RAY DONKIN SERVICES

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

MANUAL ULTRASONIC
EXAMINATION OF
LONGITUDINAL SEAM WELDS

REVISION STATUS
0
1

DATE
14.06.2006
13.03.2008

Approved by;

Signature:

..

Name:

..

Position:

..

Date:

ORIGINATOR
R Donkin
R Donkin

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

1.0

Index

2.0

Scope

3.0

References

4.0

Equipment

5.0

Equipment Calibration

6.0

Operators

7.0

Information

8.0

Conditions

9.0

Parent Metal Examination

10.0

Weld Examination

11.0

Sensitivity Setting

12.0

Evaluation of Results

13.0

Reporting of Results

14.0

Basic Calibration Block

15.0

Technique Sheet

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

2.0

3.0

Scope
2.1

This procedure covers methods for manual

longitudinal seam welds and parent metal material

2.2

Techniques employed shall be in accordance with ASME V

ultrasonic

examination

of

References
3.1

4.0

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

In the compilation of this procedure reference was made to the following:

a)
BS EN 12668-3:2000
b)
BS EN 10160
c)
BS EN 1714
d)
ASME V / ASME VIII
e)
RDS/NDT/Appendix 1

Equipment
4.1

A pulse echo A scan display presentation shall be used

Krautkramer portable flaw detectors shall be used

4.2

Single and/or twin crystal probes, having a testing frequency within the range 26MHz shall be used.
The frequency chosen will be as high as possible consistent with obtaining
satisfactory transmission
Crystal diameter shall be 10mm

4.3

Couplant shall be cellulose paste

4.4

Calibration blocks shall be of substantially the same material as that under test
and shall be identified

4.5

Each pass of the probe shall overlap a minimum of 10% of the transducer width

4.6

The rate of probe movement shall not exceed 6/second

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

5.0

6.0

Equipment Calibration
5.1

Performance characteristics of the ultrasonic flaw detection equipment shall be in

accordance with BS EN 12668-3:2000 and RDS/NDT/Appendix 1

5.2

Calibration/sensitivity checks shall be made at the start and finish of each test
period and after any change of any part of the equipment

5.3

Calibration certificates for all flaw detectors used shall be available for inspection
by the clients representative as required

Operators
6.1

7.0

Ultrasonic operators shall be qualified to SNT-TC-1A / PCN Level II

Information
7.1

8.0

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

The operator shall be given the following information before ultrasonic

examination commences:
a)
Type of material
b)
Weld preparation details
c)
Method of welding
d)
Item identification
e)
Weld identification
f)
Details of heat treatment
g)
Details of any repair work carried out

Conditions
8.1

Environment
8.1.1 No examinations shall take place outside the temperature range of 5C50C

8.2

Surface
8.2.1 The examination surfaces shall be free from irregularities, loose foreign
matter or coatings which interfere with ultrasonic wave transmission

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

9.0

10.0

11.0

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

Parent Metal Examination

9.1

Prior to initial angle beam examination, the base material through which the
shearwaves will travel, shall be scanned with a compressional wave probe to
detect laminar type defects which might affect the interpretation of angle beam
results

9.2

This must be carried out whether or not the parent material has been
ultrasonically tested previously

9.3

Sensitivity shall be set by adjustment of the second backwall echo off the parent
material to full screen height

9.4

Sizing of indications shall be by the 6dB drop method

Weld Examinations
10.1

Scanning techniques used shall be as detailed in ASME V

10.2

Wherever feasible the examination shall be carried out from both sides of the
weld
10.2.1 The beam shall be pointed at the weld length normally

10.3

Where access and the surface condition allows, a compressional probe shall be
used to test the weld as well as angle probes

10.4

As a minimum for weld testing two different angle probes shall be used
10.4.1 In addition, the 45 probe shall be used for transverse defect scanning

Shearwave Sensitivity Setting

11.1

A distance amplitude correction (DAC) curve shall be constructed on the

oscilloscope screen based on reflection from 3mm side drilled holes

11.2

Method
11.2.1 The probe is placed on the top of the reference block over the 1/4t SDH
11.2.2 Echo response is set to 80% full screen height. This is the primary
reference response (PRR)
11.2.3 Without alteration of the gain control, the procedure is repeated for each
proceeding test distance, marking the positions on the screen
11.2.4 Connect the screen marks to provide the DAC

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

11.2.5 A further 6dB will be added for scanning

11.3
12.0

13.0

Defect assessment shall be carried out at the PRR sensitivity

Evaluation of Results
12.1

Any indication able to produce a response greater than 20% of the PRR shall be
investigated

12.2

Any indications shall be evaluated in accordance with ASME VIII Appendix 12

paragraph 12-3

Reporting of Results
13.1

For each ultrasonic examination the following shall be recorded:

a)
contract number
b)
order number
c)
surface condition
d)
code/specification
e)
material
f)
stage of manufacture
g)
ultrasonic procedure number
h)
make, model and serial number of flaw detector
i)
calibration/reference blocks
j)
type, size and angle of probes used
k)
settings and attenuation transfer decibels for each probe
l)
couplant
m)
examination personnel, signature and qualification
n)
date of examination
o)
drawings and full details of any recordable discontinuities
scanning/test limitations and locations
p)

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

14.0

Basic Calibration Block

50mm

L
1/2T

3/4T T

D
L = Length
W = Width
T = 12.5mm or nominal production material thickness
D = 3.0mm side drilled hole

15.0

Technique Sheet

15.1

Technique as per ASME V for Pipe Welds

15.2

Equipment

15.2.1 Krautkramer portable type flaw detector

15.2.2 0 10mm 5 MHz Twin Crystal
70 10mm 2 - 4MHz Transducer
60 10mm 2 - 4MHz Transducer
45 10mm 2 - 4MHz Transducer

RAY DONKIN SERVICES

ROPERY WORKS
HENDON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR1 2HA
Tel 0191 5108600

15.3

Procedure: RDS/UT/04
Issue No: 1 Rev No: 1

Technique

15.3.1 Scanning Technique

1 Compression Test of Parent Material
2 Compression Test through Outer Cap Surface (where possible)
3 Scans with 45, 60 & 70 degree probes from Outer Surface from both sides of the
weld
4 45 degree probe transverse defect scan