Ethan Bale Section IX of ASME BPVC is a qualification standard for welding procedures and welding operators. It is a very widely used standard today. In some places, it is a statutory requirement – that is, it is mandated by law. In other places, it is adopted by companies for welding qualifications. Sometimes it becomes compulsory by … Read more
A new edition of Section IX is published by ASME every two years. Studying the summary of changes at the front of the Code is an instructive exercise. Some words and phrases are added, some are deleted. Trying to understand the intent behind these changes allows us a glimpse in the minds of the Section … Read more
The electrodes used in flux-cored arc welding are made up of a flux core, surrounded by a metal sheath. The primary function of flux at the core of the wire is to provide shielding to the arc from the oxidizing gases in the atmosphere such as oxygen and nitrogen. The metal sheath accounts for 75 … Read more
Weld symbols and welding symbols are a means of communication between the designer and the welder. Therefore there must be a set of rules regarding representation of information on a welding drawing that must convey same information regardless of who reads it. This article discusses various aspects related to weld symbols and welding symbols. The … Read more
The terms welds and joints are not synonymous. The different types of welds are groove weld, fillet weld, seam weld, flash weld, plug weld, upset weld, spot weld, surfacing weld, etc. These are not joints, but welds. The types of joints are only five, as we shall see in this article. In order to describe … Read more
Welding consumables are an important part of welding. Having a quality electrode in hand is vital to the quality of joint to be made. In this article, we shall see some aspects of electrodes and filler rods used for welding. The most authoritative classification of welding consumables has been done by American Welding Society (AWS). … Read more
The classification system for SMAW electrodes is identical between AWS (American Welding Society) and ASME BPVC. In this article, we shall take reference from ASME BPVC Section II Part C for studying various electrode classification. The SMAW electrodes are classified under the following specifications in ASME Section II Part C. SFA 5.1: specification for carbon … Read more
In this article, we shall see an introduction on the various types of oxy acetylene welding flames, how to identify them by their appearance, lighting the acetylene torch to obtain a flame, and temperatures observed in the various portions of the flame. Later on, each kind of flame has been discussed in some detail, including … Read more
Warpage in welding and residual stresses occurring in welds are a nuisance for any welding engineer. The distortion spoils the aesthetic appeal of the product, and affects its usability for the intended purpose. Residual stresses can give rise to initiation of fracture in the metal, which can result in catastrophic failure. Therefore, it is important … Read more
Multipass welding is typically required when thick sections are required to be welded. This technique is used in the industry for joining of thick sections, carrying out repairs, build ups, surface hard-facing and so on. As the name suggests, multipass welds consist of multiple passes of welding in a joint. One pass of the weld is generally … Read more