Status of activities for inspecting weld overlaid pipe joints

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5962979

Good, M S; Van Fleet, L G

Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) evaluated the ultrasonic inspectability of weld overlaid pipe joints. As part of this task, PNL is providing NRC staff with conclusions and recommendations concerning the effectiveness of ultrasonic inspections performed on weld overlaid pipe joints. PNL evaluated data from available technical literature, conducted experiments to determine the distortional effects of weld overlay on ultrasound, and reviewed data from the weld overlay inspection development efforts of the Electric Power Research Institute NDE Center. Based on these reviews and experiments, PNL concluded that ultrasonic inspection of weld overlaid pipe joints has not been demonstrated to be reliable, for two reasons. First, insufficient data exists to demonstrate the reliable detection and sizing of intergranular stress corrosion cracks. Second, the detection of unacceptable fabrication flaws contained within the weld overlay material has a low reliability due to poor signal-to-noise ratios. However, as current research and development programs lead to a more comprehensive engineering data-base, these conclusions may change. 29 refs., 25 figs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5962979
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-4484; PNL-5729; ON: TI86009257
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CRACKS
INSPECTION
JOINTS
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
PIPES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STRESS CORROSION
TESTING
ULTRASONIC TESTING
WELDED JOINTS