2007 Sec. VIII Div 1 and 2 BPVC E-beam welds and Ultrasonic Inspection

[Transient1]

Does anyone know why 100% ultrasonic inspection is mandated for e-beam welds?

 

[Duwe6]

Too high a probability for Lack-of-Fusion with the EB process. UT-shearwave is the best method for detecting and quantitfying L.F.

 

[Transient1]

That's an interesting observation. Do you have any literature you can point me too, that backs that up? I read that UT is best suited for detecting planar flaws, while x-ray and UT are equally suitable for detecting volumetric flaws (see below).
I suppose the thinking is that, you could also have planar flaws. Thus, UT is sensible because it could pick up flaws that X-ray couldn't.
It seems though that 100% inspection is overkill in certain cases based on part dimensions and weld characteristics.


For reference, the paper with the comparison between x-ray and UT is:

Jack Spanner, “Effectiveness of Substituting Ultrasonic
Testing for Radiographic Testing for Repair/Replacement”
ASME Conf. Proc. 2005, 33 (2005)

 

[Transient1]

edit: I see that lack of fusion is considered a planar flaw which supports using UT.

 

[Duwe6]

Concur on "100% UT not needed". This is an automated process. Those tend to be either All Good, or All Bad. Sampling of segements that are carefully chosen will work.