WORLDWIDE
Material Specification
ENGINEERING
Metals
STANDARDS
Weld Acceptance Criteria and Repair Procedures
Drawn-Arc Welded Automotive Studs, Nuts and Brackets - Steel
1 Scope
This standard applies to steel studs, nuts and
brackets drawn-arc welded to steels approved by
GM for Drawn-Arc Welding.
1.1 Purpose. This standard provides the weld
acceptance criteria and repair procedures for
evaluating drawn-arc welded studs, nuts and
brackets in automotive products for which GM is
responsible for establishing or approving the
product design.
1.2 Application. The criteria established in this
standard become mandatory when referenced on a
weld design document. Deviation from any weld
criteria provided in this standard must be identified
on a weld design document.
1.3 Usage. Welded structures are considered
satisfactory when they carry the intended service
loads for a required period. Service loads on
weldments in a vehicle are varied in both type and
magnitude and cannot be addressed by this
standard; therefore, while the weld quality criteria
of this standard are consistent with service loading
requirements, they have been established
specifically for use in process and product
monitoring. Any attempted application of this
document to other uses, such as post-crash weld
quality assessment, may lead to an erroneous
result or conclusion. Discrepant welds by retaining
a portion of their engineering properties may still
contribute to the integrity of the assembly.
1.4 Process Control. The welding source is
responsible for establishing practices and test
methods to assure that the criteria of this standard
are met, and are consistent with applicable
Welding Process Control Procedures.
1.5 Clarification. For clarification of this standard
or editorial comments, email the GM Weld Council
at weld.council@gm.com.
Proposed changes to this standard must be
presented to the GMNA Weld Council. To suggest
a change to this standard, reference the
“Procedure for Weld Standard Changes” on the
Weld Council’s webpage.
© Copyright 2005 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
August 2005 Originating Department: North American Engineering Standards
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GMW14056
2 References
Note: Only the latest approved standards are
applicable unless otherwise specified.
2.1 External Standards/Specifications.
None
2.2 GM Standards/Specifications.
GME7834 GMW3059
GMN3905 GMW14058
GMW3001
3 Requirements
3.1 Visual Acceptance Criteria.
3.1.1 Spatter. A drawn-arc welded fastener with
weld spatter on its threaded section that interferes
with the mating fastener is discrepant.
3.1.2 Weld Eruption. A drawn-arc welded fastener
with weld eruption that interferes with the
installation of the mating part is discrepant. See
Figure A1.
3.1.3 Missing Fastener. A drawn-arc welded
fastener that is missing is discrepant.
3.1.4 Cracks. A drawn-arc welded fastener shall
be free from detectable surface cracks that are
visible (without the aid of magnification) within or
adjacent to the weld. Welded fasteners exhibiting
cracks are discrepant.
3.1.5 Holes. A drawn-arc welded fastener that
contains holes or burn-throughs in either the
fastener or mating part is discrepant.
3.2 Measurable Acceptance Criteria.
3.2.1 Fastener Location. A drawn-arc welded
fastener positioned outside of the location
tolerance specified on the weld design document is
discrepant. When no location tolerance is
specified, a stud or bracket fastener greater than
2mm from the indicated design location is
discrepant. When no location tolerance is
specified, a nut fastener greater than 1mm from
the indicated design location is discrepant.
3.2.2 Fusion of Weldable Area. A drawn-arc
welded fastener that does not indicate a minimum
of 75% of the weldable area with fusion to the
Page 1 of 8
 GMW14056
mating part is discrepant. See Figure A4 and
Figure A6.
3.2.3 Measurement of Fusion.
3.2.3.1 Drawn-Arc Studs. Fusion can be
measured by destructive testing. When a stud is
separated from its mating part by a tensile load or
by an oscillating side-to-side motion (see Figure
A7), a weld button will be pulled either on the head
of the stud or on the mating part. See Figure A2.
When destructive testing, if the stem of the weld
stud separates from the weld stud head, the fusion
is considered acceptable.
