PRACTICE EXAM AWS CERTIFIED
WELDER BRIDGE WELDING (D1.5)
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The primary purpose of preheat in welding is to
A. Improve weld appearance
B. Reduce cooling rate and minimize cracking
C. Increase welding speed
D. Clean the base metal
Preheating slows cooling to reduce hardening and cracking.
2. The AWS D1.5 code applies primarily to
A. Shipbuilding
B. Bridge welding
C. Aerospace structures
D. Automotive bodywork
D1.5 specifically governs bridge welding requirements.
3. The term “base metal” refers to
A. Filler wire only
B. The metal being welded
C. Rust or scale
D. Coating materials
Base metal is the parent material to be welded.
,4. A fillet weld joint is typically used for
A. Butt joints
B. Edge joints
C. T-joints and lap joints
D. Groove welds only
Fillet welds are common in T and lap configurations.
5. The minimum preheat temperature for A36 steel thicker than 3⁄4 in (19 mm)
is usually
A. 50°F
B. 100°F
C. 150°F
D. 250°F
D1.5 sets preheat based on thickness and steel type.
6. Hydrogen cracking is mainly caused by
A. Excessive heat input
B. Hydrogen in the weld area
C. Low welding current
D. Inadequate shielding
Hydrogen embrittlement leads to cold cracking.
7. The welding process commonly used in structural bridge welding for heavy
sections is
A. TIG
B. SMAW
C. FCAW
D. Plasma arc
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is widely used on bridges.
8. Welding electrode classification “E7018” indicates
A. Low strength
B. 70 ksi tensile strength, low hydrogen
C. 18% chromium
, D. Electrodes for aluminum
E7018 is a low-hydrogen electrode with ~70 ksi strength.
9. The purpose of postheat (interpass temperature control) is to
A. Allow faster cooling
B. Prevent slag removal
C. Increase weld bead size
D. Reduce risk of cracking between passes
Maintaining interpass temperature reduces hardness buildup.
10. Which of the following is essential for quality welds on weathered steel?
A. Painting before welding
B. Proper cleaning to remove rust and contaminants
C. Welding at extreme heat
D. Electroplating
Contaminants must be removed for sound weld metal fusion.
11. In D1.5, qualification test specimens for welders are normally
A. Circular coupons
B. Only fillet samples
C. Groove and fillet samples
D. Sandblasted coupons
Qualification involves both groove and fillet welds.
12. A weld defect characterized by separation at the toe of a weld is
A. Porosity
B. Undercut
C. Overlap
D. Lack of fusion
Lack of fusion is incomplete joining at the weld toe.
13. Back gouging is performed to
A. Add filler metal
B. Remove defective weld before re-welding
C. Increase joint strength
WELDER BRIDGE WELDING (D1.5)
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The primary purpose of preheat in welding is to
A. Improve weld appearance
B. Reduce cooling rate and minimize cracking
C. Increase welding speed
D. Clean the base metal
Preheating slows cooling to reduce hardening and cracking.
2. The AWS D1.5 code applies primarily to
A. Shipbuilding
B. Bridge welding
C. Aerospace structures
D. Automotive bodywork
D1.5 specifically governs bridge welding requirements.
3. The term “base metal” refers to
A. Filler wire only
B. The metal being welded
C. Rust or scale
D. Coating materials
Base metal is the parent material to be welded.
,4. A fillet weld joint is typically used for
A. Butt joints
B. Edge joints
C. T-joints and lap joints
D. Groove welds only
Fillet welds are common in T and lap configurations.
5. The minimum preheat temperature for A36 steel thicker than 3⁄4 in (19 mm)
is usually
A. 50°F
B. 100°F
C. 150°F
D. 250°F
D1.5 sets preheat based on thickness and steel type.
6. Hydrogen cracking is mainly caused by
A. Excessive heat input
B. Hydrogen in the weld area
C. Low welding current
D. Inadequate shielding
Hydrogen embrittlement leads to cold cracking.
7. The welding process commonly used in structural bridge welding for heavy
sections is
A. TIG
B. SMAW
C. FCAW
D. Plasma arc
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is widely used on bridges.
8. Welding electrode classification “E7018” indicates
A. Low strength
B. 70 ksi tensile strength, low hydrogen
C. 18% chromium
, D. Electrodes for aluminum
E7018 is a low-hydrogen electrode with ~70 ksi strength.
9. The purpose of postheat (interpass temperature control) is to
A. Allow faster cooling
B. Prevent slag removal
C. Increase weld bead size
D. Reduce risk of cracking between passes
Maintaining interpass temperature reduces hardness buildup.
10. Which of the following is essential for quality welds on weathered steel?
A. Painting before welding
B. Proper cleaning to remove rust and contaminants
C. Welding at extreme heat
D. Electroplating
Contaminants must be removed for sound weld metal fusion.
11. In D1.5, qualification test specimens for welders are normally
A. Circular coupons
B. Only fillet samples
C. Groove and fillet samples
D. Sandblasted coupons
Qualification involves both groove and fillet welds.
12. A weld defect characterized by separation at the toe of a weld is
A. Porosity
B. Undercut
C. Overlap
D. Lack of fusion
Lack of fusion is incomplete joining at the weld toe.
13. Back gouging is performed to
A. Add filler metal
B. Remove defective weld before re-welding
C. Increase joint strength
