Which statement correctly differentiates groove welds from fillet welds?

Which statement correctly differentiates groove welds from fillet welds?

• A. Groove welds fill a prepared groove between members; fillet welds join two surfaces at a right angle with a triangular bead.
• B. Groove welds join two surfaces at a right angle with a triangular bead; fillet welds fill a groove between members.
• C. Groove welds are always decorative; fillet welds are structural.
• D. Groove welds require no filler; fillet welds require filler.

Answer: (A)

Groove welds fill a prepared groove between members, while fillet welds join two surfaces at or near a right angle with a triangular bead. This difference comes from how the joint is shaped and how the weld metal is deposited. A groove weld is used on butt joints where the edges are beveled or squared to create a gap that the weld metal fills, often enabling full penetration through thicker plates. A fillet weld, by contrast, is placed at the intersection of two surfaces (such as a T or corner joint) without a groove, and the weld forms a triangular cross-section that bridges the gap between the pieces.

Groove welds fill a prepared groove between members, while fillet welds join two surfaces at or near a right angle with a triangular bead. This difference comes from how the joint is shaped and how the weld metal is deposited. A groove weld is used on butt joints where the edges are beveled or squared to create a gap that the weld metal fills, often enabling full penetration through thicker plates. A fillet weld, by contrast, is placed at the intersection of two surfaces (such as a T or corner joint) without a groove, and the weld forms a triangular cross-section that bridges the gap between the pieces.