3.2.3.2 Drawn-Arc Nuts. Fusion can be measured
by destructive testing. When a nut is separated
from its mating part by a tensile load or by an
oscillating side-to-side motion (see Figure A7), a
weld button will be pulled either on the base of the
nut or on the mating part. See Figure A6.
3.2.3.3 Drawn-Arc Brackets. Fusion can be
measured by destructive testing. When a bracket is
separated from its mating part by a tensile load or
by an oscillating side-to-side motion (see Figure
A7), a weld button will be pulled either on the
bracket itself or on the mating part. See Figure A2
and Figure A6.
3.2.4 Reduction in Weld Stem Size. A stud
whose stem diameter is reduced by greater than
10% as a result of the welding process is
discrepant. See Figure A5.
3.2.5 Functional Height for T Stud. T studs that
do not satisfy the functional height requirements of
the mating part are discrepant. See Figure A5.
3.2.6 Nondestructive Testing. A nondestructive
test (proof-load) of the fasteners may be used to
judge acceptability provided that a Measure of
Agreement Study has been conducted and
approved by the local Quality Department.
3.3 Drawn-Arc Welded Fastener Repair
Requirements. All known discrepant welded
fasteners shall be repaired.
3.4 Repair Procedures. Drawn-arc welded
fasteners shall be repaired according to the repair
procedures shown in Appendix B, unless other
repair procedures are specifically indicated and
authorized by the appropriate Product Engineer.
4 Notes
4.1 Glossary.
Crack. A fracture type discontinuity characterized
by a sharp tip and high ratio (length to width) of the
opening displacement on the exterior surface.
Fastener. For the purpose of this standard, a
drawn arc welded stud, nut or bracket is referred to
as a fastener.
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GM WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING STANDARDS
Fusion. The melting together of a fastener and the
base metal to produce a weld.
GMAW. An acronym for Gas Metal Arc Welding.
Measure of Agreement Study. An Engineering
study that demonstrates that the nondestructive
load applied is in excess of a load that would meet
the minimum acceptable criteria of this standard
but not destroy or distort the parts being tested.
The Engineering study demonstrates that there is a
relationship between load applied (torque, tensile,
push-out, etc.) and the minimum acceptable
criteria of this standard. This relationship is usually
established by measuring the applied load (to
failure) over an expected range of welding
variables.
T Stud. An abbreviation for trim stud. See Figure
A3 and Figure A5.
Weld Button. That part of the weld that tears out
in the destructive testing of the welded fastener.
See Figure A2 and Figure A6.
Weld Design Document. A product document that
describes welding requirements such as number of
welds, location of welds, applicable weld
standards, weld patterns, surface appearance
classification, weld notes, etc. This document is
released and approved by the appropriate Design
Release Engineer.
Weld Eruption. Material that flows around and/or
above the head of the stud as a result of the
welding process. See Figure A1.
Weld Spatter. Weld expulsion metal that remains
attached to an adjacent metal surface.
Weld Stud Head. That part of the weld stud that is
fused to the mating part. See Figure A3.
Weld Stud Stem. That part of the weld stud that
engages a mating part. See Figure A3.
5 Rules and Regulations
5.1 All materials supplied to this specification must
comply with the requirements of GMW3001, Rules
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and Regulations for Material Specifications.
5.2 All materials supplied to this specification must
comply with the requirements of GMW3059,
Restricted and Reportable Substances for
Parts.
6 Coding System
This material specification shall be referenced in
other documents, drawings, Vehicle Technical
Specifications (VTS), Component Technical
Specifications (CTS), GME Specification Design
Mechanics (SKR, SKM) etc. as follows:
GMW14056
© Copyright 2005 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
Originating Department: North American Engineering Standards August 2005
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 GM WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING STANDARDS GMW14056

