ABSTRACT
When a weld is being formed, certain chemical and metallurgical actions take place in the metal adjacent to where the weld is being deposited. Most welds that fail can be attributed to:
Improper design of the weld joint Poor selection of base materials and filler materials Inappropriate welding processes Residual stresses Ineffective or non-existent inspection procedures Welded components operating outside their safe parameters
These are a significant element in weld failures. This is because the crack has the potential to grow into a total failure once the weld is under load conditions.
