Which groove types are used in GTAW pipe welding?

• A. single V, single U, single J
• B. Double V, double U
• C. Bevel only
• D. Slot welds only

Answer: (A)

GTAW pipe welding relies on a groove that allows a controlled, high-quality root fusion with precise control of heat input. The most common butt-joint groove shapes used with TIG are single V, single U, and single J. These single-groove options give easy access for the tungsten electrode and filler metal, promote reliable root penetration, and keep distortion manageable for typical pipe thickness. They’re especially suited to a precision process like GTAW where you want clean, consistent fusion on the root pass and then fill passes as needed. For thicker-walled pipe, you might opt for more complex arrangements such as double-V or double-U, but those are chosen to accommodate greater thickness and are less standard for a typical GTAW root. Bevel-only refers to the edge prep rather than a groove configuration, and slot welds are generally used in sheet or plate situations, not standard pipe butt joints.