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NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 924
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The National Bureau of Standards' was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology

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- Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302.
ional Bureau of Standards

c

i1976 Procedures for the Calibration of

ASTM E127-Type Ultrasonic

Reference Blocks

*C---

D. J. Chwirut, G. F. Sushinsky,

and D. G. Eitzen

Institute for Basic Standards

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

Sponsored by:

Air Force Materials Laboratory

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Elliot L. Richardson, Secretary

Edward O. Vetter, Under Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director

Issued September 1976
National Bureau of Standards Technical Note 924

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 924, 43 pages (Sept. 1976) CODEN: NBTNAE

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1976

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Order by SD Catalog No. CI 3.46:924). Stock No. 003-003- Price $1.05 . (Add 25 percent additional for other than U.S. mailing).
CONTENTS

Page

1. INTRODUCTION 2

2. BACKGROUND 3

3. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM PHILOSOPHY 5

4. MEASUREMENT FACILITY # 8

4.1 Transducers > 8

4.2 Ultrasonic Test Instrument 9

4.2.1 Pulser/Receiver 9

4.2.2 Timer 11

4.2.3 Power Supply /Display 11

4.3 Immersion Tank 11

4.4 Equipment Standardization 12

4.5 Interim Reference Standard 13

5. CALIBRATION PROCEDURE 13

5.1 Mechanics of Ultrasonic Reference Block Measurement. ... 13

5.2 Distance-Amplitude Sets 14

5.3 Area-Amplitude Sets 15

5.4 Reports 15

6. SUMMARY 16

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 16

8. REFERENCES 17

APPENDIX 31

PROCEDURES FOR THE CALIBRATION OF

ASTM EL 27 -TYPE

ULTRASONIC REFERENCE BLOCKS

D. J. Chwirut^ , G. F. Sushinsky

D ', and D. G. Eitzen^

ABSTRACT

A service for the calibration of ASTM E127-type

ultrasonic reference blocks has been established at

the National Bureau of Standards. A single wellcharacterized reference block, carefully chosen to be

as close as possible to "typical" or "nominal", has

been designated as an interim standard against which

other blocks can be compared. As refinements are made

and the system becomes better understood, new standards

may be developed leading to the development of an absolute national standard. The facilities and procedures

used in this calibration service are described herein.

Key Words: Aluminum ultrasonic reference standards;

ASTM-type reference standards; calibration; interim

reference standard; longitudinal beam; measurement

system; nondestructive evaluation; pulse-echo;

ultrasonics.

(a) Present address, Auditory Acoustics Program Team, NBS

Present address, Advanced Measurement Technology Section, NBS
1. INTRODUCTION

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) has established a service

for the calibration of ASTM E127-type ultrasonic reference blocks (Fig.

1). At present, the calibration service is designed to determine the

ultrasonic response of 7075 aluminum alloy reference blocks relative to

the response obtained from a designated interim reference standard.

This report is intended to give some of the background information leading to the calibration service, to outline, in brief, some considerations

necessary for a proper measurement system, and to describe in detail the

laboratory equipment and operating procedures to be used in the calibration service.

It should be emphasized that this is only an intermediate step toward

the rationalization of a somewhat chaotic measurement system. Research is

still underway, both at the NBS and elsewhere, to make improvements in the

entire system. It is possible, and in fact likely, that as the state-ofthe-art of ultrasonic measurements evolves, changes will be made in the

calibration service.

Requests for information or comments about this calibration service

should be addressed to

Chief, Auditory Acoustics Program Team

National Bureau of Standards

Sound B-106

Washington, D. C. 20234

Phone 301-921-3607
2 . BACKGROUND

In the late nineteen-forties, flat-bottomed hole artifacts were

introduced as industrial reference standards for ultrasonic testing.

As they developed, these standards were produced by several companies

to a given set of physical dimensions. However, the consistency of the

ultrasonic response obtained from nominally identical standards was not

maintained between different sets of blocks. As the primary use of these

standards shifted from equipment standardization to sensitivity setting

and defect size characterization, the need for consistency of ultrasonic

response became critical. This system was improved somewhat in 1958 with

the adoption of ASTM E127-58T, "Tentative Recommended Practice for Fabricating and Checking Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks" [lj.

Some of the early history of reference blocks and the development of this

original ASTM document can be found in [2] and [3].

As the field of ultrasonic testing and inspection continued to

develop, the original ASTM E127 document was revised in 1964 and again

in 1975 [4, 5]. The 1975 revision of E127 was adopted by the industry in

spite of acknowledged significant weaknesses. The adoption was in part

because the older version was about to expire and current purchasing agreements require that some ref erenceable document be in existence. Also, the

ASTM E127 document is referenced in many other standards documents including several other ASTM documents. The 1975 document increased the allowable variability of the return signal amplitude from +10 percent to +2 dB

(decibel) around a nominal value which is itself somewhat arbitrarilv chosen,
This increase in allowable variability is not because +2dB is acceptable,

but because it approximates the state-of-the-art of field blocks today.

