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Visual Inspection of Welds
Visual Inspection of Welds
b) root penetration
c) weld width
b) a minimum design
throat thickness
Root Defects
Incomplete root penetration
Failure of weld metal to extend into the root of a
Root Defects
Root concavity
(suck-back; underwashing - non-standard
terms)
A shallow groove which may occur in the root
of a butt weld, but full fusion is evident
Shrinkage groove
A shallow groove caused by contraction in the
metal along each side of a penetration bead o
along the weld centreline
Burnthrough
(melt through)
A localised collapse of the molten pool
due to excessive penetration, resulting in
a hole in the weld run
Contour Defects
Bulbous Contour
Bulbous contour
A non-standard term used to
describe poor appearance
Unequal Legs
Unequal legs
(non standard term)
Variation of leg length on a fillet weld
Note: Unequal leg lengths may be
specified as part of the design - in
which case they are not imperfections
Undercut
Undercut
An irregular groove at a toe of a run
in the parent metal or in previously
deposited weld metal
The inspector must determine if the
undercut is continuous or
intermittent, or sharp or smooth
Overlap
Overlap
An imperfection at the toe or root of a
weld caused by metal flowing on to
the surface of the parent metal
without fusing to it
Gas Pore
Gas pore
A cavity, generally under
1.5mm in diameter,
formed by trapped gas
during the solidification of
molten metal
Porosity
A group of gas pores
Crater Pipe
Crater pipe
A depression due to shrinkage at the end
of a run where the source of heat was
removed. Crater pipes may also lead to
micro-cracking
Surface Cracks
Crack
A linear discontinuity produced by fracture
Cracks may be ...
a) ... longitudinal, in the weld metal, i.e. centreline
c) ... transverse
d) Crater crack
(star cracking)
Arc Strike
Stray flash/arc burn/arc strike
(stray arcing)
1. The damage on the parent material
resulting from the accidental striking
of an arc away from the weld
2. The accidental striking of an arc
away from the weld
Note that the same term is used for
both the action and the result
Weld Width
Weld width and consistency of weld
width