Astm e 797 - 2015
Astm e 797 - 2015
Astm e 797 - 2015
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice2 provides guidelines for measuring the
thickness of materials using the contact pulse-echo method at
temperatures not to exceed 93C [200F].
1.2 This practice is applicable to any material in which
ultrasonic waves will propagate at a constant velocity throughout the part, and from which back reflections can be obtained
and resolved.
1.3 UnitsThe values stated in either SI units or inchpound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents;
therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other.
Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
where:
T = thickness,
V = velocity, and
t = transit time.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on
Ultrasonic Method.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015. Published December 2015. Originally
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E797 - 10. DOI:
10.1520/E0797_E0797M-15.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications, see related Practice
SE-797 in Section II of that Code.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
T5
Vt
2
4.2 The pulse-echo ultrasonic instrument measures the transit time of the ultrasonic pulse through the part.
4
Available from American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), P.O. Box
28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518, http://www.asnt.org.
5
Available from Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. (AIA), 1000
Wilson Blvd., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-3928, http://www.aia-aerospace.org.
6
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
1
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
E797/E797M 15
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
2
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
E797/E797M 15
NDT personnel qualification practice or standard such as
ANSI/ASNT CP-189, SNT-TC-1A, NAS-410, ISO 9712, or a
similar document and certified by the employer or certifying
agency, as applicable. The practice or standard used and its
applicable revision shall be identified in the contractual agreement between the using parties.
6.3 Qualification of Nondestructive AgenciesIf specified
in the contractual agreement, NDT agencies shall be qualified
and evaluated as described in Specification E543. The applicable edition of Specification E543 shall be specified in the
contractual agreement.
6.4 Procedures and TechniquesThe procedures and techniques to be utilized shall be as specified in the contractual
agreement.
6.5 Surface PreparationThe pre-examination surface
preparation criteria shall be specified in the contractual agreement.
7. Apparatus
7.1 InstrumentsThickness-measurement instruments are
divided into three groups: (1) Flaw detectors with an A-scan
display readout, (2) Flaw detectors with an A-scan display and
direct thickness readout, and (3) Direct thickness readout.
7.1.1 Flaw detectors with A-scan display readouts display
time/amplitude information. Thickness determinations are
made by reading the distance between the zero-corrected initial
pulse and first-returned echo (back reflection), or between
multiple-back reflection echoes, on a standardized base line of
the A-scan display. The base line of the A-scan display should
be adjusted for the desired thickness increments.
7.1.2 Flaw detectors with numeric readout are a combination pulse ultrasound flaw detection instrument with an A-scan
display and additional circuitry that provides digital thickness
information. The material thickness can be electronically
measured and presented on a digital readout. The A-scan
display provides a check on the validity of the electronic
measurement by revealing measurement variables, such as
internal discontinuities, or echo-strength variations, which
might result in inaccurate readings.
7.1.3 Thickness readout instruments are modified versions
of the pulse-echo instrument. The elapsed time between the
initial pulse and the first echo or between multiple echoes is
converted into a meter or digital readout. The instruments are
designed for measurement and direct numerical readout of
specific ranges of thickness and materials.
7.2 Search UnitsMost pulse-echo type search units
(straight-beam contact, delay line, and dual element) are
applicable if flaw detector instruments are used. If a thickness
readout instrument has the capability to read thin sections, a
highly damped, high-frequency search unit is generally used.
High-frequency (10 MHz or higher) delay line search units are
generally required for thicknesses less than about 0.6 mm
[0.025 in.]. Measurements of materials at high temperatures
require search units specially designed for the application.
When dual element search units are used, their inherent
nonlinearity usually requires special corrections for thin sec-
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
3
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
E797/E797M 15
is usually recommended. Reposition the search unit sequentially on both blocks, and note the reading differences while
making additional appropriate corrections. When the reading
thickness differential equals the actual thickness differential,
the material thickness range is correctly adjusted. A single
adjustment of the delay control should then permit correct
readings at both the high and low end of the thickness range.
8.2.3 An alternative technique for delay line search units is
a variation of that described in 8.2.2. A series of sequential
adjustments are made, using the delay control to provide
correct readings on the thinner standardization block and the
range control to correct the readings on the thicker block.
Moderate over-correction is sometimes useful. When both
readings are correct the instrument is adjusted properly.
8.3 Case IIIDual Search Units:
8.3.1 The method described in 8.2 (Case II) is also suitable
for equipment using dual search units in the thicker ranges,
above 3 mm [0.125 in.]. However, below those values there is
an inherent error due to the Vee path that the sound beam
travels. The transit time is no longer linearly proportional to
thickness, and the condition deteriorates toward the low
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
4
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
E797/E797M 15
8.4.2 Direct contact search unit and initial pulse synchronization are used. The display start is delayed as described in
8.4.4. All display elements should be linear. Incremental
thickness is displayed on the A-scan display.
8.4.3 Basic standardization of the sweep will be made as
described in Case I. The standardization block chosen for this
standardization should have a thickness that will permit standardizing the full-sweep distance to adequate accuracy, that is,
about 10 mm [0.4 in.] or 25 mm [1.0 in.] full scale.
8.4.4 After basic standardization, the sweep must be delayed. For instance, if the nominal part thickness is expected to
be from 50 to 60 mm [2.0 to 2.4 in.], and the basic standardization block is 10 mm [0.4 in.], and the incremental thickness
displayed will also be from 50 to 60 mm [2.0 to 2.4 in.], the
following steps are required. Adjust the delay control so that
the fifth back echo of the basic standardization block, equivalent to 50 mm [2.0 in.], is aligned with the 0 reference on the
A-scan display. The sixth back echo should then occur at the
right edge of the standardized sweep.
8.4.5 This standardization can be checked on a known block
of the approximate total thickness.
8.4.6 The reading obtained on the unknown specimen must
be added to the value delayed off screen. For example, if the
reading is 4 mm [0.16 in.], the total thickness will be 54 mm
[2.16 in.].
9. Technical Hazards
9.1 Dual search units may also be used effectively with
rough surface conditions. In this case, only the first returned
echo, such as from the bottom of a pit, is used in the
measurement. Generally, a localized scanning search is made
to detect the minimum remaining wall.
9.2 Material PropertiesThe instrument should be standardized on a material having the same acoustic velocity and
attenuation as the material to be measured. Where possible,
standardization should be confirmed by direct dimensional
measurement of the material to be examined.
9.4 Geometry:
9.4.1 Highest accuracy can be obtained from materials with
parallel or concentric surfaces. In many cases, it is possible to
obtain measurements from materials with nonparallel surfaces.
However, the accuracy of the reading may be limited and the
reading obtained is generally that of the thinnest portion of the
section being interrogated by the sound beam at a given instant.
9.4.2 Relatively small-diameter curves often require special
techniques and equipment. When small diameters are to be
measured, special procedures including additional specimens
may be required to ensure accuracy of setup and readout.
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
5
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
E797/E797M 15
10.1.7 Report
10.1.7.1 Procedure used
10.1.7.2 Standardization record
10.1.7.3 Measurement record
11. Report
11.1 Record the following information at the time of the
measurements and include it in the report:
11.1.1 Examination procedure.
11.1.1.1 Type of instrument.
11.1.1.2 Standardization blocks, size and material type.
12. Keywords
12.1 contact examination; nondestructive testing; pulseecho; thickness measurement; ultrasonics
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. Typical Multi-Step Thickness Gage Reference Blocks
TABLE OF DIMENSIONS
Metric Block 4A, mm
Legend
Dimension
Tolerance
Dimension
Tolerance
Dimension
Tolerance
T1
T2
T3
T4
L
W
0.250
0.500
0.750
1.000
0.75
0.75
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.02
0.05
6.25
12.50
18.75
25.00
20.0
20.0
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.5
1.0
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
20.0
20.0
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.5
1.0
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
6
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
E797/E797M 15
TABLE OF DIMENSIONS
Metric Block 5A, mm
Legend
Dimension
Tolerance
Dimension
Tolerance
Dimension
Tolerance
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
L
W
0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
0.500
0.75
0.75
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.02
0.05
2.50
5.00
7.50
10.00
12.50
20.0
20.0
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.5
1.0
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
20.00
20.00
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.5
1.0
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee E07 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(E797/E797M-10) that may impact the use of this standard.
(1) Added ISO 9712 to 2.4 and 6.2.1.
ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.
This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Jul 21 13:51:17 EDT 2016
7
Downloaded/printed by
Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.