A Visual Inspection Method of SMAW Using Image Processing Technique Based on YOLO Framework

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Abstract:

Welding is a crucial assembly or joining stage in manufacturing processes. The welding process often faces issues related to welding defects due to its complexity, which is associated with welding parameters, the type and properties of materials, and the technology used. Additionally, it also relates to a significant number of welding points. Therefore, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods have become the primary choice for evaluating welding quality without damaging the workpiece. With the advancement of technology, NDT testing has undergone significant changes, including the adoption of computer vision and machine learning technologies that enable automated inspection. This research aims to propose a semi-automated inspection system for welding quality using the YOLOv5 network architecture regarding with defects detection. The detection process involves various combinations of YOLO models (small and medium) with a training dataset of 2050 images and different training epochs (50 and 100). The model's performance is then tested using test data to evaluate its real-world performance. The detection results are also manually verified through one-to-one comparisons, revealing that 16 out of the total 21 predictions are correct. This success is used to measure the accuracy of the YOLOv5 detection system, which shows a detection accuracy rate of 76.2%. Meanwhile, the estimation accuracy results in a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) value of 16.798%.

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Engineering Headway (Volume 38)

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151-160

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June 2026

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© 2026 Trans Tech Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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