Ultrasonic characterization of centrifugally cast stainless steel: Topical report
Ultrasonic wave propagation in centrifugally cast stainless steel (CCSS) was investigated. The difficulties of inspecting CCSS material stem from elastic anisotropy that hampers defect location and severe attenuation caused by coarse grains within the structure that makes defect detection difficult. During this investigation, grain effects on ultrasonic wave propagation were investigated, techniques for identifying different grain structures were developed, and compensation methods for grain effects were addressed. Each step is explained analytically based on relevant theory and proven experimentally. Experiments were conducted on specially designed test specimens: angled blocks, polygonal blocks, wedge blocks, and calibration blocks. Wave parameters such as phase velocity, skew angle, energy velocity, attenuation, beam width, amplitude variation patterns, and frequency dependence on grain structures were all measured with these specimens. CCSS grain structures investigated were equiaxed-fine grains, columnar-dendritic grains, and coarse grains. For comparison purposes, additional types of material such as static-cast stainless steel, forged stainless steel, and carbon steel materials were also investigated. Longitudinal wave, horizontally and vertically polarized shear wave modes were all considered in experiments. The use of an automated ultrasonic system was also demonstrated for grain structure identification.
- Research Organization:
- Jones (J.A.) Applied Research Co., Charlotte, NC (USA); Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6175940
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-NP-5246; ON: TI87920484
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AUSTENITIC STEELS
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ULTRASONIC TESTING
BWR TYPE REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
STAINLESS STEELS
ANISOTROPY
CASTING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRAIN SIZE
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
ULTRASONIC WAVES
WELDED JOINTS
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ALLOYS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DATA
FABRICATION
INFORMATION
INSPECTION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
JOINTS
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MICROSTRUCTURE
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
REACTORS
SIZE
SOUND WAVES
STEELS
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WATER MODERATED REACTORS
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360103 - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties