Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Figure 1 Positions and sizes of artificial notches at the two reactor water cleanup nozzle reference pieces (unspecified measurements are in
millimeters).
notches have depths of 2, 5 and 8 mm (0.08, 0.2 and 0.3 in.), respec- was used for the purpose of reconstruction, is schematically
tively. Exact notch positions on the inner surface of the nozzle are shown in Figure 3.
also shown in Figure 1. Two semicylindrical specimens are held to- The echotomographs were generated by a reconstruction
gether in a fixture. process (Wstenberg et al., 1993). Digitized values of echo ampli-
The dissimilar welds of the two nozzle reference pieces were tudes were registered into the pixel elements taking the probes po-
tested with two types of probes. In one case, two probes were in sition and sound paths into account. The echotomograph shows
two separate housings, one serving as a transmitter and the other as the grayscale values of added signal amplitudes in each pixel ele-
a receiver. The probes were arranged in a V form. The probe di- ment, which helps in differentiating those regions with and without
mensions were 8 by 9 mm (0.3 by 0.35 in.) with a frequency of discontinuities (Figure 4).
2 MHz. A suitable wedge was designed to achieve a refraction Using the phased array twin crystal probe, refraction angles for
angle of approximately 35 degrees for longitudinal waves in the longitudinal waves in weld metal were varied at each measure-
weld metal. The other case involved a phased array twin crystal ment position between 35 and 50 degrees. For each refraction angle,
probe, where the transmitter and receiver are enclosed in a single an echotomograph was reconstructed and all 16 of the tomographs
housing. The probe dimensions were 30 by 10 mm (1.2 by 0.4 in.) were superpositioned. The result is shown in Figure 4, which
with a frequency of 1.3 MHz. The wedge curvature was adapted to shows the existence of four discontinuity positions on the inner sur-
the curvature of the specimen for effective coupling. Here again, the face of the reference pieces. Two positions (one at the top and one at
wedge was designed to achieve a refraction angle between 35 and the bottom of the circle) indicate the split existing between the ref-
50 degrees in the weld metal. erence pieces. The other two discontinuity indications belong to the
In the case of the probes in a V form arrangement, the trans- 5 and 8 mm (0.2 and 0.3 in.) deep notches, respectively. The 2 mm
mitter and receiver probes were positioned asymmetrically on the (0.08 in.) deep notches can hardly be seen.
specimen as shown in Figure 2. All of the measurements were Figure 5 shows where the experiment was performed for a fixed
made using a manipulator, which controlled the probe movement refraction angle of approximately 35 degrees. There was no echo in-
on the outer surface of the weld. The test specimen was placed on a dication from the notches, even from the separation existing be-
motor driven turntable. During the measurement, the actual turn- tween the two semicylindrical specimens. Scanning in a counter-
ing position was registered through an incremental sensor device, clockwise direction yielded no better result.
which was connected to the computer of the ultrasonic measure- This was an unexpected result because the separation existing
ment unit. In this way, all the measured A-scans could be stored between the specimens can be considered as a large transverse dis-
along with the data corresponding to their circumferential position. continuity and the complete specimen was scanned in both a clock-
During measurements, ultrasonic waves were incident in both wise and counterclockwise direction.
clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Water was used as the However, in the case of the probes in the V form arrange-
couplant. Measured A-scans were used for the analysis of the re- ment and for the refraction angle of approximately 35 degrees
sults presented in this article. ( = 15.5 degrees), clear discontinuity indications at the 6, 8, 9 and 12
oclock positions are seen (Figure 2). In the counterclockwise direc-
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS tion of incidence, the separation existing between the two halves of
Echotomographs were generated using measured A-scan the specimen and the 5 and 8 mm (0.2 and 0.3 in.) deep notches are
data. The principle of the echotomographic technique, which clearly indicated.
(a)
(b)
Figure 2 Two probes in an asymmetrical V form arrangement the incidence direction is counterclockwise, the incidence wave is longitudinal
and the refraction angle in the weld metal is approximately 35 degrees (incidence angle = 15.5 degrees): (a) arrangement; (b) echotomograph.
THEORETICAL RESULTS an empirical formula; and a lay back angle of 10 degrees is assumed
The results presented in this section are based on the ray tracing in the direction of welding. Elastic constants for austenite and Ni-Cr
method. The principles of the method are described in Ogilvy alloy are taken from Halkjr (1999).
(1986) and Munikoti (2001). The experimental results with reference to Figures 2 and 5,
The following assumptions were made for the theoretical results, as discussed in the previous section, can summed up briefly as
which are presented in this article: the grain texture is simulated by follows.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4 Reactor water cleanup nozzle specimen the incidence direction is clockwise; the incidence wave is longitudinal; and the type of probe is
a phased array twin crystal: (a) phased array probe; (b) echotomograph. The refraction angle of the longitudinal wave in the weld metal range is from
approximately 35 to 50 degrees (incidence angle = 15.5 degrees).
(a)
(b)
Figure 5 Reactor water cleanup nozzle specimen: the incidence direction is clockwise, the incidence wave is longitudinal and the type of probe is a
phased array twin crystal: (a) phased array probe; (b) echotomograph. The refraction angle of the longitudinal wave in the weld metal is
approximately 35 degrees (incidence angle = 15.5 degrees).
