A572 Gr.50 Preheat for GMAW — 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"
Per AWS D1.1:2025 Table 5.11, the minimum preheat for A572 Gr.50 welded with GMAW at 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" is 150°F (65°C), Category B. Preheat below this raises hydrogen-cracking risk in the heat-affected zone; the same temperature is the minimum interpass limit maintained through the weld.
Built on AWS D1.1:2025 Table 5.11 — every value traced to the clause.
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GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding)
GMAW (MIG) feeds continuous solid wire with shielding gas — an inherently low-hydrogen process assigned to Category B in Table 5.11.
ER70S-6 wire at 0.035" or 0.045" diameter handles most structural work on common grades. Spray transfer at 250-350 amps provides high deposition for shop fillet welds. For thinner material under 1/4", short-circuit transfer at lower parameters reduces heat input. Gas flow rates of 35-45 CFH through a standard nozzle provide adequate shielding in typical shop environments without excessive turbulence.
GMAW Tips for Common Structural Steels
For A572 Grade 50 structural steel (50 ksi yield, Category B only — non-LH SMAW is not prequalified), GMAW spray transfer with 0.045" ER70S-6 at 260–300 A is the standard shop process for W-shape connection plates, gusset plates, and base plates. Use 90/10 Ar/CO2 for improved bead profile on connection plate groove welds for moment frames.
Typical values for reference — always verify against your approved WPS and electrode manufacturer data.
Filler Metal for GMAW
Common wire: ER70S-6 (AWS A5.18). Diameter: 0.035" for thin sections and out-of-position, 0.045" for production flat/horizontal. Shielding gas: 75/25 Ar/CO2 (standard), 90/10 Ar/CO2 (less spatter, better profile), or 100% CO2 (deeper penetration, more spatter). Contact-tip-to-work distance: 1/2" to 3/4".
Typical values for reference — always verify against your approved WPS and electrode manufacturer data.
A572 Gr.50
ASTM A572 Grade 50 (50 ksi minimum yield, 65 ksi minimum tensile) is the dominant high-strength low-alloy structural steel in building construction. Most W-shapes rolled today are dual-certified A572/A992, with actual yield typically 50-58 ksi. It falls under Category B only in Table 5.11 — non-low-hydrogen SMAW is not prequalified for this grade. Chemistry limits include 0.23% max carbon (shapes) and columbium (niobium) or vanadium microalloying for grain refinement, producing a typical CE-IIW of 0.40-0.45. A572 Gr.50 plate is available in thicknesses up to 6" and is the default grade for connection plates, gussets, and base plates in building construction when loads exceed A36 capacity. The Gr.42, 55, 60, and 65 grades exist but Gr.50 accounts for over 90% of A572 production.
Why This Preheat for A572 Gr.50 with GMAW
Dominant 50 ksi HSLA structural steel often dual-certified with A992. This steel is prequalified only with low-hydrogen processes under Table 5.11. With GMAW, the continuous solid wire and gas shielding in GMAW produce inherently low hydrogen levels, typically 2-4 mL/100g. The 150°F minimum preheat balances the steel’s strength level and carbon equivalent against the hydrogen control provided by GMAW. Non-low-hydrogen SMAW is not an option for this grade under D1.1 prequalified WPS.
Typical Applications for A572 Gr.50
Dominates building construction for W-shape column splices, beam-to-column moment connections, braced frame gusset plates, base plates over 36 ksi demand, crane runway girder webs, and mezzanine floor beams. A572 Gr.50 plate is the standard for connection elements in seismic designs per AISC 341. Complete joint penetration groove welds at beam flanges are the most critical weld detail in moment frames. The most common connection plate thicknesses are 3/4" and 1" for moment end plates and 1/2" to 5/8" for shear tabs. Demand-critical welds in seismic applications require notch-tough filler metals meeting AISC 341 Section A3.4b supplemental requirements with CVN testing at -20°F. Column splice CJP welds at every 2-3 story intervals are typically 2G or 3G field welds requiring portable preheat equipment. Base plate welds to foundation embed plates carry the full column load and require strict preheat compliance on thicker plates.
Why Preheat Matters at 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"
Heavy plate with significant restraint and thermal mass — preheat is critical to maintain slow cooling for hydrogen escape.
Other Steels with GMAW at 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"
| Steel | Category | Preheat |
|---|---|---|
| A36 | B | 150°F (65°C) |
| A633 Gr.E | C | 225°F (110°C) |
| A709 HPS70W | C | 225°F (110°C) |
| A710 Gr.A | C | 225°F (110°C) |
A572 Gr.50 with GMAW
Try Different Combinations
Use the interactive preheat calculator to look up any steel, process, and thickness combination from D1.1:2025 Table 5.11.
A572 Gr.50 Welding Guides
Primary sources
D1.1:2025 reference data. Not affiliated with AWS.
Application context
A572 Grade 50 plate in the 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inch range with GMAW is the heavy-section HSLA production combination — primary HSLA connection plates on transfer girders, transmission-tower main-leg base plates, AISC moment-frame splice plates at major joints, and high-restraint heavy-section shop fabrication where the gas-shielded process suits controlled shop conditions and the 150°F floor is binding.
Pre-weld notes
Crossing the 1-1/2 inch threshold changes the preheat-extent rule per Clause 7.6 — for base metal 1-1/2 inch and greater, the heated zone shall extend at least equal to the base-metal thickness, but not less than 3 inches. Real preheat infrastructure is required: induction blankets, electric resistance pads, or oxy-fuel rosebud burners. Through-thickness preheat verification is the binding inspection effort. GMAW-specific concerns at heavy section: travel-speed pacing controls HAZ width — over-rapid deposition into a 2-inch A572-50 section reduces heat input enough to alter HAZ properties despite the 150°F preheat.
What a CWI verifies
A CWI on A572-50 GMAW heavy-section work verifies (1) preheat through-thickness, not just surface — sampling 3-6 inches from the arc on the back side catches the through-thickness lag during heat-up, (2) the heated-zone extent against Clause 7.6, (3) interpass temperature held above 150°F with a contact pyrometer between pass groups, (4) shielding gas conforms to Table 5.10 with flow-rate sampled at the torch, and (5) travel speed against the WPS bounds. AISC moment-frame projects commonly add CVN testing under structural specifications that elevate the WPS to qualified rather than prequalified.