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
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ALLOYS
ANISOTROPY
AUSTENITIC STEELS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CASTING
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
GRAIN SIZE
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
INFORMATION
INSPECTION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
JOINTS
MATERIALS TESTING
MICROSTRUCTURE
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
PIPES
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
SIZE
SOUND WAVES
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
TESTING
ULTRASONIC TESTING
ULTRASONIC WAVES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WELDED JOINTS