7 Release and Revisions

7.1 Release. This standard was originated by the
Global Weld Standards Team in August of 2004. It
was first approved in August 2005 by the CCRW
Global Council. It was first published in August
2005.

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 GMW14056 GM WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING STANDARDS

Appendix A

Figures

Weld
Eruption

Figure A1: Weld Eruption

Example of Weld
Buttons Torn from
Drawn-Arc Welded
Studs.

Head of
Drawn-Arc
Welded Studs

Figure A2: Weld Button

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 GM WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING STANDARDS GMW14056

Weld Stud Stem Weld Stud Head

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Figure A3:Typical Drawn-Arc Welded Studs

Drawn-Arc Stud Drawn-Arc

(Convex Head) Ring Stud

Weldable Area

Drawn-Arc Nut Drawn-Arc Bracket

Figure A4: Weldable Area

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 GMW14056 GM WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING STANDARDS

T Stud

h
d

Figure A5: Stem Diameter Reduction (d) and Height (h) Measurements for a T Stud

Unfused Weldable Area

Weld Button torn from a
Drawn-Arc Weld Nut
(Viewed from bottom)

Fused Weldable Area

Figure A6: Fused Weld Area of a Drawn-Arc Weld Nut

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Figure A7: Destruction by Oscillating Side-to-Side Motion

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 GMW14056 GM WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING STANDARDS

Appendix B
Table B1: Drawn-Arc Welded Fastener Repair Procedures
Discrepant Description GMW14056 Repair Procedure
Condition Reference
Fasteners that exhibit spatter in the
Wire brush (for studs) or clean threads with
Spatter threaded section of the fastener that 3.1.1
a tap (for nuts) to remove spatter.
interferes with the mating fastener.
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Reprocess part and install drawn arc

welded fastener
or
Studs & Nuts: Add two GMAW fillet
welds1,2 each covering a minimum of 90° of
the circumference and opposite each other.
1,2
3
Brackets: Add one GMAW fillet weld for
Missing fastener Fastener not installed. 3.1.3 a minimum of 75% of the length of the
weldable area.
or
Studs: Install a rivet style stud as specified
by Product Engineering. Drill a hole as
specified by the rivet style stud
manufacturer and install using the
manufacturer’s approved tool.
3
Cracks or Holes 3.1.4 GMAW 1,2 so that the discrepant condition
Cracks or holes are present.
3.1.5 is no longer present.
A welded stud with weld metal that Grind to remove discrepant condition or
Weld Eruption3 interferes with the installation of the mating 3.1.2 follow appropriate repair method for
part mislocated fastener.
Remove the mislocated fastener and grind
Mislocated The fastener is located outside the position as necessary to restore mating surface.
3 3.2.1
fastener tolerance. Follow appropriate repair method for
missing fastener.
Studs & Nuts: Add two GMAW fillet
1,2
welds each covering a minimum of 90° of
Insufficient weld the circumference and opposite each other.
3 Fusion is less than 75% of weldable area. 3.2.2
size Brackets: Add one GMAW fillet weld1,2 for
a minimum of 75% of the length of the
weldable area.
Remove the fastener and grind as
Reduced Weld Stud stem diameter is reduced by greater necessary to restore mating surface.
3 3.2.4
Stem Size than 10% Follow appropriate repair method for
missing fastener.
Remove the fastener and grind as
T stud does not satisfy the functional 3 necessary to restore mating surface.
Functional Height 3.2.5
height requirements of the mating part Follow appropriate repair method for
missing fastener.
Note 1: Repair welds must meet applicable GM acceptance criteria (i.e. GMW14058)
Note 2: Laminated steel applications must use Arc Braze for repair welds. Arc Braze repair welds must meet applicable GM acceptance
criteria (i.e. GMN3905, GME7834). Do not use steel wire.
Note 3: If part is painted and to be repaired by welding, prepare fastener location by grinding to remove paint where fastener will be
installed and repaint after repair.

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