3. Welding defects

3.1 Basics of defect classification

There are many bases for classifying defects in welded assemblies:

• to the type of defect itself, leading to the following two categories:

  • internal or open compactness defects,

  • shape defects, which can themselves be subdivided at the bead level (channels, convexity) or at the joint level (unevenness, angular misalignment);

• to the morphology of compactness defects, and here again two important classes with regard to behaviour under load can be observed:

  • flat defects (i.e. those that evolve under loading),

  • volume defects...