CWB Welding Inspector Level 2 key terms

A written, qualified document that lists the essential, supplementary essential and non-essential variables a welder must follow to produce a weld that meets the applicable code requirements.

The documented record of the test weld made to qualify a welding procedure, showing the variables used, the test results obtained and the range of conditions the procedure is approved for.

A test demonstrating that an individual welder can produce sound welds to a specified standard, usually recorded on a certificate showing the process, position, thickness and joint type qualified.

A welding parameter, such as process, filler classification, current type or preheat, that must be changed only through requalification because altering it can affect the mechanical properties of the joint.

The application of heat to the base metal before welding to slow cooling, drive off moisture and reduce the risk of cracking in the heat-affected zone.

The temperature of the weldment, measured before the next pass is deposited, which is controlled to avoid excessive heat input and loss of toughness or strength.

The energy delivered per unit length of weld, calculated from arc voltage, current and travel speed, which strongly influences cooling rate and heat-affected zone properties.

The portion of base metal adjacent to the fusion line that is not melted but whose microstructure and properties are changed by the heat of welding.

The boundary between the weld metal and the unmelted base metal, sometimes called the weld interface, where partial melting of the parent material occurs.

The depth to which the weld metal extends into the root of the joint or into the base metal beyond the fusion line.

The first pass deposited in a joint, forming the root of the weld and determining whether full penetration and proper root profile are achieved.

Material placed at the root of a joint to support molten weld metal, which may be removable or may remain as part of the finished weld.

A gas or gas mixture supplied around the arc to exclude air and protect the molten weld pool and electrode from oxidation and contamination.

An arc welding process using a continuously fed consumable wire electrode and an externally supplied shielding gas, commonly called MIG welding.

An arc welding process using a tubular consumable electrode filled with flux, which may be self-shielded or used with an auxiliary shielding gas.

An arc welding process in which a covered consumable electrode is manually fed, the coating decomposing to provide shielding gas and slag protection.

An alphanumeric designation, such as E7018, that encodes the electrode's minimum tensile strength, welding position, coating type and current requirements.

The metal added during welding to form the weld, supplied as covered electrodes, solid wire, flux-cored wire or bare rod, and specified by classification.

A drawing notation comprising a reference line, arrow and optional elements that conveys the type, size, location and extent of a weld to the fabricator.

The horizontal line in a welding symbol to which the arrow, tail and weld symbols are attached; symbols above it indicate welds on the arrow side.

The side of a joint to which the arrow of a welding symbol points, with weld symbols placed below the reference line applying to that side.

A weld made in a prepared groove between two members, classified by the groove shape such as V, U, J or square, and described on drawings by a groove symbol.

A weld of roughly triangular cross-section joining two surfaces at an angle, specified by leg size and length on the welding symbol.

The shortest distance from the weld root to the face of a fillet weld, used to determine the effective size carrying load.

The distance from the joint root to the toe of a fillet weld measured along either fused member surface.

A groove melted into the base metal at the weld toe or root that is not filled by weld metal, reducing cross-section and acting as a stress concentrator.

Cavities in weld metal caused by entrapped gas, appearing as rounded voids that may be scattered, clustered or aligned and are detectable by radiography or visual inspection.

Non-metallic solid material trapped in weld metal or between weld passes, typically from flux residues, appearing as irregular dark indications on radiographs.

A discontinuity where weld metal fails to fuse to the base metal or to a previous pass, often caused by low heat input, poor angle or contaminated surfaces.

An interruption in the normal structure of a weld, such as a void, crack or inclusion, which may or may not constitute a defect depending on acceptance criteria.

Examination of the weld surface and joint preparation by eye, aided by gauges, magnifiers and lighting, to detect surface discontinuities and dimensional deviations.

A hand tool with calibrated edges used to measure fillet weld leg and throat size, undercut depth, misalignment, crown height and root gap.

A volumetric non-destructive method that passes X-rays or gamma rays through a weld onto film or a detector, revealing internal density variations such as porosity or inclusions.

A volumetric non-destructive method that transmits high-frequency sound into a weld and analyses reflected echoes to detect and size internal planar discontinuities such as cracks and lack of fusion.

A surface and near-surface method that magnetises the part and applies ferromagnetic particles, which cluster at leakage fields around discontinuities such as cracks.

A surface method that applies a liquid penetrant to a cleaned part, removes the excess and uses a developer to draw penetrant out of open discontinuities for visual detection.

Delayed cracking in the heat-affected zone or weld metal caused by combined hydrogen, residual stress and a susceptible hard microstructure, controlled by preheat and low-hydrogen consumables.

A calculated value combining the alloying elements in steel to estimate its hardenability and susceptibility to cold cracking during welding.

The orientation of the joint relative to the welder, such as flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead, which determines the qualification range and technique used.

Inspection methods that reveal discontinuities or dimensions without damaging the welded component, including visual, radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle and penetrant techniques.

A system of marks or records that trace each weld to the qualified welder who made it, supporting traceability and quality assurance requirements.

The planned system of procedures, records and audits intended to ensure that welding work consistently meets specified code and contract requirements.