Transverse
Shrinkage
Distortion - When two plates being butt welded together are neither too heavy nor held together, and are thus free to move, they will be drawn closer together by the contraction of the weld metal. This is called transverse contraction. Transverse contraction exists all along the weld length and it depends upon the permanent contraction of elements in the weld zone.
The transverse contraction can be prevented by
(i) Proper tack welding.
(ii) Placing a wedge between the plates.
(iii) Separating the plates (before welding) to provide allowance (about 1 mm/100 mm of weld) for contraction.
(iv)Increasing the arc travel speed.
