When inspecting welded joints, what signs do you look for?

When inspecting welded joints, identifying cracks or damage is crucial as these defects can severely compromise the integrity and strength of the weld. Cracks can occur due to several factors, including improper welding techniques, material stresses, or environmental conditions. Finding these issues during inspection can prevent failures in the structure or equipment that relies on those welds, which is vital for safety and performance in electrical power production and other applications.

Other potential signs, such as significant rust build-up, excessive heat marks, or coloration changes, are also important to note during an inspection. However, they tend to indicate secondary issues rather than directly assessing the structural integrity of the weld itself. While rust can suggest potential corrosion problems, excessive heat marks can indicate problems related to overheating during welding, and coloration changes can indicate the thermal history of the material, none of these options necessarily point to the immediate risk associated with the actual mechanical integrity of the weld like cracks or damage do.