A Proposal of Inspecting Method for the Assurance of the Weld Properties of Steel Structures

(Part I: Study on the Applicability of Portable Testing Methods for Welded Joints)

Abstract

This paper proposes a method to evaluate the weld properties of steel structures without machining test specimens from the welds. Portable types of equipments were employed to examine the chemical composition, hardness and microstructure at the surface of the welds, assuming that minor surface polishing on the welds does not deteriorate the weld properties. The test results demonstrated that these methods can speculate the weld and base metal chemical compositions, welded joint strength and welding conditions applied. These proposed methods are thus effective for the field assurance of the weld properties of building constructions.