Exponent provides the highest quality technical consulting services to assist our clients in the areas of welding engineering, including weld related failure analysis, weld defect prevention, code compliance, etc. We specialize in providing solutions to issues related to welding and joining metallurgy/materials, welding processes, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for welding, quality control and welding safety.
Welding engineering is a complex field requiring knowledge in many engineering and scientific disciplines, including materials/metallurgy, chemistry, physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, safety engineering, and others. Exponent’s staff has many years of experience in industry, research and consulting across the broad range of welding related disciplines. We have licensed engineers (PE Welding Engineering), certified welding inspectors (CWI), and licensed NDE technicians to assist clients with their welding needs.
Welding and joining technologies are pervasive in nearly all modern industries. Welding engineering is required for a broad range of products, including structures such as bridges, buildings and cranes, boilers, chemical processing equipment, storage vessels, transmission and distribution piping, pressure vessels and heat exchangers, transportation vehicles for land, air, water and space travel, and many other types of production and processing equipment. Exponent provides welding expertise to a wide range of industries, including heavy equipment manufacturing, automotive, aircraft/aerospace, defense applications, heat exchangers, food processing, building fabrication, petrochemical/pipelines, ships and offshore structures, construction, pharmaceutical and medical devices, power generation, and electronics.
Materials/Metallurgy
Exponent provides technical support to solving joining problems with many materials, including metals, plastics, ceramics and composites. Our trained welding metallurgists can identify failure modes in many different engineering alloys, and are familiar with the potential defects and mediation techniques for these alloys. We specialize in identifying and preventing cracking and corrosion mechanisms in welded structures.
Our engineers and scientists use a wide range of macroscopic and microscopic analysis techniques, including photographic documentation, optical and scanning electron microscopy, fracture surface evaluation and others to determine failure modes and locations on welded structures. We can also assist where mechanical testing of materials is required for evaluation or specification and code compliance.
Welding Processes
Exponent engineers have experience with a wide variety of welding and allied processes. We can assist you with problems related to the arc welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, etc.), resistance welding processes, friction welding processes, high energy density processes such as laser and electron beam welding, microjoining, brazing, soldering, cutting processes, etc.
Nondestructive Inspection Methods (NDE)
Exponent can assist with the evaluation of nondestructive inspection methods for welded applications. Defects that can lead or have led to failures are often detectable with various NDE methods. Members of our staff are certified by the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) in radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, liquid penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, and visual examination.
Quality Control
Quality control is critical in the production of welded components. Serious failures can result if proper quality procedures are neglected. Exponent can assist through weld inspection by our certified welding inspectors, evaluation of contract documents including specification and code compliance, and evaluation of welding procedures and practices. Weld problems, including defects, are often detected, prevented or eliminated through proper quality procedures.
Welding Safety
Exponent provides expertise in many areas related to welding safety. For example, our health scientists have evaluated the health effects of welding fume on workers, and engineers have consulted in on issues related to potential and actual fires and explosions related to welding activities. Welding safety also includes addressing physical, electrical, radiation, pressure, and other hazards in the welding environment.