This amount of variability results in unfair competition between suppliers,

disagreements at the supplier-user interface, and overdesigned systems and

unnecessary system shutdowns or overhauls because of the large measurement

uncertainty. This situation is clearly unacceptable.

Efforts to remedy this situation are underway in several laboratories.

The participants of ASTM Section E7.06.02 are seeking a solution that will

allow blocks to be fabricated, inexpensively, within a much tighter tolerance. At NBS, a program is underway, sponsored by the Air Force Materials

Laboratory (AFML) , National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

,

and Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center (AMMRC) , to attack the

problem systematically and to provide a solution. The first year's effort

[6] has identified several of the factors contributing to ultrasonic response variability. These include metallurgical, geometric, and measurement system problems. Efforts to eliminate these variables from the

measurement process are continuing.

In the meantime, a limited calibration service is being offered to

allow the comparison of users' blocks to a fixed reference. The data from

this calibration must be interpreted with caution because of two limitations

in the service. First, the reference standard has been chosen somewhat

arbitrarily; the unit being measured has not been related to any SI units,

is difficult to define, and is not absolute. Second, because of the

arbitrariness of the reference and lack of total understanding of the entire
measurement system, it is likely that changes will be made to the calibration process in the future. In interpreting data from the calibration

service, it should be realized that a block with a slightly different response than the NBS interim reference standard is not, de facto , incorrect

or unacceptable. More important, at this time, are the relative responses

of the blocks used by different operational groups within an organization

working to the same inspection requirements, competitors, or those involved

in a buyer-seller relationship.

3. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM PHILOSOPHY

A generalized measurement system can be looked upon as consisting of

three parts: the quantity being measured, the measurement algorithm or

operating procedures, and the interpretive model which relates the measured

signal to the physical quantity being measured through the laws of physics.

As an example, consider the system for mass measurements. The quantity being

measured could be the mass of a stainless steel artifact, and the algorithm

could be comparison against a known mass on a two-pan balance under specified

conditions. The model includes zero net moment on the balance, Newton's

second law, Archimedes' principle, etc. One can define the system to be

proper if the measurements are repeatable, within a known uncertainty, on the

same quantity, on different systems, at different locations, and as long as

all requirements of the algorithm and model are met. Usually, we must define

a set of objects and a domain of operating conditions under which the system is

proper. For example, a given mass measurement system may be proper only for

-3 3 stainless steel masses between 10 and 10 grams (set) and a limited range

of air densities (domain). More on this measurement philosophy can be found

in [7, 8, 9].
The ultrasonic measurement system is much more complex than the mass

system. What quantity is being measured? It certainly isn't hole diameter,

although the information may be used to infer something about hole diameter.

In a pure sense, we appear to be measuring "ultrasonic reflectivity" (i.e.

return energy. .. . t , , n . .

_

—-— aj , -) , although the model xs not yet well-enough understood to allow

\J U L. L/ i_l l_ C LI C. A. K V return enersv

an absolute determination of — e/ . Therefore, ultrasonic measure- output energy

ment systems can now only be used strictly in a comparative sense.

We are thus led to the designation of an independently defined standard,

not derived from any of the SI base units. This becomes the primary standard

for this type of ultrasonic measurement. If, in the future, our understanding

of the physics of the sound wave/medium/reflector interactions improves,

possibly this measurement system can be related back to the SI base units.

What remains for us now are the formulation of the algorithm , the definition

of the set and domain under which the system is proper , and the assurance

that the measurement system is under control and that the results are properly

used in awareness that the model is weak.

For the calibration service described herein, the quantity is the ultrasonic response compared to the "unit". The "unit" has been temporarily

defined by a 5-0050* aluminum-alloy reference block with its response set to

*ASTM E127-75 indentif ication system. 5 - indicates that the hole diameter

is 5/64 ths in (2.0 mm). This is referred to as a "No. 5" block. 0050 - indicates that the metal travel distance is 0.50 in (12.7 mm).
read 80 divisions on an oscilloscope screen. The set has been restricted to

7075 aluminum alloy blocks, in the block sizes (hole diameter and metal distance combinations) specified in [5]. The domain is the most difficult to

specify without making the process so restrictive as to be unreproducable

or unusable. The instrument, pulser, pulse shape, pulse length, transducer

type and frequency, water temperature, etc., all affect the measurements to

some degree. Practically, a combination of these parameters must be selected

that can be reproduced by users in the field, or a model to predict the

effects that these variables will have on the measurements must be formulated.

