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Sizing Technique

ultrasound

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6 views

Sizing Technique

ultrasound

Uploaded by

carlos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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sizing technique

Related Entries: Time-of-flight diffraction, Distance-gain-size, defect size


assessment,
Selected Articles:
- Ermolov Sizing Equations Revisited... (2002-01-01)
- Determination of crack depth (1997-05-01)
Description:

Technique which enables an estimate of the size of a discontinuity to be made


from its ultrasonic indications. Flaw sizing is critical to engineering evaluations
to assess wear limits, crack growth rates and fitness of purpose criteria.
Accuracy required is not always possible and each technique has its
advantages and disadvantages. Some techniques are DGS (AVG), Amlitude,
Transit Time, TOFD, Satelite Pulse (diffraction) , MultiModal Transducer
Techniques, Zonal Method using focused Probes. The principal techniques are
carried out by the probe movement and evaluation of the amplitude or time of
flight. Small flaws may be sized by either method. If flaws extend beyond the
confines of the beam in any direction, then a probe movement method will be
required.
Further Information:
Sizing Techniques

Author: Ed Ginzel

A further aspect of flaw characterization is flaw sizing. This is critical to


engineering evaluations to assess wear limits, crack growth rates and fitness
for purpose criteria. Accuracy required by the engineer is not always possible
to achieve by the ultrasonic technician and each sizing technique has its
advantages and disadvantages. Various options available to the operator have
been discussed in several locations throughout this text. These are
summarized with a brief description of some of their pros and cons in the
following table.
Sizing Method Advantages Disadvantages
 simple go/no-go system
 requires special curves
AVG (DGS)  can be applied to
 no indication of vertical extent
different shapes
 simple to use on smooth
 correction for beam size
Amplitude  easy to adapt to plane
reflectors unreliable in vertical
mechanized systems
Transmit time  simple to plot  requires access from several
soundpath with respect to sides
probe position on part  not all new surfaces will
 reasonable accurate provide good reflection
 single pass operation
 requires B-scan presentation
 very accurate
TOFD and access to both sides of defect
 not amplitude
from one surface
dependent
 uses standard
equipment  not effective at all angles
Satellite Pulse
 not amplitude  signals are usually weak
dependent
 probes are expensive
MultiModal  quick and accurate Techniques
Transducer  not amplitude based  Iimited characterization
possible
 simple to incorporate  probes expensive Probes
Zonal Method into mechanized systems
Using Focused  reduced geometry  sizing limited to assigned zone
signals  amplitude based
The sizing methods listed above have been described elsewhere with the
exception of the satellite pulse and zonal methods.

The satellite pulse technique was a fore runner to the multimodal transducer
sizing methods. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the principles involved in the
satellite pulse technique. Both voids and linear defects can be sized quickly
and relatively accurately using standard UT equipment.

Figure 1

�= refracted angle
R = main reflected pulse
s = surface wave signal
(lagging satellite)
delta t = time between R & S

To estimate the void


diameter the shear wave
velocity and Rayleigh wave Figure 2
velocities are used to derive
an equation. � = refracted angle
R = main reflected pulse
s = tip diffracted satellite pulse
delta t = time between R & s
Similar to the calculations for a void an equation
can be derived for the depth of a surface
breaking linear flaw.
Where c = shear wave
velocity
delta t = time difference
measured on the CRT (A-scan
display) The technique, when used for linear flaws,
works better for smaller refracted angles (40�
to 50�) as the difference in time from tip to tip
is decreased as the angle of incidence
approaches the horizontal.
The zonal method of sizing using focused probes is a convenient way to
automate a weld inspection. Vertical extent of a flaw is the most important
detail to an engineer. It effectively indicates remaining wall thickness. If
probes can be arranged to investigate small increments of the wall, arranging
several probes in an array will allow the operator to quickly establish how
many zones a defect occurs in. Figure 3 shows a 10mm thick weld with 5
zones. Six probes are positioned to investigate probable areas of defects. If the
beam is focused its overlap with adjacent zones in small (less than 6-l0dB) and
a signal can be assigned a maximum vertical extent of 2mm for each probe it
is detected by. Two probes are used in the root area to accommodate
geometry changes. Where a defect has suff'cient vertical extent to be seen by
more than one probe its vertical extent is reasonably estimated within about
10% of the wall thickness. For example, if a flaw is seen to occur in two
adjacent zones it can be assigned a maximum vertical extent of 4mm.

Figure 3:
Six intemally focueed probes with 2 mm diameter spot sizes centred on 5 zones each
2 mm high (eymmetric each side)
The variety of sizing techniques is relatively large and not all options are noted
in codes and specifications. This means the operator may be burdened with
using methods they know are not adequate for the needs of the project.
Conversely, the code requirements for sizing may be unreasonable to use with
the equipment available or the degree of accuracy is not possible or not
reasonable considering the end use. To avoid such predicaments a
knowledgeable technician should provide input in development of rejection
criteria. Also, sizing methods required in codes, standards and procedures
should be reviewed with regard to any advances made in the industry to
ensure the best options (i.e. those most appropriate not necessarily the most
accurate) can be used when necessary.
This information is part of:

1. Ultrasonic Inspection 2 - Training for Nondestructive Testing; E.A. Ginzel;


Prometheus Press Canada. Homepage

Rolf Diederichs created: 1999-12-11

https://www.ndt.net/ndtaz/content.php?id=311

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