Inspection of Thin-Walled Pipe Welds Using Mechanized Ultrasonic Techniques

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Lozev ◽  
Roger Spencer ◽  
David Hodgkinson
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Planar Defects ◽  
Array Technology ◽  
Thin Walled Pipe ◽  
Ultrasonic Techniques ◽  
Thin Walled ◽  
Planar Fabrication ◽  
Flaw Characterization

In this paper an effective way to optimize the inspection of welds in thin-walled pipe less than 6 mm (0.24 in.) thick using automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) is described. AUT offers a better solution than radiography for detecting and sizing of planar defects. However, cap width, weld shrinkage and defect sizing put constraints on the actual ultrasonic approach for inspection of pipes with wall thickness less than 6 mm (0.24 in.). The applications of high-frequency single/multiprobe techniques and phased-array technology for inspection of thin-walled pipe welds have been investigated in this paper. It has been demonstrated that combining these techniques with modeling and simulation of UT have potentially significant advantages for enhanced detectability, better sizing and improved flaw characterization of randomly oriented planar fabrication imperfections in thin-walled pipe welds.

Optimized Inspection of Thin-Walled Pipe Welds Using Advanced Ultrasonic Techniques

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Lozev ◽  
R. L. Spencer ◽  
D. Hodgkinson
Keyword(s):  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Array Technology ◽  
Ultrasonic Phased Array ◽  
Thin Walled Pipe ◽  
Ultrasonic Techniques ◽  
Thin Walled ◽  
Planar Fabrication

In this paper an effective way to optimize the inspection of welds in thin-walled pipe less than 6 mm (0.24 in.) thick using automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) is described. AUT offers a better solution than radiography for detecting and sizing of planar defects. However, cap width, weld shrinkage and defect sizing put constraints on the actual ultrasonic approach for inspection of pipes with wall thickness less than 6 mm (0.24 in.). The applications of high-frequency single/multiprobe techniques and phased-array technology for inspection of thin-walled pipe welds have been investigated in this paper. It has been demonstrated that combining an advanced ultrasonic phased-array technique with a novel approach for modeling and simulation of ultrasonic inspection have potentially significant advantages for enhanced detectability, better sizing and improved flaw characterization of randomly oriented planar fabrication imperfections in thin-walled pipe welds.

Capabilities of Ultrasonic Phased Arrays for Far-Side Examinations of Austenitic Stainless Steel Piping Welds

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Anderson ◽  
Stephen E. Cumblidge ◽  
Steven R. Doctor
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Austenitic Stainless Steel ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Fatigue Cracks ◽  
Welding Parameters ◽  
Circumferential Welds ◽  
Array Technology ◽  
Asme Code ◽  
Ultrasonic Techniques ◽  
Performance Demonstration

A study was conducted to assess the ability of advanced ultrasonic techniques to detect and accurately determine the size of flaws from the far-side of wrought austenitic piping welds. Far-side inspections of nuclear system austenitic piping welds are currently performed on a “best effort” basis and do not conform to ASME Code Section XI Appendix VIII performance demonstration requirements for near side inspection. For this study, four circumferential welds in 610mm (24inch) diameter, 36mm (1.42inch) thick ASTM A-358, Grade 304 vintage austenitic stainless steel pipe were examined. The welds were fabricated with varied welding parameters; both horizontal and vertical pipe orientations were used, with air and water backing, to simulate field welding conditions. A series of saw cuts, electro-discharge machined (EDM) notches, and implanted fatigue cracks were placed into the heat affected zones of the welds. The saw cuts and notches ranged in depth from 7.5% to 28.4% through-wall. The implanted cracks ranged in depth from 5% through-wall to 64% through-wall. The welds were examined with phased array technology at 2.0 MHz, and compared to conventional ultrasonic techniques as a baseline. The examinations showed that phased-array methods were able to detect and accurately length-size, but not depth size, the notches and flaws through the welds. The ultrasonic results were insensitive to the different welding techniques used in each weld.

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