Table 1. Electrodes Recommended for Welding ASTM A514 Steel

TB9-2510-242-40

For structural members Select electrodes with a tensile strength equal to minimum tensile strength of 100

ksi.

For non-structural members Select electrodes with a tensile strength less than that of the base metal, but

within 70 to 80 ksi. Note: Typical non-structural members are fillet welds stressed in longitudinal shear,

welds carrying secondary stresses, or welds joining a lower strength metal to T-1 steel.

For dissimilar base metals Select electrodes with a tensile strength equivalent to that of the lowest strength

base metal used.

Table 1. Electrodes Recommended for Welding ASTM A514 Steel

WELDING PROCESS

ELECTRODE

RECOMMENDATION

Shielded Metal-Arc

EXXXI5-M per AWS

A5.5

EXXX16-M per AWS

A5.5

EXXX18-M per AWS

A5.5

EXXX28-M per AWS

A5.5

Note: XXX represents the electrode tensile strength in ksi as required for the welding

application.

b. Hydrogen Content . Use only low hydrogen content electrodes. T-1 steel is extremely susceptible to hydrogen-

induced cracking in weld metal and in heat affected zones. Precautions must be followed to reduce the presence

of hydrogen during welding including moisture contamination, a major source of hydrogen. The following general

procedures apply to low hydrogen electrode selection and use.

For shielded metal-arc welding use only low hydrogen electrodes which have electrode coating designations

(last two digits of the AWS classification) of 15, 16, 18, or 28 (for example, E8015, E9016, E11018).

E-6