AWS D14.3/D14.3M PDF

This specification applies to all structural welds used in the manufacture and repair of earthmoving, construction, agricultural, and ground-based material handling equipment.¹ It reflects the welding practices employed by manufacturers within the industry and incorporates various methods which have been proven successful by individual manufacturers. No restrictions are placed on the use of any welding process or procedure, provided the weld produced meets the qualification requirements of this specification. No attempt is made to limit or restrict the progression of welding technology for earthmoving, construction, agricultural, and/or ground-based material handling equipment manufacturing and repair, nor should any such limitation be inferred. Design criteria for allowable stresses for the base and weld metal and the fatigue analysis for welded joints are not published in the specification. The user shall utilize AWS D14.4/D14.4M, Specification for the Design of Welded Joints in Machinery and Equipment, or appropriate engineering practices and principles for design criteria.

The Manufacturer’s adherence to this specification shall include responsibility for the following:

(1) welding, as defined in 1.1.1, in accordance with this specification;

(2) producing welds as designated on drawings by appropriate symbols and notes, with sufficient detail to show joint preparation compatible with applied processes;

(3) providing and using written Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs);

(4) ensuring that qualified welders are used to make welds;

(5) recording and maintaining results of all welder performance and procedure qualification tests;

(6) controlling use of designated base metals and consumables;

(7) inspecting the welds to the requirements of this specification;

(8) having a quality system in place. The requirements of AWS B5.17, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Fabricators may be used as a guide in establishing this quality program. Accreditation of quality systems of welding fabricators may be obtained through the AWS Certified Welding Fabricator (CWF) or equivalent programs.

(9) determining the responsible technical authority when the term “Engineer” is used. If the Owner wants to assume engineering responsibility, it shall be specified in the contract documents.

The “Engineer” in this document shall have specific technical expertise, such as but not limited to welding engineering or design engineering.

Welding Engineer. The Manufacturer’s technical authority is typically responsible for developing Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), and Performance Qualification Test Records (PQTR). The Welding Engineer may also have expertise in weld process selection; weld metallurgy and weld filler metal selection; weld joint design and weld sizing; weld fixture design and weld robot programing; weld inspection and weld defect/failure root cause analysis. Qualifications for a welding engineer shall meet one of the following criteria:

(1) An AWS Certified Welding Engineer in conformance with the provisions of AWS B5.17 (Specification for the Qualification of Welding Engineers) or,

(2) IIW International Welding Engineer (IWE),

(3) Professional Engineer—Welding,

(4) An individual who by degree, training, or experience is qualified in welding engineering disciplines.

Design Engineer. The Manufacturer’s technical authority is typically responsible for developing equipment configuration; analyzing stress levels, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and strain gage data to mitigate stress hot spots; choosing steel material type and thickness; determining weld joint type and weld size; and evaluating cyclic loading and fatigue life. The Design Engineer may also provide judgments on weld defect criticality and weld inspection requirements. See AWS D14.4 Specification for the Design of Welded Joints in Machinery and Equipment for design criteria for allowable stresses for the base and weld metal and the fatigue analysis for welded joints. Qualification for a design engineer shall meet one of the following criteria:

(1) Professional or Chartered Engineer—Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Agricultural, or

(2) An individual who by degree, training, or experience is qualified in design of structures.

¹ For purposes of this specification, earthmoving, construction, agricultural, and ground-based material handling equipment are described as on- and off-highway machinery and associated implements, as well as support equipment such as conveyors. Products that this specification covers include, but are not limited to, crawlers, tractors, graders, loaders, off-highway trucks, power shovels, backhoes, mobile cranes, draglines, forklifts, power trucks, and similar equipment. Products such as gantry and jib cranes are not within the scope of this specification.