Development of Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing Acceptability Criteria : (Phase I) [TechBrief]

015485072014TechBrief, October 2014PDFTech ReportFHWA-HRT-14-074;HRDI-60/10-14(50)DTFH61-08-D-000014BridgesButt weldsCalibrationInspectionLiterature reviewsNondestructive testsUltrasonic testsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterEngineering and Software Consultants, Inc.Ghasemi, HamidFederal Highway AdministrationPhase I of this research effort involved a review of the current state of the art of weld inspection using PAUT, development of the preliminary technical approach to inspecting CJP butt welds with and without transitions, fabrication of suitable test specimens, and the use of appropriate calibration blocks for inspection of thick weld specimens. Based on a literature review, it was deemed necessary to first explore the phased-array pulse-echo (PE) technique for all inspections in this phase. The preliminary results from the inspections conducted on four butt-weld specimens are presented in this TechBrief. Phase II of the research will include development of scan plans for transition butt-welds. In-depth analysis of PAUT data obtained in phase I and phase II will determine the exact location and sizing information of the defects. Phase II will also compare PAUT results with those obtained using conventional UT and radiography. Phase III of this project will explore the time of flight diffraction and combined time of flight diffraction (TOFD)-PE approach. Phase I developmental efforts are presented in this TechBrief