Inspection of nuclear reactor welding by acoustic emission. 1st interim report

Technical Report · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:4154552

Prine, D W; Clark, R N

The goal of the first phase of a 3-year research program is to show feasibility and develop equipment design parameters for real time production monitoring of nuclear power piping welding by acoustic emission. The project work to date is discussed. This work includes the incorporation of GARD equipment into a field-portable acoustic emission weld monitor, performance of one ''calibration'' field test, and one production field test. The calibration field test consisted of 96 weld passes, some of which were intentionally flawed, and all of which were monitored and recorded for laboratory study. The production field tests consisted of 17 multi-pass welds on actual production pieces. The welding in both tests was performed at Southwest Fabricating and Welding Corporation, an N-stamp pipe fabricating facility. The welding monitored was standard nuclear practice using code-approved materials for the calibration work. The production welding was on actual code-certified pipe. Calibration data on 20 multi-pass welds (96 weld passes) showed 7 classes of weld types, 1 with excellent to very good acoustic emission detection properties, 2 with very good properties, 1 with good properties, and 4 that need further study. No weld type has proven to be completely without some acoustic emission monitorability. The production tests have not been completely analyzed; initial analysis show results in line with the calibration data. (auth)

• Research Organization: General American Transportation Corp., Niles, Ill. General American Research Div.
• NSA Number: NSA-33-002942
• OSTI ID: 4154552
• Report Number(s): NP--20616
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*PIPES-- WELDED JOINTS
*POWER REACTORS-- PIPES
*WELDED JOINTS-- ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING
420500* --Engineering--Materials Testing
FABRICATION
INSPECTION
N42400* --Engineering--Materials Testing
N79200 --Reactors- -Reactor Components & Accessories
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS