Toes blended smoothly
Applied to joint
Supplementary symbol applied to fillet weld
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Description
A supplementary symbol requiring that the weld toes (the transitions between weld face and base material) are blended smoothly into the base material. Reduces stress concentration at the weld toes, improving fatigue performance.
In plain English
The toes of the weld -- where the weld metal meets the base plate -- must be ground or dressed to give a smooth, gradual transition. No sharp step, no undercut, no abrupt angle change. The symbol shows a curve blending into the reference line. This is all about fatigue life: cracks almost always start at the weld toe, so a smooth blend reduces the stress concentration and delays crack initiation. Commonly specified on bridges, offshore structures, and anything with cyclic loading.
Symbol position
Curve blending into the base material at the weld toe, shown on the weld symbol.
Size notation
May specify a minimum blend radius.
Common uses
- Bridge and highway structure fatigue details
- Offshore platform connections
- Crane and lifting equipment welds
- Any cyclically loaded structural joint
