Applied Methodology for Qualification of Welding Procedures of Industrial Pipes According to ASME B 31.3 and ASME SECTION IX

Abstract

This work was developed to help welding professionals concerning the uncertainties related to the activities of manufacturing, assembly and maintenance of pipes in industrial plants in which it refers to the proper way to conduct activities to qualify welding procedures. It discusses about the methodology for the qualification of industrial tube welding procedures according to the parameters of the ASME B31.3 code (Processes Piping), about work performed on industrial process pipes and ASME BPV code SECTION IX (Welding, Brazing and Fusing Qualification), widely used for the qualification of welders and welding procedures. The purpose of this study is an interpretative approach of these codes aiming at the applicability of the qualification of welding procedure intended for the manufacture of industrial pipes. The conduction of this qualification, in accordance with the cited codes, presented quite satisfactory results of the specimens submitted to the mechanical bend and tensile strength tests. These results demonstrated the confidence of the welding variables used in the qualification from the codes used. It also makes possible the use of this material as a complement and didactic support in engineering curriculum - more precisely - in the disciplines of manufacturing processes.

Key-words:
Qualification of welding procedure; ASME B 31.3; ASME SECTION IX; Industrial pipes