§ WPS template
AWS D1.1:2025 GTAW WPS for ASTM A572 Grade 50
How to draft an AWS D1.1:2025 Welding Procedure Specification for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) on ASTM A572 Grade 50 HSLA Structural Steel. Recommended filler: ER70S-6. Below: process notes, base metal properties, prequalification path, typical parameters, and which essential variables to watch.
About GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)
Non-consumable tungsten electrode with separate filler rod (manual or hot/cold wire feed for mechanized GTAW). Argon or Ar/He shielding. The cleanest, most controllable arc — used for critical root passes and precision work where weld appearance and reliability matter more than deposition rate.
Process family: manual. Suited to: root passes on critical joints (then filled with another process), thin material precision welds, and similar work.
About ASTM A572 Grade 50
High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) columbium-vanadium steel. The workhorse of modern AISC structural fabrication. Higher yield than A36 with similar weldability when low-hydrogen practice is followed.
- AWS D1.1 Group (Table 6.9)
- Group I
- Yield (ksi)
- 50
- Tensile (ksi)
- 65
- Weldability
- good
Prequalification path
ASTM A572 Grade 50 (Group I) with GTAW requires PQR qualification per Clause 6 — GTAW is one of the processes listed in 6.15.1 as always requiring qualification. You must run a PQR test and qualify against Tables 6.6 (PQR essential variables) and, for notch-toughness applications, Table 6.8.
Preheat: 50°F up to 3/4 in; 150°F from 3/4 in to 1-1/2 in; 225°F above 1-1/2 in (low-hydrogen consumables, per Table 5.7).
Typical parameters
Starting points only. Verify against electrode manufacturer data and your PQR.
| Filler | ER70S-6 |
| Amperage | 80–200 A |
| Voltage | 10–18 V |
| Travel speed | 4–10 ipm |
| Position(s) typically qualified | All positions (1G–6G) |
Essential variables to watch (AWS D1.1:2025 Table 6.6)
If your shop is working from a PQR, these are the GTAW-specific changes that require requalification per Table 6.6. The rule engine flags every one of them with the row number, clause reference, and the actual delta.
- Filler addition or deletion (autogenous ↔ filler)
- Cold ↔ hot wire feed
- Filler diameter > 1/16 in change
- Amperage > 25% change
- Preheat decrease > 100°F
Where GTAW on ASTM A572 Grade 50 fits
- AISC building structures (columns, beams, girders)
- Wide-flange and HSS sections
- Bridge girders
- Crane runways
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FAQ
Does AWS D1.1:2025 prequalify GTAW on ASTM A572 Grade 50?
No. ASTM A572 Grade 50 with GTAW requires PQR qualification per Clause 6. Run the PQR test, then qualify the WPS against Tables 6.6 + (for CVN) 6.8.
What filler is recommended for GTAW on ASTM A572 Grade 50?
ER70S-6. Verify against your project specification and the consumable manufacturer's data sheet. Filler classification change is a Table 6.6 essential variable.
What preheat does ASTM A572 Grade 50 need?
50°F up to 3/4 in; 150°F from 3/4 in to 1-1/2 in; 225°F above 1-1/2 in (low-hydrogen consumables, per Table 5.7).