Welding Procedure Specification
A36 Plate with SMAW E7018
Scope and procedure data
| Application | Non-tubular 1 in A36-to-A36 plate CJP butt joint, B-U2a, SMAW, 3G and 4G vertical-up. Demonstration assumptions: static loading, no CVN requirement and no PWHT requirement. Verify the actual contract, drawings, material certificates, consumable lot/product and applicable code edition before production issue. |
|---|---|
| Base metals | ASTM A36 to ASTM A36 plate, 1 in (25.4 mm) each side; current Table 5.6 group check: Group II. |
| Weld type | Non-tubular CJP butt weld; static loading, no CVN/PWHT requirement assumed for this demonstration. |
| Joint detail | AWS B-U2a (US customary), single-V, steel backing; 45°; 1/4 in root opening nominal for this demo; root face N/A; no backgouging. |
| As-detailed tolerances | Root opening +1/16 in / -0; groove angle +10° / -0°. |
| As-fit-up tolerances | Root opening +1/4 in / -1/16 in; groove angle +10° / -5°. |
| Demo backing | ASTM A36, 1/4 in thick x 1 in wide, continuous full weld length, tight fit and retained for static loading. WABO gives no dimensions. |
| Process | SMAW manual; 3G vertical-up; 4G overhead. |
| Electrode | AWS A5.1 E7018, 1/8 in, DCEP. Demo selection: Lincoln Excalibur 7018 MR (E7018 H4R), not identified by the source. |
| Manufacturer range | Lincoln C2.10.10 issue 05/14: 1/8 in DCEP 90-160 A. WPS range 100-140 A is within the listed range. |
| Pass schedule | Root, fill and cap: each 100-140 A DCEP, 21-25 V, 6-12 in/min; 1/8 in E7018; stringer beads, vertical-up. Multipass; exact pass count not stated. |
| Temperature | Minimum preheat 50°F; minimum interpass 50°F. Maximum interpass not stated in source. |
| Electrode control | Keep dry/sealed before use; after opening, hold at ≥250°F. Demo exposure limit: 4 hours; do not use damp electrodes. |
| Cleaning | Remove loose scale, rust, oil and moisture before welding. Chip slag and wire-brush between passes. |
| PWHT / gas | PWHT N/A in source; no gas required for SMAW. |
Joint cross-section
Pass schedule
| Stage | Electrode | Current / polarity | Voltage | Travel speed | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 1/8 in E7018 | 100-140 A DCEP | 21-25 V | 6-12 in/min | Stringer; uphill in 3G |
| Fill | 1/8 in E7018 | 100-140 A DCEP | 21-25 V | 6-12 in/min | Stringer; uphill in 3G |
| Cap | 1/8 in E7018 | 100-140 A DCEP | 21-25 V | 6-12 in/min | Stringer; uphill in 3G |
Multipass; no fixed pass count is stated. Table 5.1: root bead ≤1/2 in vertical and ≤5/16 in overhead; fill/cap bead ≤3/16 in all positions. The 1/8 in low-hydrogen electrode is within the 5/32 in vertical/overhead diameter maximum. Each pass depth and maximum width must not exceed its surface width (5.8.2.1).
Preheat and workmanship
Minimum preheat and interpass temperature: 50°F. Maximum interpass is not stated in the source. Keep electrodes sealed and dry before use; after opening, hold at ≥250°F. This demonstration uses a conservative 4-hour exposure limit; do not use damp electrodes. Clean off loose scale, rust, oil and moisture before welding; chip slag and wire-brush between passes.
Source and current-edition checks
WABO Standard 27-13, Twelfth Edition, June 2023, sample WPS 201, printed page 66. Its Group I and prequalified labels are source facts, not carried forward as 2025 conclusions. A36 at 1 in is Group II under Table 5.6. The 50°F minimum matches Table 5.11 Category B for 1 in low-hydrogen SMAW. Lincoln Excalibur 7018 MR is a separate demo product selection; the source gives no electrode trade name. Lincoln C2.10.10 issue 05/14 lists 90-160 A for 1/8 in DCEP, which includes 100-140 A.
Scenario assumptions: non-tubular plate CJP, static loading, no CVN and no PWHT. The source omits exact pass count, maximum interpass temperature and backing dimensions. No PQR, test result, customer record, signature, Engineer approval or inspection result is asserted. Confirm the actual contract, drawing, materials, product/lot and applicable code edition before production issue.
Sources:
WABO sample WPS 201, p. 66
Lincoln Electric C2.10.10, issue 05/14