In-service inspection revealed atmospheric stress corrosion cracking (ASCC), on 304L stainless steel piping. The method requiring inspection qualification was a surface method, namely Penetrant Testing as physical dimensions of the smallest flaw requiring detection by PT was ill defined for both pitting and cracking defects. Qualification was considered in terms of flaw volume together with absolute flaw linear dimensions. Inspection qualification would therefore determine the adequacy of the applied technique by both physical reasoning and by empirical measurement to determine the largest flaw that could escape detection.

The shear behaviour of both conventional end plate connections and clipped end plate connections, in which the upper corner of the end plate was removed, was examined in a laboratory investigation of 29 full-scale test specimens. The study included connections of varying geometry, bolt diameter, and end plate depth. The majority of the connections failed in one of two modes: a failure of the bolt group component or a web-tear failure. For connections failing through the bolt group, the ratio of the shear capacity of the clipped connection to that of the conventional connection is the ratio of the number of bolts in the clipped and conventional connections. Even when failure is not through the bolt group, the shear capacity of an end plate connection is reduced when the upper corner of the end plate is clipped. The experimentally determined shear capacities are compared with the calculated resistances determined using the resistance equations in CAN3-S16.1 in conjunction with the assumptions of load transfer mechanisms and stress distributions embodied in the design aid for end plate connections in the Handbook of Steel Construction. Key words: beams, connections, bolts, end plates, shear strength.

Cast, coarse-grained Al-Sc alloys are interesting candidates for high temperature, creepresistant applications due to the formation of a high number density of nanometer sized Al 3 Sc precipitates [1]. Upon addition of Yb to Al-Sc alloys, Yb replaces the Sc forming Al 3 (Sc 1-x Yb x) precipitates (L1 2 structure) [2]. The resulting alloys have higher creep resistance due to the larger lattice parameter mismatch between the matrix and precipitate phases as a result of the substitution of Yb for Sc. The precipitates in Al-Sc-Yb alloys form rapidly at 300˚C and the coarsening kinetics are not slowed when compared with binary Al-Sc alloys [3]. Additions of Zr to Al-Sc alloys do, however, retard the coarsening kinetics of the Al 3 (Sc 1-x Zr x) precipitates [4]. In the present study, Zr is added to an Al-Sc-Yb alloy. The compositions of the alloys studied are Al-0.06Sc-0.02Yb-0.02Zr (at.%) and Al-0.06Sc-0.02Yb-0.005Zr (at.%).