UT Procedure

1.0 PURPOSE
This procedure establishes the requirements for Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement
of materials using pulse-echo, A-scan, and digital thickness gauges.
2.0 SCOPE
ABC Inspection and Consultants will follow this procedure when a customer
requests Ultrasonic Thickness Examination to be performed in accordance with
ASME Section V Article 4.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1. Personnel performing Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement will be certified to at
least Level I in accordance with ABC Inspection and Consultants Written Practice for
Qualification and Certification of Inspection Personnel.
3.2. UT Level I, II, and III personnel may perform all operations necessary in
accordance with this procedure to process the objects being examined.
3.3. Interpretation and evaluation of ultrasonic examination results will be
accomplished by personnel certified as UT Level II or III.
4.0 DEFINITIONS
A-scan - a method of data presentation utilizing a horizontal baseline that indicates
distance, or time, and a vertical deflection from the baseline, which indicates
amplitude.
Attenuation - a factor that describes the decrease in ultrasound intensity with
distance. Normally expressed in decibel per unit length.
Couplant - a substance used between the search unit and test surface to permit or
improve transmission of ultrasonic energy.
Indication - that which marks or denotes the presence of a reflector.
Probe - see search unit
Pulse echo method - an inspection method in which the presence and position of
a reflector are indicated by the echo amplitude and time.
Search unit - an electro-acoustic device used to transmit or receive ultrasonic
energy, or both. The device generally consists of a nameplate, connector, case,
backing, piezo-electric element, wearface, or lens, or wedge.
Transducer - an electroacoustical device for converting electrical energy into
acoustical energy and vice versa. See also crystal.
Ultrasonic - pertaining to mechanical vibrations having a frequency greater than
approximately 20,000 Hz.
5.0 EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
5.1 The following are the requirements for the Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement
Examination Equipment:
5.1.1 The instrument will be of the pulse-echo type and may have a digital or CRT
display.
5.1.2 The instrument shall be calibrated at intervals no longer than 3 months to
reference standards traceable to the National Bureau of Standards.
5.1.3 Any frequency and size search unit may be selected as long as it is capable of
resolving the thickness range being measured.
5.1.4 The search unit may be either a single element, delay line, or dual element
contact transducers.
5.2 Couplants may be water, glycerin, cellulose gel (gum), oil, grease, or specially
formulated commercially available materials.

5.2.1 Inhibitors and/or wetting agents may be used.

5.2.2 The chemical interaction or the corrosive nature of any couplant with the
material(s) being examined will be considered when making the choice of
couplants.
5.3 The reference standards will be of similar acoustic velocity, attenuation, surface,
shape and finish to that of the material being examined and:
5.3.1 will have at least two steps
a) the thinner step will have a thickness less than or equal to the minimum
thickness, and;
b) the thicker step will have a thickness greater than or equal to the maximum
thickness to be tested.
5.3.2 The physical dimensions will be within +1 % of the nominal thickness of the
step.
a) The measurement of the steps will be performed with a calibrated instrument,
traceable to the National Bureau of Standards.
6.0 TESTING SURFACE
6.1 Surfaces will be uniform and free of loose scale and paint, discontinuities such
as pits or gouges, weld spatter, dirt, or other foreign matter, which may adversely
affect test results.
6.1.1 Tightly adhering paint, scale, or coatings do not necessarily need to be
removed for testing if they present uniform attenuation characteristics.
6.2 Surfaces may be ground, sanded, wire brushed, scrapped, or otherwise
prepared for examination purposes when necessary.
6.3 In areas where severe pitting is experienced and surface preparation is not
recommended, readings will be taken on high, areas and pit depth will be measured
with mechanical depth gauges.
7.0 CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
7.1 The proper functioning of the examination equipment will be checked and the
equipment will be calibrated by use of the reference standard, as described in
paragraph 5.3, at:
a) Once every two hours of inspection work;
b) When examination personnel are changed;
c) At any time that a malfunction or improper operation is suspected (i.e., unusually
high or low readings);
d) When search units are changed;
e) When new batteries are installed or electrical outlet is changed;
f) When equipment operating from one power source is changed to another power
source or power failure.
7.2 If during a calibration, it is determined that the examination equipment is not
functioning properly or it is found to be out of calibration all of the measurements
since the last valid equipment calibration will be retaken.
7.3 Calibration will be accomplished using the same couplant as that to be used
when measurements are being taken.
7.3.1 When special form high temperature couplants are being used, a different
couplant may be used for calibration.
7.4 The equipment will be calibrated in accordance with the instrument
manufacturers operating instructions, on the appropriate reference standard using a
minimum of two thickness steps.
7.4.1 The temperature of the calibration block will be 5Oo F of the test
specimen.within
7.4.2 Place the search unit on the thinner step (which is less than or equal to the
minimum thickness being examined) and adjustment the instrument to read the
same as the thickness of the step.

7.4.3 Place the search unit on the thicker step (which is greater than or equal to
the maximum thickness being examined) and, if adjustment is needed to get the
instrument to read the same as the thickness of the step, go back to the thinner
step and readjust if needed.
7.4.4 Repeat the operations described in paragraphs 5.3.1 and 5.3.2 until both the
thin and thick steps read correctly without further adjustment.
7.4.5 A third step with a thickness between the thin and thick step will be used,
when available, to verify calibration.
a) If the third step reading and the instrument reading differ 1%, then the
instrument will be recalibrated.by more than

8.0 METHOD OF EXAMINATION

8.1 Couplant may be applied to the search unit or directly on the component being
examined.
8.2 The extent of the examination and the location of the readings will comply with
the referencing code and the customer requirements
8.1.1 Readings may be taken at randomly selected locations or taken in specified
grid patterns as required.
9.0 SPECIAL TECHNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
9.1 Dual transducer element search units are inherently nonlinear for thickness
measurements less than 0.125.
9.2 If measurements below 0.125 must be made with dual transducer element
search units, calibration must be accomplished with at least 3 thickness steps below
0.125 within the range of the expected readings
9.3 When testing steel at elevated temperatures above 200o F up specially
designed search units and couplants will be used.
9.3.1 A rule of thumb that may be used to compensate for reading errors due to
elevated temperatures is as follows:
a) The apparent thickness reading obtained from steel walls having elevated
temperatures is high (too thick) by a factor of about 1% per 100o F. Thus, if the
instrument was calibrated on a piece of similar materials at 68o F, and if the
reading was obtained with a surface temperature of 860o F, the apparent reading
should be reduced by 8%.
10.0 POST CLEANING
10.1 Immediately upon completion of the examination, the couplant will be
removed by a suitable cleaning method.
10.1.1 The considerations of paragraph 5.2.2 will also apply for the cleaning agents.
11.0 EXAMINATION REPORT
11.1 A ultrasonic examination report, Attachment A, shall be prepared by the
certified UT Level II Inspector. A copy of the UT report must be submitted to the
client at the end of the shift. (See attached form for typical UT report).
12.0 REFERENCES
12.1 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
Section V, Article 5, current edition.