Question 417General Subjects - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is D) Heating and cooling of steel plating to remove distortions. Line heating is a process used in shipbuilding and steel construction to heat and cool specific areas of steel plates to remove distortions and maintain proper alignment. By carefully controlling the heating and cooling of the steel, the internal stresses can be managed, preventing the steel from warping or becoming misshapen. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the purpose of line heating. Option A refers to pre-heating the edges of steel plates prior to welding, which is a separate process. Option B describes re-heating welds to eliminate stresses, which is not the primary purpose of line heating. Option C refers to pre-stressing the plates, which is not the same as the controlled heating and cooling of line heating.