Welds are the most common type of permanent joints in all industrial sectors. There are many types of welds both in terms of welding methods (manual electric arc, automatic or semi-automatic, submerged arc, gas-shielded arc, electrical resistance welding, etc.), and in terms of joint configurations (butt, fillet, tee, lap welds). However, in most cases, irrespective of the welding method, welded joints are subject to quality testing at the end of welding. Flaw inspection is aimed at identifying various defects that lead to a weakened weld strength or poor leak tightness. Timely detection of such flaws significantly affects the determination of service life of a whole welded structure. The weld quality is particularly critical for high pressure vessels and systems, as well as for load-bearing structures.

Read more ...