Back gouging is categorized in a WPS as which item?

• A. Welding pass
• B. Base metal
• C. Welding variable
• D. Inspection method

Answer: (C)

Back gouging is a welding operation that modifies how the weld root is prepared by removing weld metal from the backside to ensure proper root fusion and meet acceptance criteria. In a Welding Procedure Specification, activities that control how welding is performed or affect the weld quality are categorized as welding variables. Since back gouging directly changes the welding process setup and the resulting weld geometry (root condition, penetration, and fusion), it fits as a welding variable rather than as a weld pass, base metal, or an inspection method. It isn’t the material being welded (base metal), nor a method of inspecting the weld, and it isn’t a type of weld pass itself.