Becoming a weld expert

[TLycan]

Dear all,

I am a consultant structural Engineer. and now we have job or revising many steel bridges;a newly designed ones and those already in action.

I need to know how to become or to Have the Feel/knowledge/Experiences of knowing:

the poor quality weld from the good ones/ the cause/ what is the right welding procedures/ how it is make ....etc.

In short any thing concerning structural welding as a structural engineer not a as very expert weld inspector

also if there are any courses online

REgards

 

[SlideRuleEra]

The "Lincoln Electric" website is a good place to start:

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...d-workshops/Pages/seminars-and-workshops.aspx

and be sure to buy the classic book on welding, "Design of Welded Structures" by Omer Blodgett:

http://www.jflfoundation.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DWS

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[KootK]

Yeah, read everything authored by Blodgett and Miller. As tedious as it will be, read AWS too. Then go see some welds. Tech schools often have welding certificate programs where one actually does some welding. I've always thought that would be valuable too.

The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.

 

[Ron]

Agree with above. No harm in becoming a certified welding inspector. Good knowledge base and gives you credibility with field people.

I was a certified welding inspector and an ASNT Level III for many years of my structural practice. Made it a little difficult fore erectors and other inspectors to BS me!

 

[dhengr]

TLycan:
Sounds like a wonderful learning experience, but maybe a little too much to learn to quickly, for an immediate project, given where you appear to be starting from. It would be really great if you could work along side a person who already has the experience, the job would go better, and you would learn so much more, and more quickly under their tutelage. You may as likely be looking for cracks, and the like, on the bridges which have been in operation for a while. Look around at AASHTO and state highway dept. materials and reports, there have been a number of details and conditions which have proven to be problematic over the years.

 

[racookpe1978]

Weld! You can get a $200.00 to $280.00 MIG (wire) 220 volt machine that you can use on projects or just experience: Don't bother with the 120 vac flux-covered cheap machines. They are very messy, produce lots of sparks, can't weld anything over 1/4 inch thick (if that) and work poorly. But weld. True, a full class and an experiecned mentor are great, but you need to melt steel and burn things. Remember: More than 75% of welding is in the cutting, prepping, fitting, clamping, and preparations of the joint BEFORE the weld rod is ever touched off.

A good SMAW (stick) machine will allow TIG (GTAW) work as well: Probably more appropriate for industrial comparison work as well. Both GTAW and SMAW are harder to learn and get good at than simple MIG wire-feeding.

 

[Archie264]

I was told that Chicago Bridge and Iron used to train all their engineers to weld before letting them design anything. Anyone know if that's true?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Archie264 - About CB&I; I don't know about now, but it was true in the early 1980's. We had a contract with them to construct several tanks at a new electric generating station. During the final inspection, a problem with a weld was found. The CB&I engineer who was present for the inspection had the credentials to make the repair himself. He explained that the company did this not only as background for their design engineers, but also to allow for repairs, like this, without having to remobilize a welder.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[Archie264]

SlideRuleEra,

Thanks. Good to hear it confirmed.

 

[TLycan]

Thank you all. I appreciated

 

[oldestguy]

Racook and Ron got it right. I'd add that some welding out there is by stick,DC. Get some experience in that mode also. Once you see how hard it is to weld upside down or in a strong wind, you can then be aware of the problems out there and what the results might look like. While you are at it try some on galvanized stuff also.