--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

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 --```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

© 2004 by American Welding Society. All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

NOTE: Although care was taken in choosing and presenting the data in this guide, AWS cannot guarantee that it is
error free. Further, this guide is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of the topic and therefore may not include all
available information, including with respect to safety and health issues. By publishing this guide, AWS does not insure
anyone using the information it contains against any liability or injury to property or persons arising from that use.
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 Table of Contents
Basic Safety Precautions ...........................................4
Introduction ...............................................................6
Nomenclature of Groove Joint Details......................7
Legend for Groove Details ..................................7
Legend for AWS Joint Designations ...................8
Square-groove weld (1)
Butt joint (B), Corner joint (C) ..........................10
Butt joint (B) ......................................................11
T-joint (T), Corner joint (C) ..............................12
Single-V-groove weld (2)
Butt joint (B) ......................................................13
Butt joint (B) ......................................................14
Corner joint (C)..................................................15
Double-V-groove weld (3)
Butt joint (B) ......................................................16
Butt joint (B) ......................................................17
Single-U-groove weld (4)
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Butt joint
under (B) ......................................................18
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Single-bevel-groove weld (4)
T-joint (T), Corner joint (C) .............................. 19
Butt joint (B) ..................................................... 20
Double-bevel-groove weld (5)
T-joint (T), Corner joint (C) .............................. 21
Butt joint (B) ..................................................... 22
Butt joint (B), T-joint (T), Corner joint (C) ...... 23
Single-U-groove weld (6)
Butt joint (B), Corner joint (C).......................... 24
Double-U-groove weld (7)
Butt joint (B) ..................................................... 25
Single-J-groove weld (8)
Butt joint (B) ..................................................... 26
T-joint (T), Corner joint (C) .............................. 27
Double-J-groove weld (8)
Butt joint (B) ..................................................... 28
T-joint (T), Corner joint (C) .............................. 29
Metric Conversion Table ........................................ 30
Other Publications Available from AWS ............... 31
3Not for Resale
 Basic Safety Precautions
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Burn Protection. Molten metal, sparks, slag,
and hot work surfaces are produced by welding,
cutting, and allied processes. These can cause
burns if precautionary measures are not used.
Workers should wear protective clothing made
of fire-resistant material. Pant cuffs, open pock-
ets, or other places on clothing that can catch
and retain molten metal or sparks should not be
worn. High-top shoes or leather leggings and
fire-resistant gloves should be worn. Pant legs
should be worn over the outside of high-top
shoes. Helmets or hand shields that provide pro-
tection for the face, neck, and ears, and a head
covering to protect the head should be used. In
addition, appropriate eye protection should be
used.
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Electrical Hazards. Electric shock can kill.
However, it can be avoided. Live electrical
parts should not be touched. The manufacturer’s
instructions and recommended safe practices
should be read and understood. Faulty installa-
tion, improper grounding, and incorrect opera-
tion and maintenance of electrical equipment
are all sources of danger.
All electrical equipment and the workpiece
should be grounded. The workpiece lead is
not a ground lead. It is used only to complete
the welding circuit. A separate connection is
required to ground the workpiece. The work-
piece should not be mistaken for a ground
connection.
4
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 Fumes and Gases. Many welding, cutting,
and allied processes produce fumes and gases
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which may be harmful to health. Avoid breath-
ing the air in the fume plume directly above the
arc. Do not weld in a confined area without a
ventilation system. Use point-of-welding fume
removal when welding galvanized steel, zinc,
lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, brass, or
bronze. Do not weld on piping or containers
that have held hazardous materials unless the
containers have been inerted properly.
Compressed Gas Cylinders. Keep caps on
cylinders when not in use. Make sure that gas
cylinders are chained to a wall or other structural
support.
Radiation. Arc welding may produce ultra-
violet, infrared, or light radiation. Always wear
protective clothing and eye protection to pro-
tect the skin and eyes from radiation. Shield
others from light radiation from your welding
operation.

AWS also recommends a personal copy of “Arc Welding Safely,” “Fire Safety in Welding and
Cutting,” “Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes,” and “The Independent Shop’s Guide
to Welding Safety and Health.”

