**3.5 Weld joint types**

In a welding repair scenario, there will have been a joint already constructed. Identifying the joint type is critical to know what type of weld should be applied to repair the member. There are five primary joint configurations established by the AWS shown in **Figure 10**. The five weld joint configurations are described by the physical intersection between two joining materials. The shape of the base pieces is irrelevant to the joint classification. All metal joints can be classified under one of these five categories, whether the joint is constructed on a plate, pipe, or pre-made structural shapes. Weld joint classification is different from the weld type. The former depends on the relative position of the base pieces to one another, while the latter depends primarily on the joint preparation. In general, there are three weld types: fillet, groove, and slot types. The various weld types are illustrated in **Figure 11**.