Figure 5 shows where the phased array twin crystal probe was can be seen that clear indications were obtained from the discontinu-
used for the experiment. The refraction angle of the longitudinal ities and the separation between the specimens.
wave was approximately 35 degrees in the specimen (which corre- The aim of the simulation was to analyze the two cases using a
sponds to about 15 degrees of incidence angle in the transducer). theoretical model for ultrasonic wave propagation in dissimilar
The specimen was scanned in both a clockwise and counterclock- anisotropic materials.
wise direction. The results show that the notches and the separation The simulation results shown in Figures 6 and 7 correspond to
between the semicylindrical specimens were not detected. the experimental results shown in Figure 2. The transmitter and re-
Figure 2 shows where two separate transducers were used for the ceiver probes are arranged in a V form. Further, in the figures
experiment (one acting as a transmitter and the other as receiver) but what is denoted as a transverse discontinuity corresponds to the
in this case, they were arranged in a V form. The refraction angle separation between the two semicylindrical specimens (Figures 1,
was the same as in the previous case (approximately 35 degrees). It 2, 3 and 4).
CONCLUSION
Two single probes in a V arrangement and phased array twin
crystal probes were used on a buffered dissimilar weld to detect
transverse notches at the weld root. On the outer surface of a test
specimen, the probes were coupled on the circumferential position
of the weld. For detecting the transverse discontinuities, longitudi-
(b) nal wave transducers were used.
In a twin probe arrangement (transmitter and receiver in a sin-
gle housing) for a refraction angle of approximately 35 degrees
Figure 6 Ray traces for a longitudinal wave incidence to detect the ( = 15.5 degrees), the separation between the two halves of the
total separation (transverse discontinuity) existing between the two specimen could not be detected for clockwise or counterclockwise
halves of the specimen with probes in an asymmetrical V form directions. This was surprising because the separation is the
arrangement the direction of incidence is clockwise; the refraction largest transverse discontinuity that went undetected along all of
angle is approximately 35 degrees ( = 15.5 degrees): (a) lateral view;
(b) top view (T = transmitter; R = receiver).
(a) (a)
(b)
(b)
Figure 7 Ray traces for a longitudinal wave incidence to detect the
total separation (transverse discontinuity) existing between the two Figure 8 Ray traces for longitudinal wave incidence to detect the
halves of the specimen with probes in an asymmetrical V form total separation (transverse discontinuity) existing between the two
arrangement the direction of incidence is counterclockwise; the halves of the specimen with a phased array crystal probe the
refraction angle is approximately 35 degrees ( = 15.5 degrees): direction of incidence is clockwise; the refraction angle is approximately
(a) lateral view; (b) top view. 35 degrees ( = 15.5 degrees): (a) lateral view; (b) top view.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We express our sincere thanks to VGB Power Tech GmbH for as-
sisting in the investigations under the purview of a research and de-
velopment project. Our sincere thanks also to the reviewers for their
useful comments and suggestions.
REFERENCES
Dikstra, B.J. and N.B. Cameron, Signal Processing in Qualified Inspections
of Stainless Steel Welds: The SPIQNAR Project, Eighth ECNDT Proceed-
ings, Barcelona, Spain, 2002, pp. 1-8.
Eriksen, B., N. Taylor and F. Hukelmann, NESC III: Developing a Bench-
mark for Structural Integrity Assessment of Dissimilar Welds in LWR Pip-
(b) ing, Third International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural In-
tegrity for Nuclear and Pressurized Components, Sevilla, Spain, 14-16
November 2001.
Figure 9 Ray traces for longitudinal wave incidence to detect the Furukawa, T. and K. Date, Ray-modelling for Computer Simulation of Ul-
total separation (transverse discontinuity) existing between the two trasonic Testing, Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evalua-
halves of the specimen with a phased twin crystal probe the direction tion, Vol. 14A, D.O. Thompson and D.E. Chimenti, eds., New York,
of incidence is counterclockwise; the refraction angle is approximately Plenum Press, 1995, pp. 1111-1117.
35 degrees ( = 15.5 degrees): (a) lateral view; (b) top view. Halkjr, S., Elastic Waves in Anisotropic Inhomogeneous Materials: Appli-
cation to Ultrasonic NDT, PhD thesis, Technical University Denmark,
1999.
MacDonald, D.E., J.L. Landrum, M.A. Dennis and G.P. Selby, Phased Array
UT Technologies for Nuclear Pipe Inspection Productivity and Reliabili-
the scanning directions and positions. Theoretical calculations ex- ty, Third International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural In-
actly reflect this as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Thus, the theoretical tegrity for Nuclear and Pressurized Components, Sevilla, Spain, 14-16
simulation results help in understanding such unexpected behavior November 2001.
of ultrasonic waves in an anisotropic medium. Munikoti, V., On the Propagation of Elastic Waves in Acoustically
In the case of two probes (one acting as a transmitter and the Anisotropic Austenitic Materials and at Their Boundaries during Non-
other as a receiver) in an asymmetrical V form arrangement, the destructive Inspection with Ultrasound, BAM Internal Report 249, Berlin,
separation could be detected (Figures 2, 6 and 7). Theoretical simu- Germany, Bundesanstalt fr Materialforschung und prfung, 2001.
Ogilvy, J.A., Ultrasonic Beam Profiles and Beam Propagation in an
lation results also supplement this. Austenitic Weld Using a Theoretical Ray Tracing Model, Ultrasonics, Vol.
However, it has to be noted that the agreement between the ex- 24, No. 6, 1986, pp. 337-347.
perimental and theoretical results are purely qualitative in nature. Ogilvy, J.A., An Iterative Ray Tracing Model for Ultrasonic Nondestructive
The following general inferences could be made based on the Testing, NDT&E International, Vol. 25, No. 1, 1992, pp. 3-10.
above experimental and theoretical results. Wstenberg, H., B. Rotter, H.P. Klanke and D. Harbecke, Ultrasonic Phased
The twin probes (transmitter and receiver combination in a Arrays for Nondestructive Inspection of Forgings, Materials Evaluation,
single housing) with just one refraction angle of approximately Vol. 51, 1993, pp. 669-672.