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 Introduction
This pocket handbook consists of selected welded
joint details applicable to the welding of plate and
shapes for structural applications. The joint details
conform to the design and dimensions for Prequalified
Joint Details in AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2004, Structural
Welding Code—Steel. The user should consult AWS
D1.1/D1.1M:2004 (or later edition) for joint dimen-
sional tolerances that are permissible and for notes
concerning application of the specific joint detail. The
joint details shown in this pocket handbook are appli-
cable for designing joints that are to be used in making
complete joint penetration welds in plate and shapes.
Several of the joint details in this pocket handbook
are applicable for welding joints in tubular products.
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Submerged arc welding (SAW) is applicable for
diameters greater than 24 in. (610 mm). Joints to be
used for tubular connections should have a groove
angle of not less than 60°.
These joint details specifically apply to welded joints
made in low carbon construction steels. Several of
these details may be applicable for welding alloy
steels as well as structural aluminum. When applying
the joint details in this pocket handbook to materials
other than low carbon construction steels, the appro-
priate welding specifications for the specific material
should be consulted.
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6
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 Nomenclature of Groove Joint Details

Legend for
Groove Details
Shown:
R = Root Opening (maximum)
S1 = Depth of Groove, Side 1
S2 = Depth of Groove, Side 2
T = Base Metal Thickness
α α α = Groove Angle (minimum)
β = Bevel Angle (maximum)
f = Root Face (maximum)
β
Additional, But Not Illustrated:
r = Groove radius (minimum)

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
s = Spacer strip

Figure 1—Example of Details for Illustrative Purpose

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 Legend for AWS Joint Designations
Symbols for joint types
(B) – butt joint (C) – corner joint (WP) – Welding Positions Permitted
(T) – T-joint (BC) – butt or corner joint (GS) – FCAW Gas Shielding Req’d.
(TC) – T- or corner joint (BTC) – butt, T-, or corner joint (Desig.) – AWS Joint Designation

Symbols for base metal thickness

L – limited thickness U – unlimited thickness

Symbols for weld types

(1) – square groove (6) – single-U-groove
(2) – single-V-groove (7) – double-U-groove
(3) – double-V-groove (8) – single-J-groove
(4) – single-bevel-groove (9) – double-J-groove

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(5) – double-bevel-groove (10) – flare bevel groove

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 Symbols for welding process, if not

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BACKGOUGE
shielded metal arc (EXCEPT B-L1-S)
S – submerged arc welding
G – gas metal arc welding
F – flux cored arc welding

Welding processes
SMAW – shielded metal arc welding
GMAW – gas metal arc welding
SAW – submerged arc welding Welding Process
FCAW – flux cored arc welding GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW SAW
Welding positions Desig. B-L1b B-L1b-GF B-L1a-S B-L1-S
F – flat H – horizontal T 1/4 max 3/8 max 5/8 max 3/8 max
V – vertical OH – overhead R T1/2 1/8 0 0
WP All All F F
The lower case letters, e.g., a, b, c, etc., GS — Not req’d. — —
are used to differentiate between joints
that would otherwise have the same joint Figure 2—Example of
designation. Designations for Illustrative Purpose
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 Square-groove weld (1)
Butt joint (B)
Corner joint (C)
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW SMAW FCAW
Desig. B-L1a C-L1a B-L1a-GF
T1 1/4 max 1/4 max 3/8 max
T2 — U —
R T1 T1 T1
WP All All All
GS — — Not req’d.

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 Square-groove weld (1)
BACKGOUGE
Butt joint (B) (EXCEPT B-L1-S)

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW SAW
Desig. B-L1b B-L1b-GF B-L1a-S B-L1-S
T 1/4 max 3/8 max 5/8 max 3/8 max
R T1/2 1/8 0 0

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
WP All All F F
GS — Not req’d. — —

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 Square-groove weld (1)
T-joint (T)
Corner joint (C)

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW
Desig. TC-L1b TC-L1-GF TC-L1-S
T1 1/4 max 3/8 max 3/8 max
T2 U U U
R T1 /2 1/8 0
WP All All F
GS — Not req’d. —
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

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 Single-V-groove weld (2)
BACKGOUGE
Butt joint (B) α

