SGS Conducts Welding Inspection for China Pavilion at World Expo 2010
Posted: 2010-2-26
SGS Industrial Services was awarded the contract to provide independent welding inspection for the China Pavilion in Shanghai which is manufactured from 23,000 tons of steel. The construction of the China Pavilion was one of the most significant parts of the World Expo 2010 preparation project and the iconic structure will be at the center of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.
The World Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010, with the theme "Better City - Better Life" signifying Shanghai's new status as a major economic and cultural center. With 70 million visitors expected from all over the world it will be one of the largest expositions in the history of world fairs.
The construction of the China Pavilion "The Crown of the East" was one of the most significant parts of the World Expo 2010 preparation project as this iconic structure will be at the heart of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. The national pavilion is in the shape of an oriental crown, demonstrating the spirit of traditional Chinese culture. This 69 meter tall building consists of a 30-meter high roof which is made of traditional wooden brackets symbolizing the nation's 56 minority ethnic groups and a large steel structure requiring 23,000 tons of steel.
Given the high number of expected visitors, the safety checks on the construction of the Pavilion's steel structure were of paramount importance as the smallest discontinuities and failures in the welds could cause bad accidents. For this reason, SGS China was awarded the contract to provide independent technical inspection of the welds. The main target of SGS' third party inspection was to verify that the welds conform to all the applicable quality standards.
SGS China set up an inspection team of eight highly experienced, skilled and well-qualified experts responsible for identifying, analyzing and eliminating failed welds. Moreover, the SGS engineers ensured that the welds met defined quality standards. For the technical inspection work, the team of SGS experts conducted Ultrasonic Testing and Magnetic Particle Testing.
Ultrasonic Testing and Magnetic Particle Testing are Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods for the detection of discontinuities and corrosion in material. Conventional Ultrasonic Testing uses the principle of sending a pulsed beam of high-ultrasound from a handheld transducer, which is placed upon the surface of the weld being tested. This wave will be partially returned from spots with internal imperfections. By measuring this sound, a skilled engineer can identify the location and size of the discontinuity. For Magnetic Particle Testing a magnetic flux is sent through the ferrous material. At the location of the imperfection a leakage field is created. This attracts metal iron dust, which is sprayed onto the surface.
SGS's inspection work took seven months and was completed in January 2009. The China Pavilion was completed in February 2010 and can now be admired by visitors.
About SGS Industrial Services
SGS Industrial Services is one of the core business lines of the SGS Group, a global service provider for technical verification, inspection, testing and conformity assessment ensuring that a customer's installations, materials, equipment, facilities and projects meet all quality and performance requirements, whether they are regulatory, voluntary or customer based.
The Ultrasonic Testing and Magnetic Particle Testing methods are just two of many Non-Destructive Testing methods offered by SGS Industrial Services. The scope of SGS NDT services covers both conventional and advanced NDT systems, provided to international standards by qualified inspectors.
The World Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010, with the theme "Better City - Better Life" signifying Shanghai's new status as a major economic and cultural center. With 70 million visitors expected from all over the world it will be one of the largest expositions in the history of world fairs.
The construction of the China Pavilion "The Crown of the East" was one of the most significant parts of the World Expo 2010 preparation project as this iconic structure will be at the heart of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. The national pavilion is in the shape of an oriental crown, demonstrating the spirit of traditional Chinese culture. This 69 meter tall building consists of a 30-meter high roof which is made of traditional wooden brackets symbolizing the nation's 56 minority ethnic groups and a large steel structure requiring 23,000 tons of steel.
Given the high number of expected visitors, the safety checks on the construction of the Pavilion's steel structure were of paramount importance as the smallest discontinuities and failures in the welds could cause bad accidents. For this reason, SGS China was awarded the contract to provide independent technical inspection of the welds. The main target of SGS' third party inspection was to verify that the welds conform to all the applicable quality standards.
SGS China set up an inspection team of eight highly experienced, skilled and well-qualified experts responsible for identifying, analyzing and eliminating failed welds. Moreover, the SGS engineers ensured that the welds met defined quality standards. For the technical inspection work, the team of SGS experts conducted Ultrasonic Testing and Magnetic Particle Testing.
Ultrasonic Testing and Magnetic Particle Testing are Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods for the detection of discontinuities and corrosion in material. Conventional Ultrasonic Testing uses the principle of sending a pulsed beam of high-ultrasound from a handheld transducer, which is placed upon the surface of the weld being tested. This wave will be partially returned from spots with internal imperfections. By measuring this sound, a skilled engineer can identify the location and size of the discontinuity. For Magnetic Particle Testing a magnetic flux is sent through the ferrous material. At the location of the imperfection a leakage field is created. This attracts metal iron dust, which is sprayed onto the surface.
SGS's inspection work took seven months and was completed in January 2009. The China Pavilion was completed in February 2010 and can now be admired by visitors.
About SGS Industrial Services
SGS Industrial Services is one of the core business lines of the SGS Group, a global service provider for technical verification, inspection, testing and conformity assessment ensuring that a customer's installations, materials, equipment, facilities and projects meet all quality and performance requirements, whether they are regulatory, voluntary or customer based.
The Ultrasonic Testing and Magnetic Particle Testing methods are just two of many Non-Destructive Testing methods offered by SGS Industrial Services. The scope of SGS NDT services covers both conventional and advanced NDT systems, provided to international standards by qualified inspectors.
