Steel Construction & Welding Inspection Flashcards

An inspector is verifying the size of a fillet weld. Which tool is specifically designed for this measurement?

Answer: Weld gauge (fillet weld gauge)

A fillet weld gauge is specifically designed to measure the leg size and throat of fillet welds, making it the correct tool for verifying fillet weld dimensions.

Which of the following discontinuities in a weld is considered a linear planar defect most critical to structural performance?

Answer: Lack of fusion

Lack of fusion is a planar discontinuity where weld metal fails to bond with adjacent base metal or a previous weld pass, creating a sharp notch that severely degrades structural performance.

What is the effective throat of a 3/8-inch fillet weld made using the standard 45° fillet geometry?

Answer: 0.265 inch

The effective throat of a standard 45° fillet weld equals 0.707 times the leg size; 0.707 × 0.375 ≈ 0.265 inch, which is used in strength calculations.

According to AISC 360, which connection type requires that the bolt holes be aligned and the bolts installed in a specific sequence to ensure proper load distribution in slip-critical connections?

Answer: Slip-critical connection

Slip-critical connections rely on friction between faying surfaces to transfer loads; proper bolt installation sequence and pretension are essential to develop the required clamping force.

When inspecting structural steel mill certifications (MTRs), which property confirms that the steel will absorb sufficient energy before fracturing in cold temperatures?

Answer: Charpy V-notch impact value

The Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact test measures the energy absorbed by a steel specimen during fracture at a specified temperature, indicating the material's notch toughness and resistance to brittle fracture.

During inspection of anchor rod installation, an inspector finds that the rods are not within the specified location tolerance. Which standard provides the permissible tolerances for anchor rod setting?

Answer: ACI 117

ACI 117, the Specification for Tolerances for Concrete Construction, governs permissible tolerances for embedded items including anchor rods set in concrete foundations.

A construction inspector observes excessive weld spatter on the base metal adjacent to a structural weld. The inspector's primary concern should be that spatter may indicate:

Answer: Improper welding parameters or technique

Excessive spatter typically results from improper arc voltage, travel speed, wire feed speed, or contaminated base metal, signaling that welding parameters or technique need correction.