Describe the preparation of a weld specimen for bend testing.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Correct weld specimen preparation is essential for reliable results. The weld must be uniform in width and reinforcement and have no undercut or overlap. The weld reinforcement and backing strip, if used, must be removed flush to the surface. They can be machined or ground off. The plate thickness after removal must be a minimum of 3/8 in. (10 mm), and the pipe thickness must be equal to the pipe's original wall thickness. The specimens may be cut out of the test weldment using an abrasive disc, by sawing, or by cutting with a torch. Flame-cut specimens must have the edges ground or machined smooth after cutting. This procedure is done to remove the heat-affected zone caused by the cut.

All corners must be rounded to a radius of 1/8 in. (3 mm) maximum, and all grinding or machining marks must run lengthwise on the specimen. Rounding the corners and keeping all marks running lengthwise reduce the chance of good weld specimen failure due to poor surface preparation.