Which dimension is indicated by parentheses on a weld symbol?

Which dimension is indicated by parentheses on a weld symbol?

• A. Effective throat size
• B. Groove weld size
• C. Height of the weld face
• D. Size of the fillet

Answer: (A)

In a weld symbol, the number shown in parentheses is the effective throat size. This is the dimension that reflects the minimum cross‑section of weld metal that actually resists shear, and it’s the value used for strength calculations. The main weld size (the number outside the parentheses) is the leg length you typically think of for a fillet weld, but the throat—the distance from the root to the face along the weld—determines how strong the weld is under load. The other choices don’t fit this convention because groove weld size, height of the weld face, and the overall fillet size are referenced differently or are not indicated by parentheses on the symbol.

In a weld symbol, the number shown in parentheses is the effective throat size. This is the dimension that reflects the minimum cross‑section of weld metal that actually resists shear, and it’s the value used for strength calculations. The main weld size (the number outside the parentheses) is the leg length you typically think of for a fillet weld, but the throat—the distance from the root to the face along the weld—determines how strong the weld is under load. The other choices don’t fit this convention because groove weld size, height of the weld face, and the overall fillet size are referenced differently or are not indicated by parentheses on the symbol.