Visual Inspection Question

By gmram120 Date 12-14-2001 22:56

I would be interested in knowing how any of you that are using D1.1 2000 Sec. 4.0 Part C, Performance Qualification, deal with the visual inspection.

Of course 4.30.1 refers to 4.8.1 for acceptance criteria. My question concerns paragraph 3 which states; "The face of the weld shall be flush with the surface of the base metal…. The last sentence in paragraph 3 goes on to state that; "Weld reinforcement shall not exceed 1/8".

Now according to my dictionary there are no less then 20 definitions of the word "flush". Such as "to make level or even", "making an even or unbroken line or surface", "being even or on the same line or plane" and, " in an even manner; so as to be level or in alignment". A.W.S. does not define their use of it anywhere that I can find.

So my question is, how can any weld bead that is not absolutely flat be flush? In other words, how can any reinforcement be allowed at all, if the face of the weld is to be flush with the surface of the base metal? Which definition should apply and how would I defend it?

Also in regards to the amount of undercut allowed. Is the 1/32" that is allowed measured in any direction or is it just the depth? Is it just undercut between the weld toe and the base metal or does it include undercut into an adjacent weld also.

In general, I feel this paragraph needs to be more specific, it leaves way too much to individual interpretation. Anyway, like I said, I'd be interested in your comments.

By GRoberts (***)

Date 12-15-2001 00:26

The interpretation that I like, and havent had problems with inspectors/engineers arguing with, is that if buildup is more than 1/8", it is not considered "flush" anymore, so it is rejectable. I think that "flush" is the ideal, and 1/8" is the buildup tolerence. Also, the 1/32" undercut only applies to the depth, not the length or width. You could have undercut along the whole length of of the weld, and as long as it is less than 1/32", the welder technically passes. It doesn't say much for their technique though. The one part of your question I have never really worked out in my head either, is how does the undercut rule apply to adjacent weld beads? The statement in 4.8.1 (3) refers to the weld metal/base metal interface, not adjacent weld beads neccessarily. It would make sense if it applied to undercut on adjacent weld beads, as the intent is to avoid the notch effect created by undercut, which is just as applicable in the weld as in the adjacent base metal. However, it is not spelled out that way as far as I have seen.

G Roberts

By BCSORT

Date 12-18-2001 18:22

I don't have a copy of D1.1 to look at but, if the undercut is in the adjacent weld metal and that weld is part of the 1/8" reinforcement does that mean that you can actually have 5/32" of allowable undercut in the adjacent weld metal? What I am trying to ask is wether the code states that the undercut is measured from the top of the base metal or the face of the adjacent weld?

I agree with gmram120, sounds like more definition is needed.