Some welding defects may be accepted without repair even if they don’t meet the proper standards. There are some situations when repairing a defect can lead to a more undesirable micro structure for a joint. These are some recommended tips and procedure when encountering such a situation.
- Define root cause of the welding defect. It is important to verify root cause and prepare RCA report to prevent further similar defects.
- Out-of-code welding defects can only be accepted without repair if there is proper justification. No welding defect can be neglected without a good reason.
- Quality engineering tools should be used to ensure proper fatigue life. Extensive fatigue analysis or fracture mechanics analysis are examples of necessary tools.
- Always remember that safety of a structure cannot be neglected or compromised. Every owner wants their structures to be safe and able to meet their given design life.
Fitness for Service Analysis
- The main purpose of Fitness for Service Analysis is to evaluate welding defects and the remaining life estimation of existing structures, but it can also be used to evaluate the severity of welding defects found in a new building structure.
- There are some situations when repair of minor defects is unnecessary and can even create severe consequences and delay of projects. Proper use of Fitness for Service Analysis can prevent such situations.
- Higher safety margins are recommended to be applied for new building structures than existing structures to ensure proper performance and service life for the structure.
