WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WELDING JOINTS?

Advantages of Welding Joints

1. No hole is required for welding, therefore no reduction of area. So structural members are more effective in taking the load.
2. In welding extra plates (like filler plates, gusseted plates, connecting angles etc,) are not used, which leads to reduced overall weight of the structure.
3. Welded joints are more economical as less labor and less material is required.
4. The efficiency of welded joint is more than that of the riveted joint.
5. The welded joints look better than the bulky riveted/butted joints.
6. The speed of fabrication is faster in comparison with the riveted joints.
7. Complete rigid joints can be provided with welding process.
8. The alternation and addition to the existing structure is easy.
9. No noise is produced during the welding process as in the case of riveting.
10. The welding process requires less work space in comparison to riveting.
11. Any space of joint can be made with ease.

Disadvantages of Welding Joints

1. Welded joints are more brittle and therefore their fatigue strength is less than the members joined.
2. Due to uneven heating & cooling of the members during the welding, the members may distort resulting in additional stresses.
3. Skilled labor and electricity are required for welding.
4. No provision for expansion and contraction is kept in welded connection & therefore, there is possibility of racks.
5. The inspection of welding work is more difficult and costlier than the riveting work.
6. Defects like internal air pocket, slag inclusion and incomplete penetration are difficult to detect.