Final answer:
In a typical weld joint, three distinct zones include the heat-affected zone, the fusion zone, and the parent material. These zones are crucial for understanding the properties and behavior of a welded structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a typical weld joint, three distinct zones can be identified. These are:
- Heat-affected zone (HAZ): This area undergoes a thermal cycle but doesn't melt. It is located adjacent to the weld bead and exhibits changes in microstructure due to the heat input during welding.
- Fusion zone (FZ): Also known as the weld metal, it's the region that melts during welding and solidifies to form the joint.
- Parent material: This is the original material or the base metal that is being welded. It is unaffected by the welding process except in the heat-affected zone.
The correct answer for the question about the zones in a weld joint is option (a). Other options like brittle zone, corrosion zone, and ductile zone; hardened zone, annealed zone, and tempered zone; compressive zone, tensile zone, and shear zone are not typically used to describe zones within a weld joint.