CAVOREN WPSWelding tools & WPS preparation

CE and Pcm calculator

Calculate two Annex B composition indices from reported mass-percent chemistry.

Steel chemistry

Enter each element as mass percent from the material test report. All nine values are required; do not enter zero unless the source supports zero.

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Enter reported chemistry to calculate CE and Pcm.

Composition indices only · no preheat or WPS eligibility decision
Method, scope & reference AWS D1.1 / D1.1M:2025 Annex B

2025 base edition with July 28, 2026 errata. AMD1 not included.

Formulas

Enter element concentrations as mass percent, not decimal fractions. The result shows substitutions at the precision entered and the calculated values.

CE = C + (Mn + Si)/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15
Pcm = C + Si/30 + Mn/20 + Cu/20 + Ni/60 + Cr/20 + Mo/15 + V/10 + 5B

The CE equation is stated in Annex B B5.1 and B6.1.1; Pcm is stated in B6.2.1. These formulas do not specify per-element acceptance ranges. This tool checks that values are provided, finite, non-negative, and that the entered elements together do not exceed 100 mass percent. It does not validate chemistry against a steel grade or product specification.

Interpretation boundary

CE is used with Figure B.1 to select a zone; Pcm is used in the hydrogen-control method. They are not interchangeable. This page calculates the indices only: it does not select a zone, read a figure, determine hydrogen or restraint, calculate preheat, or decide WPS eligibility.

Figure B.1 and Figure B.2 captions print “(N + Cu)/15”, while the Annex B text formulas specify “(Ni + Cu)/15”. This calculator follows the written CE formula and uses the separately reported Ni value; it does not silently substitute nitrogen or resolve the figure-caption conflict. Use caution if applying CE near a figure zone boundary.

Example: C 0.20%, Si 0.25%, Mn 1.00%, Cu 0.20%, Ni 0.10%, Cr 0.10%, Mo 0.05%, V 0.02%, B 0.001% gives CE = 0.20 + (1.00 + 0.25)/6 + (0.10 + 0.05 + 0.02)/5 + (0.10 + 0.20)/15 = 0.462333; Pcm = 0.20 + 0.25/30 + 1.00/20 + 0.20/20 + 0.10/60 + 0.10/20 + 0.05/15 + 0.02/10 + 5×0.001 = 0.285333.