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Thickness
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCOPE ............................................................................................................................... 1-0

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ...................................................................................................... 2-0

2.1 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 2-1

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................... 3-0

3.1 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS .................................................................. 3-1

3.2 EQUIPMENT ....................................................................................................... 3-2
3.3 CALIBRATION BLOCKS.................................................................................. 3-3
3.4 SURFACE PREPARATION ............................................................................ 3-4
3.4 SURFACE PREPARATION ............................................................................ 3-4
3.5 TEMPERATURES ............................................................................................. 3-5

EXAMINATION .............................................................................................................................. 4-0

4.1 CALIBRATION.................................................................................................... 4-1

4.2 DOUBLING.......................................................................................................... 4-2
4.3 CALIBRATION FREQUENCY ........................................................................ 4-3
4.4 FINAL CALIBRATION ............................................................................................ 4-4
4.5 TRANSDUCER DUTY CYCLE ....................................................................... 4-5
4.6 SCANNING ......................................................................................................... 4-6
4.7 THICKNESS MEASUREMENT ...................................................................... 4-7

EVALUATION AND RECORDING OF RESULTS ............................................................................ 5-0

RECORDS …………………………………………………………………………………….……6-0

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1.0 SCOPE
1.1 This procedure details the instructions to perform an ultrasonic thickness
examination using digital equipment. This procedure addresses the digital
ultrasonic thickness measurement of metal plate, forgings, bars, tubular
products, castings and certain non-metallic products. The thickness ranges of the
possible items to be examined may differ due to variable factors that will affect
the examination. However, thicknesses can be determined if the equipment can
be calibrated and hold linearity throughout the ranges of expected examination.

2.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

2.1 This procedure has been developed with the following documents as references:

(1) ASME B&PV Code Section V, Nondestructive Examination; 2010 Edition

(w/ 2011a
Addenda)

(2) American Society for Nondestructive Testing, SNT-TC-1A; 2011 Edition

3.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

3.1.1 Personnel performing examinations to the requirements of this procedure shall be

qualified and certified to the requirements of US Inspection and NDT procedure
for Qualification and Certification of Non Destructive Testing Personnel.
3.1.2 Only personnel certified in accordance with this procedure shall evaluate test
results.

3.2 EQUIPMENT

3.2.1 The following equipment may be used for ultrasonic thickness measurements in
accordance with this procedure.

a) Couplants such as, Ultragel II, Sonotemp, Glycerines, Water and

other site approved couplants may be used. The couplant, including
additives, shall not be detrimental to the material being examined.

The couplant used for calibration shall be the same used during the
actual examination. When working with High Temperatures, the
appropriate range of couplant shall be used for both calibration as
well as the examination.

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b) Couplants used on nickel based alloys shall not contain more than
250 ppm of sulfur. Couplants used on austruitic stainess steels or
titanium shall not contain more than 250 ppm of halides (chlorides
plus fluorides).

c) Ultrasonic units with the capabilities equal to the following units

may be used for thickness measurements.

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1) Panametrics 26, 26DL and 26DL+; 36DL+; 37DL+

2) Krautkramer DME, DMEDL and DMS

3) Stresstel T-Mike and Poketmike

c) Ultrasonic units other than those listed above can be used provided
they can meet the calibration requirements defined in this
procedure.

d) Transducers compatible with the ultrasonic units utilized during the

examination process shall be used. (Example; the D790 transducer
shall only be used for the Panametrics machines). Proof of
compatibility shall be considered satisfied if successful calibration is
performed and documented.

e) The nominal frequency shall be from 1 MHz to 5 MHz unless

variables such as production material grain structure require the
use of other frequencies, to assure adequate penetration or better
resolution. Search units with contoured contact wedges may be
used to aid ultrasonic coupling.

f) If the client requires temperature checks, they shall be performed

using a contact thermometer, probe type thermometer or
pyrometer.
3.3 CALIBRATION BLOCKS
3.3.1 Calibration blocks shall be of the same material as the material being examined.
Calibration blocks displaying the same acoustic characteristics may be used. An
example would be 1018 and 4340 carbon steel or 304 and 316 stainless. The
temperature of the calibration block shall be within 25° F of the item being
examined.

3.3.2 Each calibration block should be permanently marked showing the thickness of
the steps. In addition the material form should be marked on the block. If the step
thickness is not marked on the block, a physical measurement can made using a
micrometer or caliper that has been calibrated to a known standard.

3.4 SURFACE PREPARATION

3.4.1 In most cases, only minor surface preparation will be necessary. Loose surface
debris must be removed from the transducer contact location. Scale and heavy
rust must be removed by chipping, grinding or other site approved methods. In all
cases, client approval must be obtained prior to any surface preparation requiring
any efforts other than that of a wire brush.

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3.5 TEMPERATURES

3.5.1 Careful consideration should be made so that the appropriate transducer and
couplant is used under High Temperature conditions.

