A "pipe" is a solidification cavity in steel. Where would you most likely find such a defect when visually inspecting a rolled plate?

A solidification cavity, commonly referred to as a "pipe," is a type of defect that occurs during the cooling and solidification of steel. It primarily arises due to the contraction of the molten metal as it cools, often leading to voids or cavities forming within the structure of the material.

When visually inspecting a rolled plate, the most likely location for finding such a defect is in the middle of an end section. This is because solidification defects like pipes tend to form in the center of the molten pool, which is typically where the last material solidifies as it cools down in the casting process. The area near the edges of the plate solidifies earlier and is subject to different cooling rates, making it less likely for solidification cavities to form there compared to the central regions of the end section where the cooling process can create these voids.

Understanding this helps inspectors focus their attention on potential problem areas when assessing the quality of rolled steel plates, guiding them in searching for defects that might affect the integrity of the material.