(a) For test plates three-fourths inch or less in thickness one reduced section tensile specimen and two free-bend specimens must be tested. For plates exceeding three-fourths inch in thickness one reduced section tensile specimen, one free-bend specimen and one guided side bend specimen must be tested. In addition, boiler drums of thickness five-eighths inch or greater must have a tension test specimen of the weld metal as required by paragraph (f)(2) of this section. Toughness tests are required for Classes I-L and II-L pressure vessels as specified in § 57.06-5.

(b) The test plates must be so supported that the warping due to welding does not throw the finished test plate out of line by an angle of over 5°.

(c) Where the welding has warped the test plates, the plates must be straightened before being stress-relieved. The test plates must be subjected to the same stress-relieving operation as required by this subchapter for the pressure vessel itself. At no time must the test plates be heated to a temperature higher than that used for stress-relieving the vessel.

(d) The bend specimens must be taken from opposite sides of the reduced-section tensile specimen in their respective test plates as shown in figures 1 and 2 to § 57.06-4(d).

(e) In submitting the samples for test the manufacturer must state the minimum and maximum tensile range of the base metal.

(f) The external appearances of the welds and the amount of weld reinforcement shall conform to the requirements for fabrication, and the maximum reinforcement for the test plates must not exceed the maximum permitted for construction.

(1) The tension-test specimen of the joint must be transverse to the welded joint and must be of the full thickness of the plate after the weld reinforcement has been machined flush. The form and dimensions must be as shown in figure 3 to § 57.06-4(f). When the capacity of the available testing machine does not permit testing a specimen of the full thickness of the welded plate, the specimen may be cut with a thin saw into as many portions of the thickness as necessary, as shown in figure 4 to § 57.06-4(f) each of which must meet the requirements. The tensile strength of the joint specimen when it breaks in the weld must not be less than the minimum of the specified tensile range of the plate used. If the specimen breaks in the plate at not less than 95 percent of the minimum specified tensile range of the plate and the weld shows no sign of weakness, the test is considered acceptable.

(2) Boiler drums fabricated of plate of thicknesses of five-eighths inch or greater 2 to § have a tension-test specimen of the weld metal machined to form as shown in figure 5 to § 57.06-4(f) taken entirely from the deposited metal. The all-weld tension test specimen 2 to § have a tensile strength of not less than the minimum of the range of the plate which is welded and 2 to § have a minimum elongation in 2 inches of not less than 20 percent.

(g) The freebend specimens must be of the form and dimensions shown in figure 6 to § 57.06-4(g). For plates of three-fourths inch or less in thickness one of the specimens must be bent with the face of the weld in tension. Each freebend specimen must be bent cold under freebending conditions until the elongation measured within or across approximately the entire weld on the outer surface of the bend is at least 30 percent, except that for Class II and Class II-L pressure vessels, the minimum elongation must be 20 percent. When the capacity of the available testing machine will not permit testing a full thickness specimen, the specimen may be cut with a thin saw into as many portions of the thickness as necessary as shown in figure 4 to § 57.06-4(f), provided each such piece retains the proportion of 1.5 to 1, width to thickness, each of which must meet the requirements. Cracks at the corners of the specimens or small defects in the convex surface, the greatest dimensions of which do not exceed one-sixteenth inch need not be considered as failures.

(h) The guided-bend specimen must be bent with the side of the weld in tension, its width must be equal to the full thickness of the plate and its thickness, after machining, must be 0.350 inch to 0.380 inch to permit bending in a jig having the contour of the standard jig as shown in Figure QW 466.1, QW 466.2, or QW 466.3 of Section IX of the ASME BPVC (incorporated by reference; see § 57.02-1). The specimen must withstand being bent cold to the full capacity of the jig without developing any crack exceeding one-eighth inch in any direction. Where the plate thickness exceeds two inches, the specimen must be cut in two so that each portion does not exceed 2 inches in width. Each such portion must be tested and must meet the requirements.

(i) One retest must be made for each of the original specimens which fails to meet the requirements. Should the retests fail to meet the requirements, the welds which they represent must be chipped out, rewelded and new test plates provided.