scope:

The intent of the present study, which has been sponsored by the Welding Research Council, was to evaluate the effect of porosity on the tensile properties of welded joints in two of the aluminum alloys most commonly used in structural applications: 5083 and 6061. Particular attention was devoted to determining the levels of macroporosity (pores larger than 0.01 in.) and microporosity (pores between 0.001 in. and 0.01 in. in diameter) visible on the fracture surfaces of the specimens tested. The levels of porosity incorporated in the welds varied from immeasurably small amounts to amounts greatly in excess of that allowed by most codes or encountered in practice. Other variables considered were: specimen thickness, specimen width, effect of weld reinforcement, base metal-filler metal combination, and method of introducing porosity