Abstract: A method of inhibiting shrinkage related cracking of a weld joint during a weld solidification process comprising the steps of: applying a power beam against abutting surfaces of metal pieces to be welded with an intensity sufficient to cause a predetermined portion of the metal on the pieces to become molten thereby producing the weld joint from the coalescense of metals; and modifying at least one of the metal pieces in an area immediately adjacent and extending along the abutting surfaces to allow weld joint volume to transmute during weld solidification and thereby compensate for and inhibit formation of shrinkage related cracking of the weld joint. Another aspect of this invention relates to the welded assembly resulting from such process. Such welded assembly comprises at least two metal pieces with one metal piece having a relatively narrow ligament extending therefrom in an abutting relationship with a surface on the other metal piece.