BTEC Level 3 Unit 13 Welding Technology Assignment Brief 2026 | Pearson

Unit 13 BTEC Assignment Brief

Qualification
Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualification in Engineering

Unit Number and Title
Unit 13: Welding Technology

Learning Outcome(s)
A: Examine common welding processes used to produce welded joints safely for different applications

B: Examine weldable materials and their behaviours during welding

Assignment Title
Selection of Welding Processes and Material Properties

Assessor
—

Issue Date
4/1/2026

Submission Deadline
7/1/2026

Vocational Scenario or Context

You are a final-year trainee in an engineering organisation specialising in fabrication activities. Your supervisor continues to monitor your progress and has been impressed with your knowledge and theoretical understanding of welding techniques used in the fabrication workshop, and your ability to select suitable welding processes for different applications. Based on this, you have been asked to prepare a written report in which you select suitable welding processes for specific groups of operations carried out by the company, justify these selections with technical reasons, and analyse how materials react during welding processes and how this affects the quality of welded joints.

Task 1

You will select the most appropriate welding processes for the specified applications, including welding parameters, giving reasons for your selections, and you must also explain how the processes are carried out safely.

To do this

Your teacher will provide either physical examples or case studies for two components and two manufactured products. You will also be given information about the performance requirements of the product/component.

You must

• Research suitable welding processes that can be used in manufacturing the two products/components. For each process, you should consider equipment requirements, typical applications, joint preparations, welding parameters, possible problems to be overcome, potential hazards, and safe handling and working methods.

You are also required to

• Research welding terminology, including terms used for equipment and processes
• Research the properties and operating principles of shielding gases used in a range of gas-shielded welding activities
• Investigate the components of a welding power source, including current equipment for direct current and alternating current

You must then

Prepare a report that explores the two most suitable welding processes for the specified applications and which:

(a) identifies reasons for the most suitable process for the specified application;

(b) identifies reasons for the correct welding parameters and settings; and

(c) explains the equipment, terminology, and safe working practices that apply to each process.

Your report must include

• Information about the two selected welding processes, where a range of factors must be considered when identifying reasons for selection. This may include: different types of materials the process is suitable for; shielding gases that may be required; common uses of the specific welding process.
• Information about the shielding gas or flux selected for use in each process, and you should give reasons for this selection.
• Specific welding parameters and settings that you use. This must include information about the power source and the operating characteristics of the selected power source, and you should give reasons for your selections.
• Information about the equipment you will use, including the correct use of welding terminology. You must explain how safe working practices are achieved for both processes and consider the differences between the selected processes, including differences in safe working practices.

General Note for Assessors

Where possible, the assessor should present different learners with different case studies/products to work from.

Evidence Checklist Required

A report is required that investigates the suitability of welding processes for at least two different applications. The report will also cover safe working practices and the required equipment.

Criteria Covered by This Task

Unit Reference / Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:

13/A.D1
Justify the selection of welding processes, parameters, and settings for two specific welding applications, using technically correct language, with explanation of the equipment, terminology, and applied safe working practices.

13/A.M1
Analyse the selection of welding processes, parameters, and settings for two specific welding applications, with explanation of the equipment, terminology, and applied safe working practices.

13/A.P1
Explain the selection of welding processes, parameters, and settings for two specific welding applications, with explanation of the equipment, terminology, and applied safe working practices.

Task 2

You will carry out an evaluation of how the structure and properties of alloyed and unalloyed steel and non-ferrous metals change when welding processes are carried out on them.

To do this

• Your teacher will provide examples of alloyed and unalloyed steel and non-ferrous metals to investigate.

You must

• Research the properties of metallic materials, including the mechanical properties of metals and the effects of loading conditions on the properties of metallic materials.
• Research how metallic structures behave under load, including deformation, stress (including from internal forces and moments), and the relationship between stress and strain.

You must also

• Research how structural steel behaves during fusion welding and welding processes, and the applicable types of welding consumables for alloy steels and non-ferrous metals, including nickel and nickel alloys, aluminium and aluminium alloys, titanium, and other metals and alloys.
• Research defects that occur in welded materials, including cracking phenomena in welded joints, fractures, and types of corrosion. You should also investigate the reasons for post-weld heat treatment and methods of carrying it out.

You must then

Prepare a report that evaluates the effects of welding processes on a range of metallic materials with reference to:
(a) properties and behaviours of metallic materials in different conditions;

(b) welding defects and imperfections; and

(c) the effects of forces and loading on welded joints.

Your report must include

• Information about the properties and behaviours of alloyed and unalloyed steels and non-ferrous materials. You should consider changes in properties, the effects of heat input and cooling rates, the effect of weld protection, and the effect of the type of consumables used. You must include information about changes in the microstructure of the material and details of the heat-affected zone (HAZ).
• Information about welding defects and imperfections and the methods by which they can be detected. You should consider a range of defects such as cracks, fractures, and corrosion, including how they occur and their causes. You must also consider methods of reducing or eliminating cracks and fractures. In addition, you should investigate the use of heat treatment during welding processes and the use of destructive and non-destructive testing on materials and welds.
• Information about the effects of forces and loads on welded joints.

Evidence Checklist Required

• A written report on the properties and structures of alloyed and unalloyed steel and non-ferrous materials is required, identifying how defects are prevented and the tests applied to detect defects.

Criteria Covered by This Task

Unit Reference / Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:

13/B.D2

Evaluate the structure, mechanical properties, and defects of alloyed and unalloyed steels and non-ferrous materials used in welding processes, including the effects of imperfections, forces, and loading on joints.

13/B.M2

Analyse the structure, mechanical properties, and defects of alloyed and unalloyed steels and non-ferrous materials used in welding processes, including the effects of imperfections, forces, and loading on joints.

13/B.P2

Explain the structure and mechanical properties of alloyed and unalloyed steels and non-ferrous materials used in the welding process.

13/B.P3

Explain the effects of forces and loading on welded joints.

13/B.P4

Explain the defects and imperfections that occur in alloyed and unalloyed steels and non-ferrous materials used in the welding process.

Information Sources to Support This Assignment

• Books
• Davies A; Science and Practice of Welding, Volume 1; Cambridge University Press, 1993; ISBN 9780521435659
  Davies A; Science and Practice of Welding, Volume 2; Cambridge University Press, 1993; ISBN 9780521435659
  Smith B; Welding Practice; Routledge, 2014; ISBN 9781317761365
  Timmings R; Fabrication and Welding Engineering; Newnes, 2008; ISBN 9780750666916
  Raj B, Shankar V and Bhaduri; A Welding Technology for Engineers; Alpha Science International Ltd, 2005; ISBN 9781842651940
  Weman K; Welding Processes Handbook, 2012; ISBN 9780857095107
• Websites
• me-mechanicalengineering.com/guidelines-for-welding-process-selection/
  mechengg.net/2015/03/selection-of-welding-processes-and.html
  Resources can be found at: qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/published-resources.html#step1
• Other Assessment Materials Attached to This Assignment Brief
• A case study including drawings and information about manufactured products
• Examples of metallic materials to be used for investigation

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