2010 SECTION V ARTICLE 4

TABLE III-422 REQUIREMENTS OF A TOFD EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

Requirement Essential Nonessential (As Applicable) Variable Variable Instrument manufacturer and model X . . . Instrument software X . . . Directions and extent of scanning X . . . Method for sizing flaw length X . . . Method for sizing flaw height X . . . Data sampling spacing (increase only) X . . .

minimum, contain the requirements listed in Tables T-421 and III-422. The written procedure shall establish a single value, or range of values, for each requirement. III-422.2 Procedure Qualification. When procedure qualification is specified, a change of a requirement in Tables T-421 or III-422 identified as an essential variable shall require requalification of the written procedure by demonstration. A change of a requirement identified as a nonessential variable does not require requalification of the written procedure. All changes of essential or nonessential variables from those specified within the written procedure shall require revision of, or an addendum to, the written procedure. III-430 EQUIPMENT III-431 Instrument Requirements III-431.1 Instrument. The instrument shall provide a linear A scan presentation for both setting up scan parameters and for signal analysis. Instrument linearity shall be such that the accuracy of indicated amplitude or time is 5% of the actual full-scale amplitude or time. The ultrasonic pulser may provide excitation voltage by tone burst, unipolar, or bipolar square wave. Pulse width shall be tunable to allow optimization of pulse amplitude and duration. The bandwidth of the ultrasonic receiver shall be at least equal to that of the nominal probe frequency and such that the 6dB bandwidth of the probe does not fall outside of the 6dB bandwidth of the receiver. Receiver gain control shall be available to adjust signal amplitude in increments of 1dB or less. Pre-amplifiers may be included in the system. Analog to digital conversion of waveforms shall have sampling rates at least four times that of the nominal frequency of the probe. When digital signal processing is to be carried out on the raw data, this shall be increased to eight times the nominal frequency of the probe. III-431.2 Data Display and Recording. The data display shall allow for the viewing of the unrectified A-scan so as to position the start and length of a gate that determines the extent of the A-scan time-base that is recorded.
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Equipment shall permit storage of all gated A-scans to a magnetic or optical storage medium. Equipment shall provide a sectional view of the weld with a minimum of 64 gray scale levels. (Storage of just sectional images without the underlying A-scan RF waveforms is not acceptable.) Computer software for TOFD displays shall include algorithms to linearize cursors or the waveform time-base

to permit depth and vertical extent estimations. In addition to storage of waveform data including amplitude and time-base details, the equipment shall also store positional information indicating the relative position of the waveform with respect to the adjacent waveform(s), i.e., encoded position. III-432 Search Units III-432.1 General. Ultrasonic probes shall conform to the following minimum requirements: (a) Two probes shall be used in a pitch-catch arrangement (TOFD pair). (b) Each probe in the TOFD pair shall have the same nominal frequency. (c) The TOFD pair shall have the same element dimensions. (d) The pulse duration of the probe shall not exceed 2 cycles as measured to the 20dB level below the peak response. (e) Probes may be focused or unfocused. Unfocused probes are recommended for detection and focused probes are recommended for improved resolution for sizing. (f) Probes may be single element or phased array. (g) The nominal frequency shall be from 2 MHz to 15MHz unless variables, such as production material grain structure, require the use of other frequencies to assure adequate penetration or better resolution. III-432.2 Cladding Search Units for Technique One. The requirements of T-432.2 are not applicable to the TOFD technique. III-434 Calibration Blocks III-434.1.1 Reflectors. Side-drilled holes shall be used to confirm adequate sensitivity settings. III-434.2.1 Basic Calibration Block. The basic calibration block configuration and reflectors shall be as shown in Fig. III-434.2.1(a). A minimum of two holes per zone, if the weld is broken up into multiple zones, is required. See Fig. III-434.2.1(b) for a two zone example. The block size and reflector location shall be adequate to confirm adequate sensitivity settings for the beam angles used. III-434.2.2 Block Thickness. The block thickness shall be at 10% of the nominal thickness of the piece to be examined for thicknesses up to 4 in. (100 mm) or 0.4 in. (10 mm) for thicknesses over 4 in. (100