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW SAW SAW
Desig. B-U2 B-U2-GF B-L2c-S B-L2c-S B-2Lc-S
T U U >1/2 to 1 > 1 to 1-1/2 >1-1/2 to 2
R 1/8 1/8 0 0 0

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
α 60° 60° 60° 60° 60°
f 1/8 1/8 1/4 1/2 5/8
WP All All F F F
GS — Not req’d. — — —

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 Single-V-groove weld (2)
Butt joint (B) α

Welding Process
GMAW GMAW GMAW
SMAW SMAW SMAW FCAW FCAW FCAW SAW SAW
Desig. B-U2a B-U2a B-U2a B-U2a-GF B-U2a-GF B-U2a-GF B-L2a-S B-U2a-S
T U U U U U U 2 max U
R 1/4 3/8 1/2 3/16 3/8 1/4 1/4 5/8

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
α 45° 30° 20° 30° 30° 45° 30° 20°
WP All F, V, OH F, V, OH F, V, OH F, V, OH F, V, OH F F
GS — — — Required Not req’d. Not req’d. — —

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 Single-V-groove weld (2)
Corner joint (C)

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW
Desig. C-U2 C-U2-GF C-U2b-S

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
T U U U
R 1/8 1/8 1/8
α 60° 60° 60°
f 1/8 1/8 1/4
WP All All F
GS — Not req’d. —
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 Double-V-groove weld (3)
Butt joint (B) α

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Welding Process
SMAW SMAW SMAW SAW
Desig. B-U3a B-U3a B-U3a B-U3a-S
T U U U U
R 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8
α 45° 30° 20° 20°
f 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/4
s 1/8 × R 1/8 × R 1/8 × R 1/4 × R
WP All F, V, OH F, V, OH F

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 Double-V-groove weld (3)
Butt joint (B) α
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Welding Process For B-U3c-S only

T1
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW over to S1
Desig. B-U3b B-U3-GF B-U3c-S 2 2-1/2 1-3/8
T U U U 2-1/2 3 1-3/4
R 1/8 1/8 0 3 3-5/8 2-1/8
α 60° 60° 60° 3-5/8 4 2-3/8
f 1/8 1/8 1/14 4 4-3/4 2-3/4
S1 — — See table 4-3/4 5-1/2 3-1/4
WP All All F 5-1/2 6-1/4 3-3/4
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GS — Not req’d. —
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 Single-U-groove weld (4)
Butt joint (B)
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
α

Welding Process
GMAW GMAW GMAW
SMAW SMAW FCAW FCAW FCAW SAW SAW
Desig. B-U4a B-U4a B-U4a-GF B-U4a-GF B-U4a-GF B-U4a-S B-U4a-S
T U U U U U U U
R 1/4 3/8 3/16 1/4 3/8 3/8 1/4
α 45° 30° 30° 45° 30° 30° 45°
GS — — Required Not req’d. Not req’d. — —
WP All All All All F, H F F

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 Single-bevel-groove weld (4)
T-joint (T)
Corner joint (C)

Welding Process
GMAW GMAW GMAW
SMAW SMAW FCAW FCAW FCAW SAW SAW
Desig. TC-U4a TC-U4a TC-U4a-GF TC-U4a-GF TC-U4a-GF TC-U4a-S TC-U4a-S
T U U U U U U U
R 1/4 3/8 3/16 3/8 1/4 3/8 1/4
α 45° 30° 30° 30° 45° 30° 45°
GS — — Required Not req’d. Not req’d. — —
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

WP All F, H, OH All F All F F

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 Single-bevel-groove weld (4)
Butt joint (B)
α

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW
Desig. B-U4b B-U4b-GF B-U4b-S
T U U U
R 1/8 1/8 0
α 45° 45° 60°

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
f 1/8 1/8 1/4
WP All All F
GS — Not req’d. —

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 Double-bevel-groove weld (5)
T-joint (T)
Corner joint (C)
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW
Desig. TC-U5b TC-U5-GF TC-U5-S
T U U U
R 1/8 1/8 0
α 45° 45° 60°
f 1/8 1/8 1/4
GS — Not req’d. —
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 Double-bevel-groove weld (5)
Butt joint (B)
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
α α

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW
Desig. B-U5a B-U5-GF
T U U
R 1/8 1/8
f 1/8 1/8
α 45° 45°
β 15° 15°
WP All All
GS — Not req’d.

