Welding Symbols (Part -1)

Welding symbols are a set of information conveyed by the design department

to the welding Engineer and the welding operator. It contains all the necessary
information viz. welding position, dimensions and geometry of the weld, details
of groove/fillet, welding process etc.

A basic weld symbol consists of three parts namely;

1. Arrow Line
2. Reference Line
3. Tail

These are shown in the diagram given below

Arrow Line: Arrow indicates the position of the joint. The arrow points to one
side of the joint. This is called the ARROW SIDE and the side other than the
arrow side is called the OTHER SIDE.

The arrow side and other side is shown in the diagram given below;
Reference Line: Most of the Details about the weld are given on the reference
line such as Shape of the grove or the fillet, Geometry and dimensions of weld
etc. In the ISO system a weld on the arrow side is indicated by placing the weld
symbol above the solid reference line and a weld on the other side is shown
below a dashed line, as shown in the figure given below;

Whereas in AWS system the weld symbol for a weld is placed below the
reference line and for a weld on the other side is shown above the line as shown
in the figure given below; (NOTE: Dashed line is not used in AWS system).
In the ISO system symbols on the solid line always refer to the arrow side of
the joint and symbols on the dashed line indicate a weld on the other side. The
dashed line can be drawn either above or below the solid line but as per
standard practice, dashed line is placed below the solid reference line.

To bring more clarity about the arrow side and the other side in a fillet joint,
please see the diagram given below;
NOTE: If weld is made on both sides, as in a double fillet weld (or double
groove), the dashed line can be omitted since the weld symbol is placed on
both sides of the reference line or lines. Please see the diagram given below;
Tail: Third important part of a welding symbol is tail, Tail is used to designate
additional information viz. Reference code and (or) welding process to be used.
Tail may be omitted if not required.

ELEMENTARY SYMBOL

In addition to the basic parts of a welding symbol i.e. Arrow line, Reference line
and the tail certain elementary symbols are provided on the reference line. The
elementary symbols may be complemented by Supplementary symbols,
Dimensions and Complementary information.
The elementary symbols are given below;
Please watch the video lecture (given below) for a
better understanding of the welding symbols:
https://youtu.be/5ZNR-psc_y8