UT OF PIPES AND TUBES –DIA > 12.
5 mm
A pulse echo d ultrasonic reflection method
angle beam
surface contact or immersion method .
Personnel Qualified as Level I / II
Surface Condition
surfaces shall be clean and free
from scale, dirt, grease, paint, or other foreign material
Equipment
Calibrated Pulse Echo ultrasonic equipment
Frequency range from 1 to 6 MHz.
Gain control variation ±1 dB
Equipment to be calibrated as per the requirement
Transducer
Rectangular crystal
20 x 22 mm or 8 x 9 mm for Pipes
8x9 mm for tubes
Frequency 2 to 4 MHz
For circumferential scanning curved shoe to be used to have good contact
Angle of the probe to be selected based on the curvature and penetration to ID.
Couplant
A liquid couplant
water, oil, or glycerin,
Dia 400 x 75 mm thick pipe
Angle of the probe to inspect full thickness
Thickness (t) = R (1-sin) t/r =(1-sin)
sin = 1-(t/r)
sin =1-75/200 =1-0.375=0.625
=38 deg
Angle to be selected is 35deg
Depth of penetration
Diameter = 400 mm
Thickness =75 mm
Probe angle =45°
t = 200(1-Sin45) = 200(1-0.7)
= 200 x 0.3
Penetrating thickness = 60 mm
Due to curvature, wall thickness and probe angle, the sound beam may not strike the ID surface
.The minimum probe angle can be calculated and it is called as Irradiation factor.
Sin β = Opp.side / Hypotenuse
IR = Inner Radius
OR = Outer Radius
Measurement for cylindrical materials is usually done by diameter
Sin β = ID/OD
Reference Block
from the pipe
same diameter, material, thickness &
surface finish
convenient length for scanning
Longitudinal(axial)notch on OD & ID
‘V’ notch / ‘U’ notch or rectangular notch
Notch depth as per code or as per Customer requirement
(3 % / 5% / 10 % of thickness)
length- 6 mm
Width < 2 times the depth
3 Point DAC with ID, OD and ID notch
or
2 point DAC with ID and OD Notch
circumferential notch on ID & OD for Axial scanning
Long. Notch for circumferential scanning
The examination shall be for 100% of the pipe & 100% of length and dia
Scanning-Both circumferential directions
If specified longitudinal scanning
All indications that are equal to or greater than the rejection level or as specified by the Contract
shall be considered as defects
ASTM E 213 for pipes and tubes
ASTM E 273 for longitudinally welded pipes
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