The algorithm itself has been selected to be representative of good practice

in the field, with some necessary compromises being made for the sake of

system stability or reproducibility. As a next step past the calibration

service, it is anticipated that a program to determine the properness of

field measurements will be initiated. Sets of reference blocks will be fabricated and carefully quantified by comparison to the interim standard on

the NBS ultrasonic measurement system. These can then be circulated in sets

to field users to determine if their relative responses are the same on all

"nominally identical" systems, or to provide the appropriate transfer mechanism so that users' blocks can be calibrated with their own measurement

systems. Changes to the algorithm or domain can then be made, if necessary,

to assure the properness of the measurement system. This is the first step

in the formulation of a Measurement Assurance Program (MAP). This is, in

effect, a feedback loop involving users and the primary standards laboratory to

assure that the standards are being disseminated properly and that good field

measurements consistent with accepted standards are being taken.
4. MEASUREMENT FACILITY

Following is a description of the operating characteristics of the

principal equipment used in the calibration service. Several equipment

parameters have been identified as affecting the relative block-to-block

response and are, therefore, specified or characterized in some manner.

It is intended that facilities with similar equipment could obtain the same

results using similar procedures. The overall laboratory setup is shown in

Figure 2.

4.1 Transducers

In order to provide a common basis for comparison, all of the reference

blocks will be calibrated using quartz transducers as described below. However, if the customer desires, additional comparisons will be made using the

customer's transducer with our equipment. These transducers should be either

2.25, 5, or 10 MHz, and terminate in a standard UHF connection. Further

additional measurement conditions can be discussed on an individual basis.

The transducers to be used for the basic calibration service are commercially available, 5 MHz (nominal) center-frequency, 0.375 in (9.5 mm)

(nominal) diameter active quartz element, immersion ultrasonic search units.

These have been designated lab standards 3 and 4 (LS -3 and LS-4). This type

was chosen for two reasons - the reproducibility of nominally identical transducers appears to be much better than that of other types of transducers, and

a significant amount of reference block data taken with this type of transducer

is available.

Certain characteristics of the transducers were measured to assist in

determining their suitability for this work and to aid in their duplication

8
or replacement. The axial profiles and Y and Y beam profiles were

measured, as outlined in [5], for five transducers of this type. These profiles for the two transducers with the closest characteristics (LS-3 and

LS-4) are shown in Figures 3 and 4. The rf signal waveforms and frequency

spectra of the signals reflected from a flat quartz plate, with the transducers excited by the broadband pulser described in [6], are shown in

Figures 5 and 6. The relative power outputs versus excitation frequency

at constant voltage are shown in Figures 7 and 8*. Some of the

important characteristics of these transducers are summarized in Table 1.

The beam symmetries, band widths, center frequencies, etc., for LS-3 and LS-4

are very similar and appear to make them acceptable for this type of work

[5, 10, 11].

4.2 Ultrasonic Test Instrument

A commercial ultrasonic flaw detector forms the core of the NBS ultrasonic calibration facility. This instrument consists of three main modules;

a pulser/receiver , timer, and power supply/display.

4.2.1 Pulser /Receiver

The pulser/receiver unit transmits tuned, high frequency rf pulses to the

transducer, receives the return pulses from the transducer, amplifies the

pulses, converts them to video pulses, and sends them to the timer. It is a

fixed gain amplifier and variable attenuator receiver. Available frequencies

*These measurements were taken in the Auditory Acoustics Section at NBS'. Further information about the procedure can be obtained from F. R. Breckenridge

or C. E. Tschiegg, Auditory Acoustics Program Team, National Bureau of Standards,

Washington, D.C. 20234.
are 2.25, 5, and 10 MHz. The adjustments that can be made to the pulser/

receiver are: pulse length (time duration of output pulse), pulse tuning

(optimizes output signal by compensating for cable and transducer impedance)

,

attenuator controls (three switches control attenuation in 1-dB increments),

"cal" screw (infinitely adjustable. attenuator control), reject (noise suppressor),

and frequency selector.

The ASTM documents [1, 4, and 5] rely on the response from steel ball

references as primary standards in establishing the appropriate response

from ultrasonic reference blocks. Experiments performed at the NBS laboratory [12] have shown that several factors affect this ball-to-block relationship. Such factors include pulser control adjustments of pulse length and

"cal". Further experiments at this laboratory [12] have indicated a minimal

effect of such variables on relative block-to-block characterization; but

in keeping with good experimental practice, no control adjustments are made

that would seriously affect either a ball-to-block or block-to-block calibration system. Therefore, for the purposes of this calibration service, the

pulse length is not changed, and the "cal" adjustment is used only for signal

adjustments less than ±0.5 dB. That is, the signal is set to the proper value

within ±0.5 dB with the three switchs on the attenuator. The signal

is then set to the "exact" value with the "cal" screw. The reject control is

left off during all signal readings. All testing is done in the normal

(pulse-echo) mode with the transducer connected to the receive jack. The rf

waveform and frequency spectrum of the pulser output pulse are shown in

Figure 9. This signal was taken from the center pin of the receive jack, with

no transducer, in the "normal" mode, and was attenuated by 36 dB.

