ISO 5173-2023 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 5173:2023 — Destructive tests on welds in metallic materials — Bend tests. This International Standard specifies methods for making transverse (root, face and side) bend tests and, where appropriate, longitudinal bend tests or alternative procedures for heterogeneous assemblies; it also gives specimen dimensions and application guidance for welded joints and cladding in metallic materials.

Abstract

This document specifies a method for making transverse root, face and side bend tests on test specimens taken from butt welds, butt welds with cladding (including welds in clad plates and clad welds) and cladding without butt welds to reveal surface or near‑surface imperfections under tension and/or to assess ductility. It also specifies alternative methods to be used instead of transverse bend tests with a former when base material, HAZ and/or weld metal differ significantly in their bending properties. The standard applies to metallic materials in all product forms with welded joints made by any welding process.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: January 2023 (published 2023-01).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 25.160.40 (Welded joints and welds).
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (2023).
• Number of pages: 24 pages (ISO publication page).

Scope

ISO 5173:2023 covers the preparation and performance of bend tests on specimens taken from welded joints (butt welds, butt welds with cladding and cladding without butt welds) to detect imperfections on or near the tensile surface during bending and/or to evaluate ductility. It includes transverse root, face and side bend tests, gives specimen dimensions, and identifies when longitudinal or alternative bend-test procedures should be used for heterogeneous assemblies (where base material, HAZ or weld metal differ significantly in bending behaviour). The standard is applicable to all metallic materials and to welded joints made by any welding process.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and purpose of bend tests (transverse root, face, side; and longitudinal where appropriate) to reveal surface/near‑surface imperfections and assess ductility.
• Specified specimen extraction locations, marking, preparation, and dimensional requirements for each test type.
• Procedures for testing cladding, clad plates and welds in heterogeneous assemblies, including alternatives to former-based transverse tests when materials differ in bending properties.
• Acceptance/interpretation principles (visual examination of fracture surfaces and identification of imperfections revealed by bending).
• Applicability to welded joints from any welding process and to metallic products in all forms.

Typical use and users

Used by welding engineers, fabrication and inspection teams, materials testing laboratories, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) personnel, welding procedure and welder qualification authorities, and organizations performing failure analysis or R&D on welded structures. It is used where destructive verification of weld integrity or ductility is required either for production control, qualification or investigation.

Related standards

Standards commonly used alongside ISO 5173:2023 include: ISO 5817 (quality levels for imperfections in fusion‑welded joints), ISO 6520‑1 (classification of geometric imperfections in fusion welding), ISO 17637 (visual testing of fusion‑welded joints), and ISO 17639 (macroscopic and microscopic examination of welds). These documents cover complementary inspection methods, defect classification and acceptance criteria used together with bend testing in weld assessment programs.

Keywords

bend test, weld testing, destructive test, butt weld, cladding, transverse bend, longitudinal bend, specimen dimensions, weld inspection, ductility, weld imperfection, ISO 5173:2023.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5173:2023 is an International Standard that specifies methods for performing bend (destructive) tests on specimens taken from welded joints and cladding in metallic materials to reveal surface/near‑surface imperfections and assess ductility.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers transverse root, face and side bend tests (and where appropriate, longitudinal or alternative methods) including specimen dimensions, extraction and preparation, test procedure and interpretation, and special provisions for heterogeneous assemblies and cladding. It applies to metallic materials in all forms and to welds made by any welding process.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Welding engineers, NDT/destructive testing laboratories, fabrication QA/QC teams, welding procedure and welder qualification authorities, inspectors and researchers who need a standardized destructive method to evaluate weld integrity and ductility.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 5173:2023 is the current published edition (Edition 4) released in January 2023; it revises and replaces the earlier 2009 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 5173 sits within the family of weld inspection and destructive test standards (for example ISO 17639 for macro/micro examination and ISO 17637 for visual testing) and is one component of comprehensive weld evaluation and qualification practice.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Bend test, destructive test, weld inspection, butt weld, cladding, transverse bend, longitudinal bend, specimen preparation, ductility, weld defect detection (keywords reflect the standard’s focus).