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Title: Evaluation of ultrasonic techniques for detection of stress-corrosion cracks in stainless steel piping. Key Phase report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6698180· OSTI ID:6698180

Ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques for detecting intergranular stress-corrosion cracking in 102-, 254-, and 660-mm Type 304 stainless steel Schedule 80 piping are evaluated. The effectiveness of a variety of ultrasonic transducers is compared. Transducers with varying frequency, size, and beam angle were used. Focused, nonfocused, and single- and dual-angle-beam transducers were also tested. In addition, curved and flat transducer wedges were compared. Artificial reflectors of varying size and orientation were employed in both welded and unwelded pipes to establish flaw-detection reliability and sensitivity. Data from welded pipe sections with laboratory-grown and field-induced intergranular cracks are also presented. Some statistical data for establishing the probability of detection of small reflectors are presented for artificial reflectors in 102-mm pipes and small stress-corrosion cracks in 254-mm pipes. Problems associated with spurious ultrasonic signals resulting from weld geometry are discussed.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6698180
Report Number(s):
EPRI-NP-761; TRN: 78-017383
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English