§1.2A · Under Welding and NDE symbols
Groove weld symbols: depth of bevel vs groove weld size
A groove weld symbol is what a drawing uses for what the floor calls a butt weld. Everything you need sits in a fixed place around it: prep depth and weld size on the left, root opening inside, groove angle just outside. Even a blank where the size should be tells you something.
- Exam
- CWI
- Clause
- §1.2A
- Tags here
- 9
- Parent
- Welding and NDE symbols
1.2A.1Anatomy of a bevel groove symbol
1.2A.2Reading the numbers
Left of the symbol: S(E). S is how deep the prep goes. E, in parentheses, is the groove weld size the designer is counting on. They're two different numbers on purpose. A bevel prepped 1/2 in deep may be credited with less weld than that, and the symbol says so outright, so you don't have to work it out.
Inside the symbol: root opening. The gap between the members at the root, set at fit-up. Outside the symbol: groove angle. It's measured across the whole prep, so on a V both bevels count toward it.
Two sides of the reference line
Below the line is the arrow side, above is the other side, whichever way the arrow points. A double-V or double-bevel puts a symbol on each side of the line, and each one carries its own depth and angle. Nothing written on one side applies to the other.
No size at all
Drop the S(E) altogether and the drawing wants the weld to go all the way through: CJP. Some drawings write CJP in the tail and leave the prep to the WPS. Either way the weld has to go through the full joint thickness. What that means when you inspect the root is on incomplete fusion vs incomplete joint penetration.
The back side of the joint
Two symbols for the far side of a groove look the same and differ only in order. A backing weld is made before the groove weld; a back weld is made after it, often following a back gouge. The drawing tells them apart with a note or the welding sequence. A melt-through symbol means complete joint penetration that has to show on the root side.
Symbols are at least 10% of Part A (AWS B5.1:2025, Table 8.1, checked October 2026). The standard behind them is AWS A2.4:2020, still the current edition (checked October 2026), and the welding and NDE symbols clause covers the rest of it.
1.2A.3The groove family
- Square groove
- No bevel. The members butt together, usually with a root opening.
- V-groove
- Both members beveled. Double-V when both sides of the joint are prepped.
- Bevel groove
- One member beveled, the other left square. The arrow breaks toward the beveled member.
- U-groove and J-groove
- A radiused prep: on both members for a U, on one member for a J. The J follows the same arrow-break rule as a bevel.
- Flare-V and flare-bevel
- The prep comes from a curved surface, like a round bar or a bent edge. Flare-V has curves on both members; flare-bevel has one curved member against a flat one.
- Butt weld
- Shop talk. A3.0 treats it as a nonstandard term: the joint is a butt joint, and the weld in it is normally a groove weld.
1.2A.4Groove symbol reads
Sketch a reference line on scratch paper and place each element as you read the stem.
0 of 9 tagged · 0 accepted
Tag 01
What information does the groove angle provide in a welding symbol?
Remarks on every option
- A Depth of bevel goes to the left of the weld symbol. It isn't the angle.
- B Length goes to the right of the weld symbol. It has nothing to do with the angle.
- C Root opening is written inside the weld symbol. It's a gap, not an angle.
- D Correct: the groove angle is the included angle of the joint preparation. It's written above or below the weld symbol.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 02
What does a 45° angle indicated on a bevel groove symbol represent?
Remarks on every option
- A Welding symbols don't specify inspection angles.
- B Torch angle is technique, in the WPS if anywhere. It isn't on the symbol.
- C Reinforcement isn't dimensioned as an angle on a groove weld symbol.
- D Correct: the angle on a bevel groove symbol is the bevel angle of the prepared member.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 03
How is a double-sided V-groove weld with unequal angles indicated?
Remarks on every option
- A Correct: each side gets its own groove angle, on its own side of the reference line.
- B One shared angle would mean equal preparation. The question is about unequal angles.
- C One angle on one side leaves the other side's preparation unspecified.
- D Averaging isn't a symbol convention. Each side carries its real angle.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 04
How is the depth of bevel indicated on a V-groove weld symbol?
Remarks on every option
- A Above or below the line only tells you the side. The dimension's position relative to the weld symbol is what matters.
- B To the right of the weld symbol is where length and pitch go, not groove depth.
- C The tail carries references and notes, not groove dimensions.
- D Correct: depth of bevel (S), with groove weld size (E) in parentheses, goes to the left of the weld symbol.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 05
What does a double-V groove symbol with unequal depth dimensions indicate?
Remarks on every option
- A Correct: each side's depth applies to that side. Unequal numbers mean different bevel depths on the two sides.
- B Dimensions on a symbol are requirements, not options.
- C Equal depths would be shown with the same number on both sides.
- D There's no default depth. If the symbol gives a dimension, that's the requirement.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 06
How is a complete joint penetration requirement indicated when no specific groove preparation is required?
Remarks on every option
- A A depth dimension sets a specific preparation. It doesn't state a generic CJP requirement.
- B Correct: with no groove preparation specified, "CJP" goes in the tail. The groove details are then left to the WPS.
- C Double arrows aren't a CJP convention. Multiple arrows point to multiple joints.
- D A groove symbol names a specific preparation. The question says none is specified.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 07
What is the meaning of a square groove weld symbol with no dimensions?
Remarks on every option
- A A square groove symbol means a groove weld, not a surfacing weld.
- B Correct: a groove weld symbol with no size shown calls for complete joint penetration.
- C A square groove has no edge preparation. The edges stay square.
- D Partial penetration is shown by giving a size or depth. Leaving it out means CJP.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 08
What does a flare-bevel groove weld symbol indicate?
Remarks on every option
- A Correct: a flare-bevel groove forms between a curved (round) member and a flat member. The curve supplies the bevel.
- B That's the flare-V or a plain V-groove. In a flare-bevel, only one member is curved.
- C A plain bevel is machined straight. "Flare" means the groove comes from a curved surface.
- D Double-bevel is a separate symbol for beveling both sides of one member.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Tag 09
What does a flare-V groove symbol indicate?
Remarks on every option
- A Correct: a flare-V groove forms between two curved members, such as two round bars or bent edges side by side.
- B One curved member against a flat one is a flare-bevel, not a flare-V.
- C A straight edge preparation is a square or regular V/bevel. A flare groove comes from curved surfaces.
- D A standard V-groove has two machined straight bevels. A flare-V comes from curved members.
Pick an option. The remarks on all 4 open here.
Take the rack with you
Our CWI prep app puts practice questions on your iPhone or iPad, for the ten minutes you get between jobs.