Weld Passes and Arc Time to Fill a Groove
How many passes fill a groove, and the arc time and wire that takes.
Example
You enter
- Groove cross-sectional area (in²) 0.15
- Weld length (in) 12
- Area deposited per pass (in²) 0.03
- Deposition rate (lb/h) 8
- Weld-metal density (lb/in³, default 0.283) 0.283
- Operator/duty factor (0-1, optional) 0.4
You get
- Passes 5
- Deposited weight 0.509 lb
- Arc-on time 3.8
Checked against published worked examples from: US Navy (NAVEDTRA).
Details, formula, and sources
ScopePasses = ceil(groove area / area per pass), deposited weight = area x length x density, arc time = weight / deposition rate, total = arc / operator factor. A 12 in, 0.15 in^2 groove at 8 lb/h -> 5 passes, 0.51 lb, 3.8 min arc (9.6 min at 40%). The WPS and shop rates govern.
Formula or tablepasses = ceil(A_groove / a_pass); weight = A_groove x length x density; arc_h = weight / dep_rate; total_h = arc_h / op_factor.
Source and editionThe standard welding-cost estimating relations (passes, deposited weight, arc time, operator factor), by name.
Free accessThe deposited-weight and arc-time estimating relations are standard welding-cost references (AWS / Lincoln / Miller estimating guides). The WPS and the shop's measured rates govern.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field namesA_groove, length_in, a_pass, dep_rate, density, op_factor, passes, weight_lb, arc_min
- Volume-driven passes = ceil(area/a_pass); weight = area x length x density (steel ~0.283 lb/in^3)welding-cost estimating
- Arc-on time arc_h = weight / deposition rate; total = arc / operator factorAWS / estimating guides
- Uniform passes assumes uniform passes of the entered area; not a full cost modelscope of this tile