PROCEDURE ULTRASONIC EXAMINATION REV. PAGE

NO. DIGITAL THICKNESS 8 5 of 9
C-UT-06 MEASUREMENT

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PetroChem Inspection Services, Inc.

4.0 EXAMINATION
4.1 CALIBRATION

4.1.1 Prior to use, the ultrasonic unit must be calibrated using the manufacturers
recommended specifications. A calibration standard with thicknesses lower and
higher than the nominal range of thickness of the item being examined shall be
used.

For example, if the nominal thickness is 0.200-inch, the ultrasonic unit shall be
calibrated on step 0.100-inch and 0.300-inch of a standard 5-step stepwedge.
The calibration standard shall have the same acoustic characteristics of the item
being examined.

4.1.2 Calibration shall include the complete ultrasonic system and shall be performed
prior to use of the system in the thickness range under examination.

4.1.3 Unless otherwise specified by the client, calibration of the ultrasonic unit shall be
within ±
0.005" of the known thickness of the stepwedge.

4.1.4 Care should be made to assure that the calibration blocks and the face of the
transducer are free from any surface imperfections that would interfere with
proper calibration. This would include dried couplant, rust or scale on either
surface.

4.1.5 If any variables change, such as, changing of the transducer, couplant or a
significant change in temperature, recalibration of the ultrasonic unit shall be
performed.\\
4.2 DOUBLING

4.2.1 When using dual element transducers, the doubling point of each ultrasonic unit
and transducer are subject to being different. Prior to use each combination of
transducer and gage shall have been checked to find the doubling threshold of
the unit combination.

Any time a transducer has been resurfaced due to wear or is changed from one
gage to another, reverification of doubling thresholds shall be checked. If the item
being inspected falls in the range of possible doubling, another unit with lower
thresholds shall be used or another form of inspection shall be employed.

4.2.2 Doubling can be checked using a standard steel feeler gage in increments that
are 0.010" thick.

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4.3 CALIBRATION FREQUENCY

4.3.1 Each unit shall be checked for accuracy every two hours as a minimum during
the course of inspection. The calibration checks shall be taken using the same
calibration block used during initial calibration. If any unit is found to be out of the
tolerance specified in paragraph 4.1.2, all readings taken during the time period
between valid calibration verification shall be considered void.

4.3.2 Since the ultrasonic units noted in this procedure are proven to be reliable,
consideration should be made to have the gage serviced if the gage does not
maintain the same calibration capabilities as found during the initial calibration.

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4.3.3 If the inspector has found an obvious answer to the problem, the ultrasonic unit
shall be recalibrated and the discarded readings shall be retaken. If the problem
does exist with the gage, the gage shall be pulled from service, red tagged and
returned to the responsible supervisor for disposition. In any case, the readings
taken that were deemed void shall be retaken with a properly calibrated unit.

4.4 FINAL CALIBRATION

4.4.1 After the inspection has been completed, a final calibration check of the
instrument shall be performed. The same criteria noted in section 4.3 shall be
applied at this time.

4.5 TRANSDUCER DUTY CYCLE

4.5.1 Because the transducer is subject to being used in high temperature applications,
careful consideration should be made to ensure proper cooling of the transducer.
When the temperature of the area being examined exceeds 350° F, the
maximum contact time on the area of examination shall not exceed 15 seconds.
The minimum cooling time shall be 30 seconds. This can be accomplished be
removing the transducer from the area of heat to an ambient area.

4.5.2 The time for cooling can be reduced by cooling the transducer in a cup of water.

4.6 SCANNING
4.6.1 Scanning should be done manually.
4.7 THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

4.7.1 Thickness measurement shall be performed in accordance with SE-797, except

as amended by this procedure.

5.0 EVALUATION AND RECORDING OF RESULTS

5.1 Unless otherwise specified by the client, thickness readings shall be taken in the
area requested and the lowest reading documented.

5.2 Any area that produces a reading lower than the nominal thickness of the item
being examined, an investigation should be made to discern the reason for the
low reading. If possible, characterization should be made to identify the reason
for the low reading, such as laminations, pitting, corrosion or erosion. If the
limitations of the instrument will not allow such characterization, follow up
evaluation using an alternative method of inspection should be used.

5.3 A-Scan CRT displays are recommended where reflecting surfaces are rough,
pitted or corroded.

5.4 Direct-thickness readout without A-Scan display, presents hazards of

maladjustment and misreading under certain test conditions, especially thin
sections, rough corroded surfaces, and rapidly changing thickness ranges.

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6.0 RECORDS
6.1 The inspector shall complete all appropriate entries on the calibration data sheet
and identify the readings found with extreme accuracy to enable reinspection for
future evaluation. Exact reference to fixed points shall be noted for all readings
made. It is of great importance that all readings can be located and verified.

Drawings showing reference points and readings should be made a part of the
written report. Reports typical to that shown in Example 1 can be used for the
final report. If reports other than that referenced are used, the client should
approve the report. As a minimum, all information noted on the example report
should be used on any alternate report.

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