Plug and Slot Welds V.1
Plug and Slot Welds V.1
Plug and Slot Welds V.1
Plug weld. a weld made in a circular, or other geometrically shaped hole (like a slot weld) in one
member of a lap or tee joint, joining that member to the other. The walls of the hole may or may not be
parallel, and the hole may be partially or completely filled with weld metal. (A fillet welded hole or spot
weld should not be construed as conforming to this definition.)
Slot weld. A weld made in an elongated hole in one member of a joint fusing that member to another
member. The hole may be open at one end. A fillet welded slot is not to be construed as conforming to
this definition. See figure 15(D). The ends of the slot shall be semicircular or have the corners rounded
to a radius not less than the thickness of the part in which it is made.
Single-welded lap joint: a lap joint in which the overlapped edges of the members to be joined are
welded along the edge of one member only.
Faying Surface. The separation between faying surfaces of plug and slot welds, and of butt joints landing
on a backing, shall not exceed 1/16 in [2 mm]. Where irregularities in rolled shapes occur after
straightening do not allow contact within the above limits, the procedure necessary to bring the
material within these limits shall be subject to the approval of the Engineer. The use of filler plates shall
be prohibited except as specified on the drawings or as specially approved by the Engineer.
QW/QB-492 Definitions
Plug Welds
The minimum diameter of the hole for a plug weld shall be no less than the thickness of the part
containing it plus 5/16(8mm) preferably rounded to the next greater add 1/16".
The maximum width shall equal the minimum width plus 1/8"(3mm) or 2-1/4 times the thickness of the
member, whichever is greater.
1. The minimum center to center spacing for plug welds shall be 4 times the diameter of the hole.
The arc shall be initiated on the part not containing the hole in the center of the hole.
2. Weld metal shall be deposited along a spiral path around the root of the joint fusing and
filling the joint and completing the weld in the center of the hole.
3. Each additional pass shall be deposited around the root of the joint and then deposited
along a spiral path to the center of the hole.
4. The procedure shall be repeated, fusing and depositing successive layers to fill the hole to
the required depth.
For slotted holes it is the same as above except the length of the slot shall not exceed 10 times the
thickness of the part containing it.
For welds to be made in the flat position, each pass shall be deposited around the root of the joint and
then deposited along a spiral path to the center of the hole, fusing and depositing a layer of weld metal
in the root and bottom of the joint. The arc shall then be moved to the periphery of the hole and the
procedure repeated, fusing and depositing successive layers to fill the hole to the required depth. The
slag covering the weld metal should be kept molten until the weld is finished. If the arc is broken or the
slag is allowed to cool, the slag must be completely removed before restarting the weld
Aws 3.0 01
The minimum center to center of slot welds (traverse direction (this way II) shall be 4 times the width of
the slot. Longitudinal direction (--) shall be 2 times the length of the slot.
5.24.2 Slot Welds. Slot welds shall be made using techniques similar to those specified in 5.24.1 for plug
welds, except that if the length of the slot exceeds three times the width, or if the slot extends to the
edge of the part, the technique requirements of 5.24.1.3 shall apply
1. The arc shall be initiated on the part not containing the hole in the center of the
hole.
2. Weld metal shall be deposited along a spiral path around the root of the joint fusing
and filling the joint and completing the weld in the center of the hole.
3. Each additional pass shall be deposited around the root of the joint and then
deposited along a spiral path to the center of the hole.
4. The procedure shall be repeated, fusing and depositing successive layers to fill the
hole to the required depth.
The minimum center to center spacing for Plug Welds shall be 4 times the diameter of the hole.
The minimum center to center of Slot Welds (traverse direction (this way II) shall be 4 times the width of
the slot. Longitudinal direction (--) shall be 2 times the length of the slot.
Slots
The minimum width of a slot is equal to the material thickness or 1.00 mm (0.04 inch),
whichever is greater.
The minimum distance from the inside surface of a bend to the edge of a slot is directly
proportional to the length of the slot, material thickness, and radius of the bend.
When using slots and tabs the maximum width of the slot must be greater than the thickness of
the tab and the tab length should equal the material thickness.
Tabs
The minimum width is equal to two times the material thickness or 3.200 mm, whichever is
greater, while the maximum length is five times the width.
The minimum distance between tabs is equal to the material thickness or 1.00 mm (0.04 inch),
whichever is greater.