Torch Heating of Wide Flange Girders

Assembly of long bridge girders often requires heating to be applied to the flanges as they are formed to the web. There may be some curvature in the flange, particularly if they are fabricated from spliced plates, and by applying heat to one side or the other, the flange may be persuaded flush with the web, prior to welding. Heating may be applied by various methods, with torch heating being common. Torch heating is often chosen for its simplicity, but one drawback is the lack of precision in controlling the temperature of the steel. This case study reviews a non-conformance report (NCR) of a fabricator found to have exceeded the specified temperature during torch heating, as well as the steps taken to determine the integrity of the material after the fact.