An Improved Basis for Formulating Acceptance Criteria for Structural Welds

Abstract

Improvements in current weld acceptance criteria can be achieved if the standards are derived from structural reliability and integrity considerations. These criteria require an assessment of the effect on expected service performance of defects remaining in the weld. The inherent randomness in many of the parameters affecting weld reliability requires that the acceptance criteria have a probabilistic basis. Performance criteria can then be formulated which are consistent with levels of uncertainty and desired reliability.