ABSTRACT

Welding is a complex technology and in any welding process (including mechanised processes) the quality of the weld is a function of the interaction of a large number of variables, not all of which are controlled to the extent that is desirable. The difficulty of completely controlling the welding process means that most welds will contain some defects even if no 'errors' are made in selecting the materials, joint design or welding procedure. Also the continuous improvement in non-destructive testing methods means that such defects as are present are increasingly likely to be detected.