NDT Technology

NDT Technology

A Method for Full Testing Coverage of the Ends of Parts and Pipes in AUT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Abstract
Most of automatic ultrasonic testing (AUT) systems are unable of testing of the two ends of parts so that usually 10 cm of pipe-ends remain untested. The main reason for this limitation is the geometry of the probe holder with respect to the part during the test. When several probes are positioned in different directions inside a probe holder, the waves emitted by all probes cannot enter the part from its edge. This is a serious challenge even in manual UT: a probe cannot test the very beginning area of a pipe or part in the same direction of its scanning direction. One solution for this obstacle is application of the full immersion method. However, in testing of relatively big parts, this reduces the overall testing speed of AUT. This article presents the experience of authors in developing a simpler and faster contact-based immersion technique that efficiently tackles the issue.
Keywords

  1. API specification 5L forty-fifth edition, December 2012. Specification for line pipe.
  2. ISO 10893-8, 1st edition 2011. Non-destructive testing of steel tubes-Part 8: Automated ultrasonic testing of seamless and welded tubes for the detection of laminar imperfections.
  3. ISO 10893-10, 1st edition 2011. Non-destructive testing of steel tubes-Part 10: Automated full peripheral ultrasonic testing of seamless and welded tubes (except submerged arc-welded) steel tubes for the detection of longitudinal and/or transvers imperfections.
  4. ISO 11439:2013, Gas cylinders-High pressure cylinders for the on-board storage of natural gas as a fuel storage for automotive vehicles.
  5. ASTM B811-13, Standard Specification for Wrought Zirconium Alloy Seamless Tubes for Nuclear Reactor Fuel Cladding.

  • Receive Date 13 May 2018
  • Accept Date 14 June 2018