USE OF METALLOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS AND STRENGTH TESTING TO IMPROVE ULTRASONIC PHASED‐ARRAY EVALUATION OF RESISTANCE SPOT WELDS

Results are summarized for a series of experiments in which one hundred spot welds were inspected using a high‐frequency phased‐array ultrasonic probe, and then sectioned, polished and etched to reveal the microstructure of the welds. The ultrasonic and metallographic results are analyzed in conjunction with the results of strength tests and the size of the weld buttons obtained from destructive tear‐down of the welded samples.