Guided bend test
The bend test is a bending test where welded specimens are bent around a mandrel. It checks deformability and the presence of cracks in the weld metal or heat-affected zone.
Physical-Chemical Mechanism of Action
In the bend test, a welded test piece is bent around a fixed mandrel. This process checks the mechanical strength and deformability of the material under stress.
Metallurgical Relevance & Risks in Welding
A faulty bend test can lead to cracks or splits in the weld metal. This indicates that the material is not sufficiently strong or homogeneous. Excessive stress during bending can also cause local deformation and hardness variations in the material.
Workshop Practice & Instructions
For the bend test, a defined test piece is used, which is bent around a mandrel with a fixed radius. The stress must be controlled and not too high to avoid cracks or distortion. A typical bending angle is 90 degrees. It is important that the mandrel is made of a stable material to ensure even stress on the test piece.