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> Welds that Pass Inspection <

While the goal is to join two pieces of metal, welding often involves a code
specifying how the work should be performed. The basic idea is to run one or
more weld "beads" along the joint so the sides fuse together without any gaps in
between. By following the code, a welder insures a structure or object can
withstand any impacts, vibrations, weathering, an earthquake, and the test of
time.
As the photo below illustrates, weld metal penetrates into and rises above the
joint. Sometimes the final (or only) bead is ground or filed off at the top to leave a
flush surface. More often, however, it's left in place to furnish extra strength and
protection. A bead looks like a series of dimes laid tightly together across the
joint.

MillerWelds.com

Of course, if you're constructing your own barbecue pit, or repairing tools in your
shop, your welds wont be subject to inspection. But if you're working on steel
framing for a bridge, assembling a pressure vessel, or installing a long-distance
pipeline, the scrutiny that comes into play is quite formidable. Organizations like
the American Welding Society and American Society for Mechanical Engineers
will often have a say about the procedures, materials and type of inspection
needed before a weld can be declared acceptable.
There's a good reason for all the fuss. A weld that fails can cause a structure to
collapse. A leaking pipe caused by porosity in a weld can result in contamination
or an explosion. Whether the end result is property damage, environmental
consequences, injuries or deaths, an incorrectly performed welding procedure
and/or inspection is a big deal for all parties concerned.

That's why architects and engineers are required by law to incorporate welding
and other building codes into their designs and drawings. Building contractors
must factor in the codes and welding procedure specifications (WPS) when they
purchase their equipment and consumeables. They must also instruct welders on
amperage settings, number of passes, heat treatment and other aspects of their
assignments.
Likewise, each welder who works on a job must be certified for the welding
process and position (overhead, vertical, etc.). On site, a certified welding
inspector (CWI) checks out completed welds and either passes or fails them
based on the applicable code and engineering specs.

Not a code-quality weld

Because doing the job right is paramount, most entry-level welders start out on
non-critical projects. They assist experienced welders who do the actual welding.
A trainee may be responsible for joint fit-up, which means cleaning, grinding,
beveling and tacking the base metals before welding can begin. Welder helpers
also retrieve the welding rods and other supplies in advance of the operation.
They load wire spools onto flux-cored and MIG machines, sharpen tungsten
electrodes, connect up the leads for various equipment, replace empty
compressed gas cylinders, perform fire watch, and clean up the finished welds.
After plenty of observation and practice, students, apprentices or trainees evolve
into competent code welders. Success, however, begins with an understanding of
weld parameters, defects and terminology. This tutorial delves into all these
areas.

Anatomy of a Weld

For every weld, the "toes", "face", "root", "legs" and "throat" comprise an
anatomy that code books, inspectors and instructors refer to constantly. The
diagram below, for instance, depicts a weld as you would look at it from the side.
The straight black lines at the top and to the right represent the work plates. It
may be hard to see the plates at first, but one lies flat, the other perpendicular to
it, with the joint at the center.

A fillet weld

Every weld has two legs, one for each work plate, and each extends from the root
of the joint to the toe. The weld toe is where the base metal "ties in" to the weld
metal along the weldment face. In this graphic, the weldment is represented by
the blue and shaded areas. The weld "throat" is the distance between the root
and face, which can vary, depending on whether the weld is flush or convex
(shown above). The dotted lines in the diagram show how the weld is measured
using the legs, toes and throat.
Here's a different type of weld:

A groove weld

In this edge view, the two work plates sit side by side, with a butt joint running
down the middle. Notice that the sides are beveled (i.e. diagonally cut) to form a
wider pocket to hold weld metal. This is standard practice on plates or pipe
thicker than about a quarter inch. If there were no beveling, it would be difficult to
penetrate all the way down to the root from the top of the plates.
Beveling is performed with a saw, torch and/or grinder prior to welding. The angle
may be specified in a shop drawing or welding symbol. Other dimensions for a
weld are measured using the length of the legs and the root opening (at the
bottom) between the plates
V-shaped joints require more weld metal, so they're generally completed in
multiple passes. One thing the inspector will look for in any joint is penetration,
or depth of the weld. . The CWI will also check to see that there's enough root
reinforcement and weld metal at the top of the plates (i.e. the throat). Depending
on the WPS, the weld will be either flush with the base metal on either side, or
convex. A concave weld (i.e. one that dips downward) is usually unacceptable.
Although it's not shown in the diagram above, beveling usually includes a "root
face" when there's an opening between the plates. The drawing below shows a
face on either side, visible beneath the light blue shaded area.

A V-groove

Root faces may look innocuous, but they serve a purpose. If the work plates were
simply beveled all the way down, their bottom edges would burn out when
welded. A root face provides more surface area to prevent this from happening.
Thus, a uniform bead of weld can penetrate down to root without leaving any
gaps. This drawing, incidentally, doesn't show the weld metal penetrating through
the root face.

GoWelding.com

While the V-groove "open-root" joint is common in pipe welding, a different fit-up
design is more often used in structural welding, as shown above. A backing plate
is welded to the two work plates to catch the weld metal and precludes the need
for root faces. So the two plates are beveled completely.
The photo above shows the set-up for a welder qualification test. In order to
perform structural welding (with backing plates) in the vertical position, for
instance, you would have to perform this weld to the satisfaction of an instructor
or inspector in order to be certified.
Notice the wider opening between the two work pieces. When a backing plate is
used, the standard spacing is a quarter-inch for plates 1/2 to 1 inch thick. Good
fit-up and tacking of the backing plate are crucial to laying down a codecompliant weld.

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