effect of warping on cooling.
3. The thickness of the material to be welded.
The basic type of welded joints are: butt, tee, corner, lap and edge, as shown in
Fig. 1.25. The basic types of welds are: fillet, square, bevelgroove, J-groove and
U-groove. The type of joints does not affect the weld. The definition of a welded
joint must include description of both the joint and the weld.
1.4.2.2 Groove-welds
The commonly used groove welds have a number of typical properties :
(a) Single groove welds welded from one side only should not be used for
bending or fatigue loading. It may fail due to stress concentration at the
weld root.
(b) Single or double groove welds which are welded from both sides can
develop full strength.
(c) If welds do not extend completely through the thickness of the members
jointed, the joint should not be used for fatigue loading.
(d) With single or double bevel type of groove, it may be more difficult to
obtain sound weld.
(e) If backing strip is used during welding, it must be removed if the joint is
subjected to fatigue type of loading.
1.4.2.3 Various types of groove welds
(a) Square grooves may be used with butt, corner Tee and edge joints. Complete
penetration of square groove weld is obtained by welding from both sides
on material upto 3 mm thick without any root opening and on materials
upto 6 mm with adequate root opening.
(b) Single Vee groove joints are suitable for materials of 6 mm to 19 mm thick
with a minimum root opening of 60 deg. Single Vee groove joints are
suitable for most loading conditions.
(c) Double Vee groove joints are applicable to butt joint for materials with
thickness ranging from 12 mm to 38 mm. Control of distortion is also
achieved by using double Vee groove joint and welding on alternate sides
of the joint and so balancing the heat input.
(d) Single Bevel groove joints include butt, Tee and corner joints. This joint
may be used for thickness between 6 mm to 19 mm. However, the narrow
included angle (35 to 45 deg.) of the bevel groove joint makes it one of the
least desirable types of joint.
(e) Double Bevel groove joint may be used for thickness upto 38 mm.