What arrangement is allowed in place of welding for studs removed when the depth of the discontinuity is less than 3 mm or 7% of the thickness of the material?

• A. The area may be ground flush.
• B. Weld a patch over the area.
• C. Drill and fill with epoxy.
• D. Leave as is.

Answer: (D)

When a stud is removed, the resulting surface defect can be left unrepaired if its depth is within the specified limit (less than 3 mm or 7% of the material thickness). This recognizes that such a shallow discontinuity doesn’t meaningfully reduce the joint’s strength or alter the load path, so repairing it would add unnecessary work and potential new risks without improving structural performance.

Grinding the area would remove material and change the geometry, which isn’t needed and could weaken or complicate the joint. Patch welding or epoxy filling would create a repair that may introduce compatibility and durability concerns and isn’t required for these small flaws. Leaving the area as is is the simplest, code-supported option within those limits.