10
4.2.2 Timer

The timer unit provides variable horizontal time bases for displaying

ultrasonic echo video traces as well as synchronizing signals for measuring

and signal processing subunits. More specifically, the timer is designed

to generate rate, sweep delay and sweep functions that can be varied by

preset calibrated steps, or by vernier dials that are resetable and can

be locked into position.

The only active control that affects the ultrasonic signals is the

pulse rate, which controls the repetition rate of the output pulse. This

control is kept at 500 Hz.

4.2.3 Power Supply /Display

The power supply/display unit includes the main instrument chassis

and contains the appropriate low and high voltage power supplies to

energize the other modules of the entire unit. It also contains the

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display, with vertical graticule lines marked in

tens from to 120 units. The total screen height is 3.0 in C7.6 cm).

4.3 Immersion Tank

All measurements are taken by immersion testing. The tank and lab

scanner described in [6], are used. The couplant is distilled

water. The water temperature is maintained at 70-76 °F (21-24 °C). Experiments at this laboratory [12] have shown that within this range, changes

in water temperature do not change relative block-to-block response.

11
4.4 Equipment Standardization

The test equipment must be adjusted in order that both the receiver

amplifier and video display are linear over the range to be used. Failure

to do so would result in different block-to-block response ratios being

measured depending on the scope reading or attenuator setting.

Two methods frequently used to determine vertical linearity are the

ball diameter vs. ultrasonic response at constant gain method [4] and the ratio

of two responses vs. gain method [13]. However, knowledgeable people in the

ultrasonics industry are not entirely happy with either of these methods.

Therefore, a method combining some of the features of both methods was

used. Ultrasonic response data were taken from steel balls at five

different attenuator settings approximately covering the settings of interest. The standardization points were 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 in

(0.158, 0.318, 0.635, 1.27, and 2.54 cm) diameter steel balls with their

ultrasonic responses set to read 50 units on the scope graticule. These

data are shown in Figure 10. The linearity of the constant attenuation

lines indicates that the oscilloscope display is linear for each of those

settings. Additionally, the ratios of the slopes of adjacent lines are

2.01, 2.01, 2.00 and 2.00 moving from curve A to curve E. This indicates

that the amplifier/attenuator system is linear within about one-half percent

within this attenuator range. Finally, the ratios of the responses from

the two smallest balls were constant within about ±5 percent for those

settings for which readings were above about 20 units on the scope. These

data allow us to define a vertical linearity limit of 100 divisions on the

CRT.

12
4.5 Interim Reference Standard

A large amount of data was taken at the NBS ultrasonic facility on

many reference blocks. Reference blocks of different sizes from different

manufacturers were tested [12]. Based on the analysis of these data, a

5-0050 reference block, designated NBS-URB-IRS-1 (National Bureau of

Standards - Ultrasonic Reference Block - Interim Reference Standard - 1),

has been chosen as an interim reference standard against which other blocks

will be compared. Additionally, six other reference blocks, designated

CS-1 through 6 (Check Standard 1 through 6) have been chosen as check

standards. The mean ultrasonic responses, and standard deviations of the

readings, when compared to NBS-URB-IRS-1, have been carefully determined.

These check standards will be read along with the blocks being calibrated

to insure that the measurement system is under control and that all equipment

settings have been made properly.

5. CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

5.1 Mechanics of Ultrasonic Reference Block Measurement

All measurements are made by immersion, pulse-echo, longitudinal wave,

ultrasonic testing using the equipment described in Section 4. All blocks

are generally clean and free of oil, grease, rust inhibitors, etc. General

purpose solvents or cleaning agents, such as acetone, methyl-ethyl-ketone

,

etc., are used as necessary. The reference blocks are placed in the immersion tank and interrogated by the ultrasonic transducer. Distilled

water is the couplant. A water distance of 3.50 ± 0.03 in (8.90 ± .08 cm)

is maintained between the transducer face and the top surface of the block

being tested. Initially this distance is set using a calibrated steel scale;

13
for subsequent measurements, a reference time location on the scope is

selected for the top-surface reflection. The angle of the transducer with

respect to the block is adjusted to obtain the maximum indication from

the block entry surface. This step insures true perpendicularity between

the transducer beam and the block entry surface. After a normal ultrasonic

beam is obtained, the transducer is positioned laterally to obtain a maximum response from the hole bottom. When the maximum response has been

obtained in this manner, the height of the indication on the scope is read

to the nearest 0.5 percent of the vertical linear limit (1/2 unit on the

scope graticule)

.

