The Examination and Tests of Welded Parts for Steam Power Plant

Abstract

The object of the paper is to give the results of certain experimental and routine inspection work rather than to lay down rules of inspection and testing. An outline is given of the margin obtained between some of the properties and requirements of actual drums and the specified limits. European practice appears to favour acetylene welding for the butt welding of tubes. Normally acetylene welds do not suffer from basal cracking, but they do suffer from lack of penetration; the paper gives methods by which this can be avoided, and suggests forms of joints for tubular welds. The inspection of tubular welds presents many problems, but certain non-destructive tests have been successfully applied, and a number of X-ray examinations on site are described. A useful method of inspecting large numbers of tubular welds by sample consists in carrying out a reverse bend test on a tongue sawn out of the tube and pressed round a former. The paper also contains the results of extensive experience of the heat treatment of welds on site.