Root cracks are usually easy to detect.

Root cracks are usually easy to detect.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. They occur only in large welds
• D. They require destructive testing

Answer: (A)

Root cracks occur at the weld joint where the weld meets the base metal, and that location is where inspection efforts are most focused. They’re usually easy to detect because the root area is the most accessible part of the weld for surface inspection, and a crack breaking the root will often show up in visual checks or with nondestructive tests designed for surface-breaking flaws, such as dye penetrant or magnetic particle testing. If the crack extends into the root, radiography or ultrasonic testing can also reveal it, making detection more reliable than for many hidden defects. The other ideas don’t fit: cracks aren’t limited to large welds, and you don’t have to resort to destructive testing to find them.

Root cracks occur at the weld joint where the weld meets the base metal, and that location is where inspection efforts are most focused. They’re usually easy to detect because the root area is the most accessible part of the weld for surface inspection, and a crack breaking the root will often show up in visual checks or with nondestructive tests designed for surface-breaking flaws, such as dye penetrant or magnetic particle testing. If the crack extends into the root, radiography or ultrasonic testing can also reveal it, making detection more reliable than for many hidden defects. The other ideas don’t fit: cracks aren’t limited to large welds, and you don’t have to resort to destructive testing to find them.