Tips and Notes

Why an expansion gap is necessary for a socket weld connection?

For socket weld connections, a gap of approximately 1.6 mm must be maintained between the end of the pipe and the socket surface before welding.

The purpose for the bottoming clearance in a Socket Weld is usually to reduce the residual stress at the root of the weld that could occur during solidification of the weld metal, and to allow for differential expansion of the mating elements.