What is the procedure to perform a visual inspection of welds?

The procedure for performing a visual inspection of welds involves checking for specific surface defects that can impact the integrity and quality of the weld. Identifying surface defects like cracks, porosity, undercut, and incomplete fusion is crucial because these issues can lead to weld failure, reducing the overall strength and durability of the welded joint. Cracks may develop under stress, porosity indicates trapped gas that can weaken the weld, undercut shows where the base metal has been eroded, and incomplete fusion means the weld did not fully bond with the base material.

While examining color consistency and smoothness is important, it does not specifically address the critical defects that can affect weld performance. Measuring the thickness of the weld bead provides useful information about the weld's size but does not assess the quality of the weld's surface. Reviewing weld specifications and standards is essential for ensuring compliance but is not part of the direct visual inspection process itself. Therefore, the most comprehensive method to ensure weld quality is to focus on identifying surface defects, which encapsulates the main purpose of a visual inspection in welding practices.