5.2 Distance-Amplitude Sets

The equipment sensitivity is set in the following manner. The reference standard is read, and the gain is adjusted to obtain a reading of 80

percent of the vertical linear limit. Since the reference standard is a

No. 5 block, this establishes the sensitivity for all No. 5 blocks. For

other block sizes, the gain is adjusted up or down according to the square

of the hole diameter ratio. For No. 8 blocks, this corresponds to decreasing the gain by a factor of I 5_\ 2 = 0.39. In practice, the gain is reduced

w

(attenuation increased) to reduce a reading of 80 to 31.5 percent of the

vertical linear limit. For No. 3 blocks, the transducer is manipulated

off center to obtain a reading of 30. The gain is increased by I— j =

2.78 by increasing the reading of 30 to 83 percent. For all hole diameter

sizes, after the -0225 or -0250 block is read, the gain is increased by

|= 2.67. All blocks -0175 and longer are then read. This is the same

principle as the "A curve - B curve" scheme adopted in [5]. The relative

14
sensitivity levels for the different distance-amplitude blocks are summarized

in Table 2. For the No. 3, 5, and 8 blocks a check standard is read on both

the A curve and B curve to help identify erroneous gain settings or equipment

malfunctions. The reading from the check standard must be within the previously determined standard deviation in order for a run to be accepted.

Three replicate runs are taken.

5.3 Area-Amplitude Sets

The sensitivity for testing area-amplitude reference blocks is set in

the same manner as a distance-amplitude set, i.e., the reference standard

is set to read 80 percent of the vertical linear limit. The No. 3, 5, and

8 blocks from the Area-Amplitude set are then read, as if they were parts

of Distance-Amplitude sets. The sensitivity is then set so that the No. 8

block reads 100 percent of the vertical linear limit. The No. 7, 6, 5, and

4 blocks are read at this sensitivity. The gain is then increased by a

factor of 3 (30 -> 90 on the scope), and the No. 4, 3, 2, and 1 blocks are

read. The gain is then increased by a factor of 3 again, and the No. 2

and 1 blocks are read. The relative sensitivity levels are summarized in

Table 2.

5.4 Reports

Typical Reports of Calibration are shown in the Appendix. Because no

satisfactory physical model has yet been found that accurately predicts the

distance-amplitude response data, the average of all data taken to date is

included for comparison purposes. For the area-amplitude sets, the bestfit straight line through the origin (by least squares) is shown.

15
6. SUMMARY

A service for the calibration of ASTM-type ultrasonic reference

blocks has been established. The rationale leading to the establishment

of this service and the equipment and procedures used are described in

detail. Extension of this service into a formal Measurement Assurance

Program (MAP), to insure the consistency of field measurements, is planned,

7 . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are pleased to acknowledge Messrs. G. D. Boswell and

R. G. Elmer of the Engineering Mechanics Section, and Dr. J. A. Lechner

of the Statistical Engineering Section for their assistance in the

collection and analysis of data in support of this report.

16
8. REFERENCES

1. Anon. , Tentative Recommended Practice for Fabricating and Checking

Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks, ASTM Designation

E127-58T, 1958 Book of ASTM Standards , Part 3 (Am Soc Test Mat,

Philadelphia, 1958).

2. Cline, C. W. and Morgan, J. B. , Standardization in Ultrasonic Testing,

Non-Destructive Testing, July-August 1955.

3. Panian, F. C. and Van Valkenburg, H. E. , Development of ASTM Standard

Reference Blocks for Ultrasonic Inspection, Proceedings, American

Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia, Vol 59, (1959).

4. Anon. , Standard Recommended Practice for Fabricating and Checking

Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks, ASTM Designation

E127-64, 1974 Book of ASTM Standards , Part 11 (Am Soc Test Mat,

Philadelphia, 1974).

5. Anon. , Standard Recommended Practice for Fabricating and Checking

Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks, ASTM Designation

E127-75 (available from Am Soc Test Mat, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia,

Pa., 19103).

6. Eitzen, D. G. et. al. , Improved Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks,

Report No. NBSIR 75-685, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C.,

April 1975.

7. Carnap, R. , Philosophical Foundations of Physics , Chapters 6 and 7,

(Basic Books, Inc., New York, 1966).

8. Pontius, P. E. , Measurement Philosophy of the Pilot Program for Mass

Calibration, Technical Note 288, National Bureau of Standards,

Washington, D. C, May 1966.

9. Pontius, P. E., Notes on the Fundamentals of Measurement and Measurement

as a Production Process, Report No. NBSIR 74-545, National Bureau of

Standards, Washington, D. C, Sept. 1974.

10. McElroy, J. T. , Ultrasonic Search Units, Technical Report 67-4,

Automation Industries, Inc., Danbury , Connecticut, January 1967.

11. McElroy, J. T. , Identification and Measurement of Ultrasonic Search

Unit Characteristics, Technical Report 66-5, Automation Industries,

Inc., Danbury, Connecticut, April 1966.

17
12. Eitzen, D. G. et. al . , Improved Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks,

Progress Report No. 2, Report No. NBSIR 76-984, National Bureau of

Standards, Washington, D. C, in preparation.

