Cost Efficient Aluminum Welder Performance Qualification Testing

Objective:

Shipyards are interested in being able to use ultrasonic testing (UT) for the nondestructive testing of aluminum welder performance qualification test plates, similar to the method used for production welds.  The benefits would be faster turn-around time and reduced costs for welder qualifications.  The goals of this project were to reduce the costs and improve the productivity and environmental aspects of performance qualification testing of aluminum welders by the use of UT instead of radiographic testing.