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CONTROL OF WELDING . I-95 Bridge at Delaware. I-95 Bridge at Delaware US . Hoan Bridge Milawaukee. Unacceptable weld on recent project. WELDING. Defects can cause problems after acceptance Not possible to identify many built-in defects by later testing
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WELDING • Defects can cause problems after acceptance • Not possible to identify many built-in defects by later testing • If a problem exists then repair may be prohibitively expensive, may damage the product and • Some defects can only be revealed by destructive testing • Thus welding needs to be a controlled process to minimise rejection of end product
Welding Defects • Hydrogen Embrittlement • Reduces ductility • Reduce load carrying capacity • Can occur suddenly Can occur with only slight corrosion. Potential not readily identifiable afterwards
Welding Defects • Cracks • Stress concentrators • Can grow until fracture • Variety of causes including weldability issues
Welding Defects • Porosity • Stress concentrators, problems for coatings • Caused by impurities, air inclusion • PQR may reveal this as a potential problem • Corrosion problem
Welding Defects • Incomplete penetration • Lack of weld strength • Caused by current, travel speed, angle weld • Review of PQR will reveal this as a potential problem
Welding Defects • Lack of fusion • Lack of weld strength • Caused by poor weld technique • Review of PQR will reveal this as a potential problem
Welding Defects • Undercutting • Lack of weld strength • Caused by poor weld technique • Review of PQR will reveal this as a potential problem
Welding Defects • Inclusions • Potential Crack initiator • Caused by poor weld technique • Review of PQR will reveal this as a potential problem
Welding Defects • Arc strike • Crack initiator • Caused by carelessness • Needs to be treated as a weld and assessed
Control of Welding • RTA controls: • Prequalification • Notes on drawings of weld type (GP, SP, FP) • Requirements for welders, supervisors and inspectors • RTA inspectors • RTA specifications B80, B200, B204 etc
Types of Welding • Reinforcing steel: • Non-load bearing tack welds • Load bearing tack welds incl lifting • Structural welds such as splices • Structural complex • Structural routine
History of Reinforcement Welding 1965-1977 Only Hydrogen controlled electrodes 1978-1991 Generally not field weldable due to preheat requirements 1992-1999 Almost any electrodes 2000-2005 Low hydrogen electrodes
Reinforcement Welding Non-load bearing tack welds • May now use non hydrogen controlled electrodes as long as an approved PQR used
Reinforcement Welding Load bearing tack welds • Welds being lifted, transported etc • Must use hydrogen controlled electrodes • Welds must be designed by engineer • Lifting points on drawings and on assembly • Weld to spec and code
Reinforcement Welding Structural reinforcement welds • Welding for strength transfer, fitting welding etc • Must use hydrogen controlled matching strength electrodes • Welds must be designed by engineer • Weld PQR required to spec and code
Structural Welding Three types of weld may be shown on drawings: GP-general purpose SP-weld stressed > 50% or subject dynamic loading FP-fatigue adds additional testing & acceptance Different level of testing requirements Decreasing tolerance for level of defects
Welding -Specification Requirements B80 • 500L (mesh) not to be field welded • Not near prestressing tendons B204 • Personnel • Weld procedures • Prototypes • Consumables
Welding -Specification Requirements (cont) B204 • Control of distortion • Run-on/run-off tabs • Inspection requirements GP least with FP greatest • Non conformances