AWS A2.4 weld symbol
Bevel-Groove Weld Symbol
A bevel-groove weld symbol is half a V, and it calls for only one member to be cut — the broken leader line points at the member that gets the bevel.
How to read the bevel-groove weld symbol
- Only one member is prepared. The other is left square, which is why the symbol has one vertical leg.
- The leader line is drawn with a distinct break or kink, and it points at the member that receives the bevel. This is mandatory when there is any ambiguity.
- The perpendicular leg of the symbol is always drawn on the left.
- The groove angle is written outside the symbol, the root opening inside.
- A bevel on both sides of the reference line calls for a double-bevel joint.
Where the dimensions go
| Position | What it specifies |
|---|---|
| Inside the symbol | Root opening |
| Outside the symbol | Bevel angle, for example 45° |
| Left of the symbol | Depth of bevel, with groove weld size in parentheses |
Joint types
- Butt joint
- T-joint
- Corner joint
Practical notes
- Bevel-groove joints are common where one member is a web or flange that cannot practically be cut.
- Because only one face is angled, the electrode angle is awkward and lack of fusion on the square face is the usual defect.
- A bevel-groove combined with a fillet weld symbol is standard on full-penetration T-joints in structural work.
Bevel-Groove Weld symbol — common questions
Why is the leader line broken on a bevel-groove symbol?
The break points at the member that gets the bevel. Only one of the two members is prepared, so the drawing has to say which — the kinked leader is how AWS A2.4 does that.
What is the difference between a bevel-groove and a V-groove weld?
A V-groove bevels both members; a bevel-groove bevels only one and leaves the other square. The V-groove symbol is a full V, the bevel-groove symbol is half a V.
Where are bevel-groove welds used?
T-joints and butt joints where one member cannot be conveniently prepared, such as a web welded to a flange, and anywhere a full-penetration T-joint is required in structural steel.
What angle is a typical bevel groove?
45 degrees is the most common single-bevel preparation on plate, though the governing code and the joint detail set the actual figure.
Welding symbol anatomy
Every weld symbol attaches to the same framework. If any part of the diagram above is unfamiliar, the full guide to reading welding symbols walks through the whole system.
| Reference line | The horizontal backbone of every welding symbol. Everything else attaches to it, and it is always drawn horizontal on the drawing. |
|---|---|
| Arrow | The leader and arrowhead that connect the reference line to the joint. The side of the joint the arrow touches is the arrow side. |
| Weld symbol | The shape that says which kind of weld is required — triangle for a fillet, V for a V-groove, circle for a spot, and so on. |
| Arrow side (below the line) | A weld symbol drawn below the reference line calls for a weld on the side of the joint the arrow points to. This is the convention that catches people out most often. |
| Other side (above the line) | A weld symbol drawn above the reference line calls for a weld on the far side of the joint. |
| Both sides | Symbols drawn above and below the reference line call for welds on both sides of the joint. |
| Tail | An optional fork at the far end of the reference line, used to reference a specification, process or procedure such as GMAW or a WPS number. |
| Dimensions | Size is placed to the left of the weld symbol; length and pitch are placed to the right. |