Test plate for approving steel or metal welding parameters; method of approving steel and metal welding parameters : under matched butt welded plates

摘要

A test method is provided to reproducibly test under matched HY100 welds to robustly establish the production parameters for the welding process. The test method comprises forming a 'U' shaped groove (120) in a plate to which steel members (112) are welded on the reverse side. The steel members (112) comprise transverse members that extend across the weld. The transverse members (112) are arranged at a density of at least four members for each 0.5m length of weld and preferably five transverse members. The steel members (112) further comprise longitudinal stiffeners that extend parallel to the weld. The longitudinal stiffeners are arranged at a density of two stiffeners per 0.4m width of the plate. The high density of stiffeners has provided a reproducible and reliable weld test method that is capable of being used to establish and approve production parameters for the welding process of under matched HY100 welds.