Conversion Factors for Weld Joints

Table of recommended values of weld joint factors for specific weld types.

Weld type	Type of loading	Factor of weld joint
Butt welds 1 )	Pressure	α 1	1.00
	Traction		0.85	0.90 2 )	1.00 3 )
	Shear	α 2	0.70
Fillet welds	End	α 3	0.75 4 )	0.90 5 )	1.00 6 )
	Side	α 4	0.65 4 )	0.80 5 )	0.90 6 )
Plug and groove welds	Shear	α	0.65
Spot welds	Shear	α	0.65
	Tear-out	α	0.65

1) Factor of weld joint for loading along the axis of weld joint. α = 1.

2) Applies to contact resistance welding.

3) Applies to:

• Butt welds manually welded and supported by the weld from the root side after grooving.
• Butt welds bilaterally penetrated, automatic welding under flux or in CO ₂ made at least from one side.
• Electro-slag welds.

4) Applies to manual arc welding while the strength of used electrode corresponds to the strength of basic material.

5) Applies to:

• Manual arc welding of basic materials whose minimum tensile strength is 20 percent lower than minimum strength of weld metal of used electrode.
• Semi-automatic submerged welding, semi-automatic and automatic welding shielded by CO2 atmosphere and for automatic submerged welding of single-pass or multi-pass welds for the weld height of 8 mm.

6) Applies to automatic submerged welding of single-pass welds for the weld height a< 8 mm.