13. Anon. , Standard Recommended Practice for Evaluating Performance

Characteristics of Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Testing Systems, ASTM

Designation E317-68, 1974 Book of ASTM Standards , Part 11 (Am Soc

Test Mat, Philadelphia, 1974).

14. Lidington, B. H. and Silk, M. G.,.The Variability of Ultra'sonic

Transducers, British Journal of NDT, Nov. 1974, pp 173-184.

18
Table 1 - Characteristics of Ultrasonic Transducers

Characteristic Ref. Figure Lab Std 3 Lab Std 4

Y +

, in (cm) [11] 3, 4 3.62(9.2) 3.5 (8.9)

o

Y

x ", in (cm) [11] 3, 4 1.62(4.1) 1.62(4.1)

Maximum peak ratio at Y. 3, 4 1.1? 1.10

-6dB beam width at Y +

, in (cm) 3, 4 0.11(0.28) 0.11(0.28)

Center frequency (a), MHz 5(b), 6(b) 4.86 4.85

Center frequency (b) , MHz 7, 8 4.90 4.85

-6dB bandwidth (a), MHz 5(b), 6(b) 0.91 1.0

No. of cycles > 10 percent

of max. [14] 5(a), 6(a) 8 8

(a) From spectrum analyzer, broadband pulser, return signal from

flat plate.

(b) Frequency at maximum power output.

19
Table 2 - Instrument Sensitivity Levels for Calibration of ASTM-Type

Ultrasonic Reference Blocks

A. Distance - Amplitude Sets

Block No. 5 No. 3 No. 8

Reference Standard

-0050 through -0250

-0175 through 0600

B. Area-Amplitude Sets

Block Gain Gain Gain

No. 8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

G'Cb)

G'

G'

Q-r G' 3G'

3G'

3G'

3G'

9G'

9G'

(a) G is the gain required to obtain a reading of 80 percent of vertical

linear limit from the reference standard.

(b) G' is the gain required to obtain a reading of 100 percent of

vertical linear limit from the No. 8 block.

20
HOLE A, BOTTOM MUST BE FLAT WITHIN

0.001 PER 0.125 DIA., AND FINISHED

SIZE MUSTBE THE REQUIRED DIA.iO\0005

ENTRY SURFACE

HOLE MUST BE STRAIGHT AND PERPENDICULAR^ L_

TO ENTRY SURFACE WITHIN 0°-30' AND

LOCATED WITHIN 0.01 OF LONGITUDINAL AXIS

BACK SURFACE

FLAT COUNTERBORE

0.250^0.062 DEEP

6J7"

EXCEPT AS NOTED

Figure 1, ASTM E127 ultrasonic standard reference

block all dimensions in inches (1 in = 25. 4 mm).

21
>>

o

.1-1

M

X>

• .-< i—

(

y

o

o

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a

00

22
/" Y

f

— 0° - 90°

ji

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ll\l

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ji ji

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r^ i

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WATER DISTANCEjnches

(a) rlOO

60

--40

UJ

— 45° -135° /

ji u

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ll11

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--20

S; -0

£f -100

-60

--40

--20

-0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 SCAN DISTANCE, inches

lb]

-0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 SCAN DISTANCE, inches

Icl

Figure 3. Transducer profiles for LS-3. (a) Axial profile,

(b) Y beam profile (water distances, 3.62 in ), (c) Y

Beam profile (water distance, 1.62 in ). Target is 0.5

in diameter steel ball

Ab

23
--- 90

2 3 4 WATER DISTANCE, inches

(a)

tIOO ~*o -- 90

-60

-40

20

--0

00

u

.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 SCAN DISTANCE.inches

lb]

OJ

-60

--40

-20

-0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.2 SCAN DISTANCE.inches

(c)

0.3

Figure 4. Transducer profiles for LS-4, (a) axial profile

Y beam profile (water distance, 3.5 in ), (c) Y,. Beam

profile (water distance, 1. 62 in ). Target is 0. 51)0 in

diameter steel ball.

24
CO<

TIME

tou

CD<

<

LU

±

2.5 5.0

FREQUENCY. MHz

7.5

lb!

Figure 5. (a) RF waveform, and (b) frequency spectrum of

pulse reflected from flat quartz plate, transducer LS-3,

broadband pulser.

25
CD<

•

i -L

*

1.

[ $00h$

TIME

(I)

CD<

2.5 5.0

FREQUENCY. MHz

7.5

[b]

Figure 6. (a) Waveform , and (b) frequency spectrum of

pulse reflected from flat quartz plate, transducer LS-4,

broadband pulser.

26
i A

u

<vu

53

CO

-Ul MO

u

0)a1 0)

o

u

X

CD

CO

ts

ca

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+J

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u.

