1 AS 2205.6.

1—2003
TM
Australian Standard
AS 2205.6.1

Methods for destructive testing of welds in metal

Method 6.1: Weld joint hardness test

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee WD-006, Testing of
Welds to supersede AS 2205.6.1—1997.
The objective of this edition is to update the Standard and include editorial changes in
accordance with current Standards Australia editorial policy.
The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and
guidance.

METHOD

1 SCOPE
This Standard sets out a method for hardness testing of a welded joint. The test measures
the hardness of the weld metal, the heat affected zone (HAZ) and the parent metal on
prescribed traverses located in the regions of expected maximum and minimum hardness.

2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
The following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1817 Metallic materials—Vickers hardness test—Test methods (ISO 6507-1:1997, MOD)
2205 Methods for destructive testing of welds in metal
2205.1.1 Method 5.1: Macro metallographic test for cross-section examination

3 PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMEN

The test specimen shall be prepared in accordance with AS 2205.1 and the following:
(a) The test specimen shall be cut from the weld zone as specified by the relevant
application Standard. The regions in which hardness tests are to be made shall be at
least 25 mm from the line of any flame cut.
NOTE: The dimension indicated in Figure 1 is usually adequate.
(b) The surface finish of the test specimen shall be as described in an Appendix of
AS 2205.5.1, except that polishing shall be continued at least to the stage where
P1200 abrasive quality finish has been achieved.
(c) Light etching should be carried out to define the weld zone and to allow hardness
indentations to be properly positioned. Information about suitable etchants is given in
AS 2205.5.1.

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AS 2205.6.1—2003 2

4 PROCEDURE
The procedure shall be as follows:
(a) The hardness shall be measured by means of the Vickers hardness test. The
equipment used and the method of test shall comply with AS 1817, except that the
spacing of the indentations shall comply with Item (d) below. The test surface of the
test specimen shall be normal to the axis of the indentor.
(b) No significant difference has been found in the hardness figures obtained when using
this spacing, compared with the spacing given in AS 1817.
(c) The test should be conducted using a nominal force of 49 N (HV 5).
(d) Where the maximum hardness exceeds 350 HV, the traverse should be repeated using
a nominal force of 98 N (HV 10). In such a case, all further traverses on the test
specimen shall be conducted at the same level of force.
(e) The minimum number and location of hardness test traverses shall be as shown in
Figure 2 for the weld types and thickness shown. For other weld configurations, the
following principles underlying the traverse positions in Figure 2 shall be used:
(i) The traverses shall be located so that they approximately intersect regions of
minimum and maximum hardness.
(ii) Hardness traverses shall be made through all weld toes and the weld root.
(iii) The traverses near the surface shall be parallel to and 2 mm below the plate
surface.
The traverses shall include weld metal, heat-affected zone and parent metal, with a
minimum of two indentations located within the weld metal. The traverses shall
extend outwards from the weld to the point where at least two consecutive
indentations give hardness values within ±5 HV of the unaffected parent metal.
NOTES:
1 Parent metal hardness should be determined prior to testing the traverses at points located
at similar position through the material thickness. A minimum of three indentations
should be made.
2 Significant hardness effect may occur outside the visible heat-affected zones (e.g. in
softening, in quenched and tempered steel, in certain aluminium alloys). Care should
therefore be taken when testing, to ensure that such regions have been traversed.
(f) The distance between centres of adjacent HV 5 or HV 10 indentations shall be
0.5 ±0.025 mm. Spacing should be maintained by appropriate use of the measuring
microscope or with a cross-slide table.
NOTE: See Appendix A for a method of spacing hardness indentations using a Vickers hardness
testing machine fitted with a 2/3 objective.

5 REPORT
The test results shall be reported as follows:
(a) Identification of this and any relevant application Standards (i.e., ‘AS 2205.6.1, Weld
joint hardness test and ............’).
(b) Identification of test specimens by any markings (e.g., ‘Specimen A)’.
(c) Type of test specimen (e.g., as illustrated in Figure 1).
(d) Type of material and, if known, Standard number and grade.
(e) Any special features of the test specimen before testing (e.g., any visible
imperfection).

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 3 AS 2205.6.1—2003

(f) Diagram showing location of traverses.

(g) The hardness of each indentation in each traverse, with appropriate symbols (i.e.,
HV 5 or HV 10) plus indication of the fusion and visible HAZ boundary locations.

NOTE: This Figure is merely schematic. The test may be applied to other weld configurations.

FIGURE 1 TEST SPECIMEN FOR WELD ZONE HARDNESS TEST

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AS 2205.6.1—2003 4

DIMENSIONS IN MILLIMETRES

FIGURE 2 LOCATION OF HARDNESS TRAVERSES

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 5 AS 2205.6.1—2003

APPENDIX A
RECOMMENDED METHOD OF SPACING HARDNESS INDENTATIONS
(Informative)

A1 SCOPE
This Appendix details the method of spacing hardness indentations when using a Vickers
hardness testing machine fitted with a 2/3 objective.

A2 PROCEDURE
The procedure should be as follows:
(a) Measure the diagonals of the first indentation.
(b) Rotate the microscope knife edges to either of the stop positions and position the
microscope so that the indentation is located in the centre of the field of view (see
Figure A1(a)).
(c) Orient the specimen so that the required traverse line is parallel with the knife edges
in accordance with Figure A1(a).
(d) To obtain a spacing of 0.5 ±0.025 mm between centres of adjacent indentations, move
the specimen in the required traversing direction so that the indentation diagonal
normal to the knife edges aligns with the edge of the microscopic field in accordance
with Figure A1(b).

FIGURE A1 SPACING OF HARDNESS INDENTATIONS

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 6 AS 2205.6.1—2003

NOTES
 7 AS 2205.6.1—2003

NOTES
AS 2205.6.1—2003 8

This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee WD-006, Testing of Welds. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards
Australia on 7 March 2003 and published on 27 March 2003.

The following are represented on Committee WD-006:

Australian Railway Association
AUSTROADS
Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
National Association of Testing Authorities Australia
Welding Technology Institute of Australia

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Originated as AS B301.8—1971.
Previous edition AS 2205.6.1—1997.
Fourth edition 2003.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 02632.

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or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia International Ltd
GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 5129 6 Printed in Australia
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