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CWI D1.1 Inspection practice questions

Applying AWS D1.1 Clause 8: inspector duties, visual acceptance criteria, NDT requirements and acceptance of discontinuities. This domain is about 30% of the exam. Try each question, then open the answer.

Read the D1.1 Inspection study guide

Question 1

Which of these is a basis for qualifying a welding inspector under AWS D1.1:2020?
  1. Five years as a production welder, with no Engineer acceptance
  2. Current AWS CWI certification under AWS QC1
  3. ASNT Level II certification in radiography
  4. A current ASME Section IX welder qualification
Show answer

Answer: B. Current AWS CWI certification under AWS QC1

D1.1 accepts an inspector who holds AWS CWI certification under QC1, or CWB certification under CSA W178.2. It also accepts an engineer or technician whom the Engineer accepts as competent through training or experience. See the Clause 8, Part A inspector qualification provisions.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part A, inspector qualification requirements

Question 2

A qualified welder's production welds keep showing defects that suggest the welder may not meet code requirements. Under AWS D1.1:2020, what may the inspector do?
  1. Require a demonstration test or full requalification
  2. Revoke the welder's AWS certification on the spot
  3. Nothing, because welder qualification lasts indefinitely
  4. Require the contractor to switch every joint to a prequalified WPS
Show answer

Answer: A. Require a demonstration test or full requalification

Sometimes there is reason to doubt a qualified welder's work. Clause 8 then lets the inspector ask for a demonstration of ability, such as a fillet weld break test. The inspector may instead require complete requalification under Clause 6. See the Clause 8 provisions on inspection of welder qualifications.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part A, inspection of welder qualifications

Question 3

On a cyclically loaded nontubular connection, a weld in a primary member is transverse to tensile stress. Under AWS D1.1:2020 Table 8.1, what is the maximum undercut depth?
  1. 1/32 in. (1 mm)
  2. 1/16 in. (2 mm)
  3. No limit if the weld is ground
  4. 0.01 in. (0.25 mm)
Show answer

Answer: D. 0.01 in. (0.25 mm)

For cyclically loaded connections, undercut in primary members has two limits. It must be no deeper than 0.01 inch when the weld is transverse to tensile stress under any design loading. In all other cases the limit is 1/32 inch.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8, Table 8.1, Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria (Table 6.1 in D1.1:2015), undercut criteria for cyclically loaded nontubular connections

Question 4

A CJP groove weld in a butt joint is transverse to the direction of computed tensile stress. One visible piping pore is found. Under AWS D1.1:2020 Table 8.1, the weld is:
  1. Acceptable: one pore is under the 3/8 in. per inch limit
  2. Acceptable if the pore is under 3/32 in. in diameter
  3. Rejectable: this weld may have no visible piping porosity
  4. Acceptable: groove weld porosity is judged by RT
Show answer

Answer: C. Rejectable: this weld may have no visible piping porosity

Table 8.1 allows no visible piping porosity in CJP groove welds in butt joints transverse to the computed tensile stress. See Table 8.1, porosity.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8, Table 8.1, Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria (Table 6.1 in D1.1:2015), piping porosity

Question 5

Under AWS D1.1:2020 UT acceptance criteria, how is a Class A (large) discontinuity treated?
  1. It is rejected regardless of length
  2. It is accepted regardless of length
  3. It is accepted if shorter than 3/4 in.
  4. It is referred to RT for confirmation
Show answer

Answer: A. It is rejected regardless of length

D1.1 UT acceptance tables sort indications into severity classes based on indication rating, thickness and probe angle. Class A is rejected whatever its length; Class D is accepted whatever its length or location; Classes B and C have length limits.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part C, UT acceptance-rejection criteria tables (Tables 8.2 and 8.3; Tables 6.2 and 6.3 in D1.1:2015)

