§ 723.8. Radiographic Inspection

Radiographic testing required in the field shall be done at the expense of the Contractor by an approved laboratory as defined by "General Conditions" having prior approval of the Engineer. The testing shall include furnishing all materials, equipment, tools, labor and incidentals necessary to perform the required testing. The Owner may require further tests as necessary conforming to "General Conditions" and may perform additional testing including other types.

Radiographic equipment, procedures, resulting radiographs, identification marks, penetrameters, examination, reports and weld surface preparation shall conform to TXDOT Bulletin C-5. The Engineer will examine and interpret the resulting radiographs.

Radiography shall be done within the time interval specified by the Engineer. Field welds on ASTM A 514/517 steel shall not be radiographed until a minimum of 48 hours after completion of the weld.

When so indicated, welded butt splices shall be radiographed. Radiographic testing shall be as indicated in "Radiographic Inspection", above. Weld quality shall be as follows:

There shall be no cracks and the sum of the greatest dimension of porosity and fusion type defects shall not exceed 1/10 of the nominal bar diameter in inches. The Engineer will examine and interpret the resulting radiographs, which shall become the property of the Owner and remain with the Engineer.

For field welds of splices in material with a specified yield strength of less than 65,000 psi, radiographic inspection will be made of the full flange width of 25 percent of all flange splices and of 1/3 the depth of the web of 25 percent of all web splices on each structure (17 inches minimum length). If unacceptable work is found, an additional radiograph (penalty shot) shall be made on a section welded by the same operator just prior to and just following the section containing the defect. Welds requiring repairs shall be retested by radiography after repairs are made. Necessary repairs shall be made prior to any further work being done.

For field welds of splices in material with a specified yield strength greater than 65,000 psi, radiographic inspection shall be made on all flange and web splices. Welds requiring repairs shall be retested by radiography a minimum of 48 hours after repairs are made.

All radiography (penalty shots and retakes) required because of unacceptable welding shall be performed at the expense of the Contractor.

When radiographic inspection of particular welds is indicated, this shall be in addition to the radiographic inspection required herein.

All resulting radiographs shall become the property of the Owner and remain with the Engineer.

All groove welds designed to carry primary stresses shall be subject to radiographic inspection. When subjected to such inspections, the presence of any of the following defects in excess of the limits indicated will result in rejection of the defective weld until corrected.

1.

Sections of welds shown to have any cracking, regardless of length or location, incomplete fusion, overlapping or inadequate penetration shall be judged unacceptable.

2.

Inclusions less than 1/16 inch in greatest dimension including slag, porosity and other deleterious material, shall be permitted if well dispersed so that the sum of the greatest dimensions of the inclusions in any linear inch of welded joint shall not exceed 3/8 inch.

3.

Inclusions 1/16 inch or larger in greatest dimension shall be permitted provided such defects do not exceed the limits indicated or described above.

4.

There shall be no inclusion greater than 1/16 inch within 1 inch of the edge of part or member at the joint or point of restraint.