Cracks are allowed in the destructive test only if which condition is met?

• A. They are completely absent
• B. They are limited to the root
• C. They occur only on the face of the bend
• D. They show no visible defects and the pieces do not completely separate

Answer: (D)

In destructive weld testing, the goal is to push the weld to its limits and still determine whether it can perform under service loads. Cracks formed during the test aren’t acceptable by themselves, but they’re allowed only if they don’t show up as visible defects and the pieces remain connected. That means the joint can tolerate the test stresses without exposing a flaw that would compromise overall integrity.

If cracks become visible or if the test specimen separates completely, that indicates the weld isn’t meeting the required quality and strength, so it would fail the acceptance criteria. The other possibilities—cracks limited to the root or on the bend face—would typically imply a defect or a localized failure that would not meet the standard for passing the test.