Question 6

A statically loaded nontubular fillet weld on 1/2 in. plate has undercut 1/32 in. deep along its full 24 in. length. Under AWS D1.1:2020 Table 8.1, the weld is:
  1. Acceptable: 1/32 in. is within the limit for this thickness
  2. Rejectable: any undercut is limited to 2 in. in each 12 in. of weld
  3. Rejectable: no undercut is allowed under 1 in. thick
  4. Acceptable only after the undercut is ground smooth
Show answer

Answer: A. Acceptable: 1/32 in. is within the limit for this thickness

For material under 1 inch thick, Table 8.1 allows undercut up to 1/32 inch for any length. The allowance of 2 inches in any 12 inches applies only to deeper undercut, up to 1/16 inch. See Table 8.1, undercut, statically loaded column.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8, Table 8.1, Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria (Table 6.1 in D1.1:2015), undercut criteria for statically loaded nontubular connections

Question 7

A specified 3/16 in. fillet weld, 30 in. long, measures 1/8 in. for a continuous 2 in.; the rest is full size. It is not a web-to-flange weld. Under AWS D1.1:2020 Table 8.1, the weld is:
  1. Acceptable: the underrun and its length are within limits
  2. Rejectable: a 3/16 in. fillet may not run under at all
  3. Rejectable: the allowed underrun is 1/32 in. for this size
  4. Acceptable only if the inspector measures the throat
Show answer

Answer: A. Acceptable: the underrun and its length are within limits

For a 3/16 in. fillet, the allowed underrun is 1/16 in., and 1/8 in. measured is exactly 1/16 in. under. The undersized length is 2 in., which is under 10% of 30 in. (3 in.). See Table 8.1, undersized welds.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8, Table 8.1, Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria (Table 6.1 in D1.1:2015), undersized welds

Question 8

A CJP groove weld meets the UT acceptance criteria, but visual inspection finds a small surface crack. Under AWS D1.1:2020, the weld is:
  1. Accepted, because UT results take priority
  2. Accepted if the crack is shorter than 1/8 in.
  3. Accepted once a second UT technician confirms the first result
  4. Rejected, because it must also meet the visual criteria
Show answer

Answer: D. Rejected, because it must also meet the visual criteria

Welds that get NDT must also meet the visual acceptance criteria. Table 8.1 rejects any crack, whatever its size. See Clause 8, Part C, and Table 8.1, cracks.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part C, acceptance criteria; Table 8.1, cracks

Question 9

Under AWS D1.1:2020, the standard UT procedures for groove welds apply to what thickness range?
  1. 1/8 in. to 2 in.
  2. 1/4 in. to 4 in.
  3. 5/16 in. to 8 in.
  4. 1/2 in. to 12 in.
Show answer

Answer: C. 5/16 in. to 8 in.

D1.1's UT procedures for groove welds and their HAZs cover thicknesses from 5/16 inch to 8 inches. Thinner or thicker material is outside the standard procedure. See Clause 8, Part F.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part F, ultrasonic testing of groove welds (scope)

Question 10

During D1.1:2020 UT of a groove weld, the indication level is 48 dB, the reference level is 50 dB and the sound path to the indication is 2.5 in. What is the indication rating?
  1. -7 dB
  2. -5 dB
  3. -2 dB
  4. +1 dB
Show answer

Answer: B. -5 dB

The rating is d = a - b - c. The attenuation factor c is 2 dB per inch of sound path beyond the first inch: 2 x (2.5 - 1) = 3 dB. So d = 48 - 50 - 3 = -5 dB. See the Clause 8, Part F provisions on indication rating.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part F, UT calibration and indication rating

Question 11

During RT of a plate butt weld to AWS D1.1:2020, where are the IQIs normally placed?
  1. On the film side of the joint
  2. Inside the film cassette
  3. On the source side of the joint
  4. On the weld centerline, film side
Show answer

Answer: C. On the source side of the joint

IQIs are normally placed on the source side, where they show sensitivity under the least favorable conditions. Film-side placement is an exception for cases where the source side cannot be reached. See Clause 8, Part E.

Source: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, Clause 8 (Clause 6 in D1.1:2015), Part E, radiographic testing, IQI selection and placement

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