Weld Throat (Effective Throat)
Definition
The shortest distance from the root of a weld to its face, which determines weld strength. For equal-leg fillet welds, throat = 0.707 × leg size. Stress is calculated based on throat area.
Practical Note
Always design based on throat thickness, not leg size. Deep penetration welding processes may increase effective throat. Inspect welds for adequate throat and fusion.