You already qualified your procedures by welding two WPS (PQR) test plates (one @ 1/4" and 1/2" thick, both with no bevel) and sucessfully tested each plate... i.e. nondestructive testing, (U.T. or R.T.), the required reduced tensile samples, and the bend testing samples... Correct?
You did this in both 1/4" and 1/2" plate because you probably exceeded some esential variable when moving up to the 1/2" plate...correct?
I would interpret the codes as:
1. The welder that welded your PQR test plates is now qualified without any further testing.
2. Your plan to use 3/8" thick welder qualification test plates is acceptable and will qualify your welders from 1/8" to 3/4" thick material. Also, I do not think the addition or deletion of the bevel is an essential variable for the welder qualification test.
yes, AWS does "call for a bevel" for a pre-qualified joint procedure. You sucessfully qualified the procedure without the bevel. I do not understand why your AISC rep. does not accept your procedures and qualification testing.