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 Double-bevel-groove weld (5)
Butt joint (B)
T-joint (T)
Corner joint (C) α α

Welding Process
SMAW SMAW SMAW
Desig. B-U5b TC-U5a TC-U5a
T U U U

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
R 1/4 1/4 3/8
α 45° 45° 30°
f 1/8 1/8 1/8
s 1/8 × R 1/4 × R 1/4 × R
WP All All F, OH
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 Single-U-groove weld (6)
Butt joint (B)
Corner joint (C)
α α

Welding Process
GMAW GMAW
SMAW SMAW SMAW SMAW FCAW FCAW
Desig. B-U6 B-U6 C-U6 C-U6 B-U6-GF C-U6-GF
T U U U U U U
R 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8
α 45° 20° 45° 20° 20° 20°
f 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8
r 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
GS
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
— — — — Not req’d. Not req’d.
WP All F, OH All F, OH All All
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 Double-U-groove weld (7)

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
α
Butt joint (B)

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW SMAW FCAW SMAW
Desig. B-U7 B-U7 B-U7-GF B-U7-S
T U U U U
R 1/8 1/8 1/8 0
α 45° 20° 20° 20°
f 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/4
r 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
WP All F, OH All F
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 Single-J-groove weld (8)
Butt joint (B)

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW SAW
Desig. B-U8 B-U8-GF B-U8-S
T U U U
R 1/8 1/8 0
α 45° 30° 45°
f 1/8 1/8 1/4
r 3/8 3/8 3/8
WP All All F
GS — Not req’d. —
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 Single-J-groove weld (8) α
T-joint (T)
Corner joint (C)

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW SMAW FCAW SAW
Desig. TC-U8a TC-U8a TC-U8a-GF TC-U8a-S
T U U U U
R 1/8 1/8 1/8 0
α 45° 30° 30° 45°
f 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/4
r 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
WP All F, OH All F
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 Double-J-groove weld (8)
Butt joint (B)

α α

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW FCAW
Desig. B-U9 B-U9-GF
T U U
R 1/8 1/8
α 45° 30°
f 1/8 1/8
r 3/8 3/8
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
WP All All
GS — Not req’d.
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 Double-J-groove weld (8)
T-joint (T) α
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
Corner joint (C)

Welding Process
GMAW
SMAW SMAW FCAW
Desig. TC-U9a TC-U9a TC-U9a-GF
T U U U
R 1/8 1/8 1/8
α 45° 30° 30°
f 1/8 1/8 1/8
r 3/8 3/8 3/8
WP All F, OH All
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 Metric Conversion Table
(Commonly used conversions)

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
Property To Convert From To Multiply by
area inches2 millimeters2 6.452 × 102
millimeters2 inches2 1.550 × 10–3
flow rate feet3/hour liters/minute 0.472
liters/minute feet3/hour 2.119
linear inches millimeters 25.4
millimeters inches 3.937 × 10–2
inches centimeters 2.54
centimeters inches 0.3937
feet meters 0.305
meters feet 3.281
mass (weight) pounds kilograms 2.205
kilograms pounds 0.454
pressure psi kilopascal (kPa) 6.895
kPa psi 0.145
tensile strength psi megapascal (MPa) 6.895 × 10–3
MPa psi 1.450 × 102
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 Other Publications Available from AWS
Order No. Title
D1.1 Structural Welding Code—Steel
Acknowledged worldwide as being a universal standard for assuring quality welding.
D1.3 Structural Welding Code—Sheet Steel
Gives allowable stresses and supplies correct techniques, qualification, and inspection instructions for
coated or galvanized sheet steel.
D1.4 Structural Welding Code—Reinforcing Steel
Seven succinct chapters, appendices, tables, illustrations.
PHB-1 The Everyday Pocket Handbook for Arc Welding Steel
Good electrode coverage for SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW.
A3.0 Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
Terms you won’t find in your regular dictionary. Correct and nonstandard terms are both included.
1,200 definitions.

For more information on AWS publications go to www.aws.org.

--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

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 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, Florida 33126
--```,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

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