Trial Seams

Overview

Trial seams (also called trial welds or qualification welds) are required before production welding begins each day, and whenever welding conditions change significantly. Most specifications require a minimum of two trial welds per day per welder — one at the start of the day and one after lunch.

Creating a trial weld entry

1. Date and time — Automatically set to current; can be adjusted.
2. Welding machine — Select from equipment inventory.
3. Operator — The welder performing the trial.
4. Machine settings — Temperature, speed, and pressure used during the trial.
5. Ambient conditions — Temperature, wind, humidity at the time of the trial.

Recording test samples

Each trial weld produces test coupons that are tested in the field:

• Peel test samples — Record the peel strength value and whether the sample passed or failed.
• Shear test samples — Record the shear strength value and pass/fail status.

GeoQC calculates pass/fail automatically based on the material specification and thickness. You enter the test values; GeoQC determines the result.

Trial weld compliance

GeoQC tracks trial weld compliance across your project. From the trial weld summary, you can quickly see:

• Which welders have completed their required trials today
• Any failed trials and their resolution
• Historical trial weld records by welder and machine

Relationship to production seams

Trial weld records establish that the welder and machine were qualified for that day's production welding. Auditors review trial weld records alongside seam logs to verify continuous qualification.