<v$oa

a>>

•i-i 4->

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(a|B3S jesuji) d3M0d 3 A 1 1 V13 d

27
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u

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ibbsviiiiiiiiii

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TIME

CO

CO<

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_L

5.0

FREQUENCY, MHz

10.0

Figure 9. Pulser output waveform and frequency spectrum.

Taken from center pin of "receive" jack, normal mode,

5 MHz, no transducer, attenuated.

29
u

u

n)

toO

a

CO

cu

o

COu

CO

CO

CD>

CD

4-> <06

.1-1

CQ

cu

W>

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SNOISIAIQ 3d03S' 3SN0dS3H OINOSVdlin

30
APPENDIX

Typical Reports of Calibration for Distance-Amplitude and Area-Amplitude

Sets of Ultrasonic Reference Blocks.

31
FORM NBS-443

(REV. 12-65)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Lab No.

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS Cost Center No

.

Washington, D.c. 20234 Order No.

Date:

REPORT OF CALIBRATION

ULTRASONIC REFERENCE BLOCKS

Distance-Amplitude Set

S.N. 123

submitted by

Hypothetical Company

Anywhere , USA

The ultrasonic reference block distance-amplitude set cited above was evaluated following the procedures outlined in NBS Technical Note 924,

"Procedures for the Calibration of ASTM E 127-Type Ultrasonic Reference

Blocks." The equipment and reference standard used for the evaluation

were as described in that report.

The data for three runs are shown on the enclosed table and graph. The

amplitude of the ultrasonic signal reflected by the flat-bottomed hole

is measured with the equipment gain set such that the amplitude of the

signal received from the interim reference standard is fixed. The test

block amplitude is thus "relative" to the interim reference standard.

For comparison purposes only, the average values for all blocks previously

evaluated are included. This is statistical information only and does

not imply anything about the accuracy or acceptability of any of the

blocks included.

Errors in setting the equipment sensitivity are undetermined. However,

these errors are considered to be random and contribute to the standard

deviation of the measurements. Based on the available data, it is

estimated that the standard deviation of the mean of three readings is

about 0.8 units.

Measurements were taken by the following NBS personnel

:

For the Director,

Institute for Basic Standards

Enclosures

32
RESULTS OF CALIBRATION

ULTRASONIC REFERENCE BLOCKS

Distance-Amplitude Set

Submitted by Hypothetical Co,

Block Set 123

Hole Diameter 5 64ths

BLOCK I.D.

Reading 1

Value Gain

Reading 2 Value GainReading 3

Value Gain Average

Reference

Value (a)

NBS-URB-IRS-1 80 Gl 80 G2 80 G3 80 - CS-3 (Nominal) - - - 63.8 - CS-3 (Read) 63 63 63 63 .- -0050 77.5 78.5 78 78 80.1

-0062 66 66 66 66 75.5

-0075 62 62 62 62 63.1

-0088 58 58.5 57.5 58 60.3

-0100 47.5 48 47.5 47.7 51.5

-0125 38 38 37.5 37.8 41.5

-0175 -

- - - - 29.1

-0225 20 20.5 20 20.2 21.5

CS- 4 (Nominal) - 2.67G1 - 2.67G2 - 2.67G3 28.1 -

CS-4 (Read) 27.5 28.5 28 28 - -0175 - - - - 77.6

-0225 55.5 57 56 56.2 58.7

-0275 37 37.5 36.5 37 45.7

-0325 25 26.5 26 25.8 35.9

-0375 20.5 21 21 20.7 28.3

-0425 14 14.5 15 14.5 23.6

-0475 12.5 13 13.5 13 20.1

-0525 10 11 11 10.7 18.6

-0575 10 10 10 10 17.2

Observer

Date

Transducer

Water Temp. °C

GDB

3/2/76

LS-4

23.9

GFS

3/3/76

LS-4

23.3

DJC

3/4/76

LS-4

23.3

(a) Average of all data taken to date

33
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-•-" :: -~; ~~4,~ .-:/:' v r;

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34
FORM NBS-443

(REV. 12-05)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Lab No. NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS COS t Center No . Washington, D.c. 20234 Order No.

Date:

REPORT OF CALIBRATION

ULTRASONIC REFERENCE BLOCKS

Area Amplitude Set

submitted by

Hypothetical Company

Anywhere , USA

The ultrasonic reference block area amplitude set cited above was

evaluated following the procedures outlined in NBS Technical Note 924,

"Procedures for the Calibration of ASTM E127-Type Ultrasonic Reference

Blocks". The equipment and reference standard used for the evaluation

were as described in that report.

The data for three runs are shown on the enclosed table and graph.

The amplitude of the ultrasonic signal reflected by the flat -bottomed

hole is measured with the equipment gain set such that the amplitude of

the signal received from the interim reference standard is fixed. The

test block amplitude is thus "relative" to the interim reference standard.

