Visual Inspection (VT) focuses on which aspects of a weld?

• A. Weld geometry, surface finish, alignment, and obvious surface defects
• B. Internal porosity and bonding strength
• C. Color of the weld heat tint only
• D. Coating thickness after welding

Answer: (A)

Visual inspection is about what you can observe directly on the weld with the naked eye or basic tools. The focus is on the weld’s geometry and contour, the surface finish, how well the pieces are aligned, and any obvious surface defects. You’re looking for things like the bead shape, proper reinforcement, consistent contour across the joint, and visible issues such as cracks, undercut, overlap, burn-through, or pits on the surface. These visible characteristics reflect workmanship and indicate potential problems that VT can catch.

Internal porosity and bonding strength lie beyond what you can see on the surface, so they require other non-destructive or mechanical tests to assess. The color of heat tint can give a rough sense of heat input but isn’t the sole or primary measure of weld quality. Coating thickness after welding is a separate attribute to verify later and isn’t the main focus of visual inspection of the weld itself.