January 23,2018

Phased Array UT in Lieu

of Radiography
NDTMA Las Vegas 2018

Proprietary and Confidential

 Curtiss-Wright History

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 Background
Code Case N-831, “Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu of Radiography
for Welds in Ferritic Pipe” has been developed to allow the use of
UT for weld acceptance

– ASME Board Approved October 20, 2016 and published in the

2017 Edition of Code Cases

Major Benefits over performing RT

– Eliminates exclusion zone and allows work to continue in

adjacent areas

– Eliminates radiation safety concerns of using a source to perform

RT

– Eliminates the unnecessary repair of insignificant fabrication

flaws

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– Better detection capabilities for planar flaws
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Overview

Developed PAUT in lieu of RT techniques with clients for B31.1 and ASME
Code applications
− ASME Section XI, Repair replacement welds for ferritic piping.
− ASME B31.1 piping welds 2004 through 2014 edition with or
without use of B31 Case 189. Examination Acceptance Criteria,
Approval date: January 3, 2013
− ASME Section VIII pressure Vessel final closure welds where
access does not permit interpretable radiographs, in accordance
with UW-11(a)(7) or UT examinations in accordance with UW-51
− Qualified procedures, equipment and personnel to perform PAUT
in lieu of RT for ASME Code activities
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ASME Code Case N-831

Highlights of N-831 Requirements

− Applicable to carbon steel welds
− All flaws are considered planar
− Acceptance Standard of Section XI IWB-3000, IWC-3000 or IWD-3000
shall be utilized
− Examination shall be performed utilizing encoded UT system and
recorded to provide that produces an electronic record of the combined
UT data
− The examination procedure, equipment and personnel shall be qualified
by performance demonstration

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 Development of N-831 Program
The examination volume shall include 100% of the weld volume and the
weld-to-base-metal interface
− Angle beam examination of the complete examination volume for
fabrication flaws oriented parallel to the weld joint shall be
performed
− Angle beam examination for fabrication flaws oriented transverse to
the weld joint shall be performed to the extent practical
Encoded ultrasonic examination shall be performed
− Where component configuration does not allow for effective
examination for transverse flaws (e.g., pipe-to-valve, tapered weld
transition, weld shrinkage), non- encoded ultrasonic examination
technology may be used for transverse flaws

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 Development of N-831 Program

Procedure and personnel performance demonstrations are based on:

− Type of fabrication flaw (Planar and volumetric)

− Flaw location (near/far side and upper, middle, inner
− Flaw size (both acceptable and unacceptable)
− Min and max diameter and thickness
− Surface condition (as demonstrated)
− Welding processes

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Applications in Additional ASME Codes

UT in lieu of Radiography is now included in the following ASME

Codes:
− ASME Section I, Power Boilers
− ASME Section VIII, Pressure Vessels
− ASME B31.1, Power Piping
− ASME B31.3, Process Piping

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 B31.1 Code

The examination shall be conducted using encoded techniques

− Examination are shall include the volume of the weld plus the lesser of
1.0” or t adjacent base metal
− Procedure and personnel qualified in accordance with Section V
Mandatory Appendices

Qualifications performed in
accordance with N-831
exceeds these requirements

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 B31.1 Code Case 189 (continued)

The alternative acceptance criteria is similar to N-831

− Uses total flaw height (h) instead of a or 2a of section XI
− Flaw length shall not exceed 4t
− Most benefits are for t>1.0”
− No longer reject/repair for small planar flaws

Procedure and personnel qualified in accordance with Section V

Mandatory Appendices

− Qualifications performed in accordance with N-831 exceeds

these requirements

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Field Experience

The following slides illustrate PAUT field results:

− Sidewall Lack of Fusion detected in a 16” SCH 100 Carbon Steel

field weld

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Field Experience

Sidewall Lack of Fusion - 16” SCH 100 Carbon Steel Field Weld

Flaw

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Field Experience

Dye Penetrant examination results after weld removal

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Flaw Specimen: Lack of Fusion (LOF)

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Flaw Specimen: Lack of Fusion (LOF)

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Future State

Code Case N-831 is limited to ferritic piping welds made as part of a

repair/replacement activity

− Most repair/replacement welds are ferritic materials of various sizes

− To prepare for unplanned weld R/R activities demonstrating a

procedure for the full range of possible weld sizes is desirable

− Austenitic weld R/R activities are less common and may be limited in
sizes

− It would be advantageous to have the ability to use UT in lieu of RT

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EPRI Research

EPRI performed research to assess the effectiveness of UT to detect

fabrication related flaws for austenitic piping welds

− 3002010297, “Technical Basis for Substituting Ultrasonic Testing

for Radiographic Testing for New, Repaired, and Replacement
Welds for ASME Section XI, Division 1, Stainless Steel
Piping”(publicly available)

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Summary of EPRI Research

− Fabricated stainless steel mockups in accordance with N-831

requirements

− Mockups examined as single side access

− All flaws were detected and sized within N-831 criteria

− Demonstrated PAUT as effective for stainless steel fabrication flaw

detection and sizing

This report provides the technical basis for revising N-831 to include
austenitic piping

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On-going ASME Code Activity

CC N-831 is being revised to include austenitic materials using EPRI

report as the technical basis

Revision to include addition of material through a procedure expansion

demonstration
− Through the personnel demonstration process
− Specimens must include diameter and thickness range of new
material
− Must use same techniques already qualified
− All flaws must be detected
If expansion process is unsuccessful, a full demonstration must be
performed

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On-going ASME Code Activity

− EPRI research completed and report published -June 2017

− Discussed concept of procedure expansion for austenitic piping at the

August 2017 Code meeting
− Draft Code Case revision presented at the November 2017 Code
meeting
− Feedback provided by Task Group
− Comments incorporated into N-831-1 (draft) and will be presented at
the February 2018 Code meeting
− Expect endorsement through NDE Subgroup
− Updated the supporting white paper for the Code Case revision

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Conclusion

Phased Array UT provides a reliable alternative to radiography

− Established and Regulatory accepted protocol for performing PAUT in

lieu of RT

− Significant savings have been realized for near critical path activities
by utilizing PAUT ILO RT

− PAUT has provided collateral benefit of more realistic acceptance

criteria for R/R welds

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