For comparison purposes only, the best fit straight line through the

origin (by least squares) is included.

Errors in setting the equipment sensitivity are undetermined. However,

these errors are considered to be random and contribute to the standard

deviation of the measurements. Based on the available data, it is

estimated that the standard deviation of the mean of three readings is

about 0.8 units.

Measurements were taken by the following NBS personnel:

For the Director,

Institute for Basic Standards

Enclosures

35
RESULTS OF CALIBRATION

ULTRASONIC REFERENCE BLOCKS

Area -Amplitude Set

Submitted by Hypothetical Co.

Block Set as Indicated Below

Metal Distance 3 in

Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 Reference

BLOCK I.D. S/N Value Gain Value Gain Value Gain Average Value

NBS-URB-IRS-1 -

' 80 Gl 80 G5 80 G9 80 - CS-4 (Nominal) - - 2.67G1 - 2.67G5 - 2.67G9 28.1 ^ CS-4 (Read) - 28 28.5 27.5 28.0 - 5-0300 A-0673 32.5 33 31 32.2 40.8(a)

NBS-URB-IRS-1 - 80 G2 80 G6 80 G10 80 -

CS-6 (Nominal) - - 1.04G2 - 1.04G6 - 1.04G10 35.2 -

CS-6 (Read) - 34.5 35.5 35.5 35.2 - 8-0300 A-0706 43 44 42 43 40.8(a)

NBS-URB-IRS-1 - 80 G3 80 G7 80 Gil 80 -

CS-2 (Nominal) - - 7.41G3 - 7.41G7 - 7.41G11 77.8 -

CS-2 (Read) - 77 77 76.5 76.8 -

3-0300 A-0729 32.5 32 30 31.5 40.8(a)

8-0300 A-0706 100 G4 100 G8 100 G12 100 92.9(b)

7-0300 A-0705 66 66 66.5 66.2 71.1

6-0300 A-0655 52.5 52.5 52 52.3 52.3

5-0300 A-0673 31 31 30.5 30.8 36.3

4-0300 A-0686 21 20.5 20 20.5 23.2

4-0300 A-0686 65.5 3G4 64.5 3G8 64 3G12 64.7 73.3

3-0300 A-0729 34 33.5 33 33.5 41.2

2-0300 A-0639 12 11 11 11.3 18.3

1-0300 A-0735 3 25 2 2.5 4.6

2-0300 A-0639 39 9G4 39 9G8 36.5 9G12 38.2

1-0300 A-0735 11 11.5 11 11.2

36
Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 Reference

BLOCK I.D. S/N Value Gain Value Gain Value Gain Average Value

Observer DJC GDB GFS

Date 3/1/76 3/1/76 3/2/76

Transducer LS-4 LS-4 LS-4

Water Temp. C 24.4 23.9 24.4

(a) Average of all data taken to date.

(b) From least squares linear fit through origin.

37
fs

01 a H

1 «

4J u

§ H

n)O

T> •H

01 >. 4J

4J a 01 « a) J3 a B< 4J •H a a o Q

a o K H N

SB]

to

to n

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u2 Ul

CD H

3 <

CO a

UJ CO 2 z

»'«

- *** id)

Ul S

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38
NBS-114A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. NBS TN-924

2. Gov't Accession

No.

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

PROCEDURES FOR THE CALIBRATION OF

ASTM E127-Type

Ultrasonic Reference Blocks

5. Publication Date September

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

D. J. Chwirut, G. F. Sushinsky, and D. C. Eitzen

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 2130443

11. Contract/Grant No.

DO F33615-74-M6752

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Air Force Materials Laboratory

Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

13. Type of Report & Period Covered Interim

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less (actual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.) A service for the calibration of ASTM E127-Type ultrasonic reference blocks

has been established at the National Bureau of Standards. A single well-characterized reference block, carefully chosen to be as close as possible to "typical" or "nominal", has been designated as an interim standard against which other blocks

can be compared. As refinements are made and the system becomes better understood, new standards may be developed leading to the development of an absolute national

standard. The facilities and procedures used in this calibration service are described herein.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons)

Aluminum ultrasonic reference standards; ASTM-type reference standards; calibration;

interim reference standard; longitudinal beam; measurement system; nondestructive

evaluat ion; pul se-echo ; ul tr asonics.

18. AVAILABILITY [jj[] Unlimited

H For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

I .X| Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government PrJntinj> Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. C13 • 4b:?Z4

1 x! Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCLASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

44

22. Price $1.05

USCOMM.OC 29042-P74

*US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1976 210-801/409 1-3
.#' 6^ -v€. ^

^ ^

^

A® ,0^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^° G

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>\°

^ ^

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,Ox <s?' .0

X

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A°"

K<cT -<-e "> -«- _<r- „&

O

v A ^

,c^

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*n cS*

0-1 ^g^o^t,

. C <8V A"o<^r

.T-°V?>
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