FAQ
    
    AGREEMENT STATES
    
    Facility Locator
    
    What's New
    
    Site Help
    
    Index A-Z
    
    Contact Us
    
    Email Updates
      
      
      
      
       
      Report a Safety Concern
                  Search
        Nuclear Reactors
  
  Power Reactors
Research & Test ReactorsOperating Reactors
New ReactorsOperator Licensing
Research ActivitiesNuclear Reactor Quick LinksNuclear Materials
  
  Types of Nuclear Materials
Fuel Cycle Facilities
Medical, Industrial, & Academic UsesUranium Recovery
Materials TransportationMaterials Environmental Reviews
National Materials ProgramNuclear Materials Quick LinksRadioactive Waste
  
  Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
Low-Level Waste
Waste Incidental to Reprocessing
High-Level WasteUranium Mill Tailings
Low-Level Waste Disposal
High-Level Waste DisposalStorage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Research ActivitiesRadioactive Waste Quick LinksNuclear Security
  
  Domestic Safeguards
Information Security
Radioactive Material SecurityRequired Reporting for Clearance Holders
Insider Threat Program for Licensees
CybersecurityCriminal History & Firearms Checks
Contact UsPublic Meetings & Involvement
  
  The NRC Approach to Open Government
About Meetings Open to the Public
Conferences & SymposiaDocuments for Comment
NRC Rules and Petitions
Facilitating Stakeholder InvolvementNRC Information Quality Guidelines
Subscribe to E-mail UpdatesCommission Schedule
Public Meeting ScheduleAdjudications (Hearings)
Adjudicatory SubmissionsNRC Library
  
  Basic References
Document Collections
ADAMS Public Documents
Public Document Room
LSN LibraryFOIA & Privacy Act
Photos & Videos
Records Management
Training CoursesFAQ Index
Get Copies of Documents
Withholding of Sensitive Information
Controlled Unclassified Information Program (CUI)Electronic Hearing DocketAbout NRC
  
  The Commission
Organization & Functions
Governing Legislation
Plans, Budget, & Performance
Locations
History
Values
Direction-Setting & Policymaking
Research Activities
Radiation ProtectionFire Protection
Safety Culture
How We Regulate
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Public Affairs
Congressional Affairs
Enforcement
International Programs
State & Tribal ProgramsAlternative Dispute Resolution Programs
Privacy Program
Civil Rights Program
Contact Us
Career Opportunities
Contracting Opportunities
Small Businesses
Grant Opportunities
Generic SchedulesOther Links
  
  FAQ
Glossary
Facility Locator
What's NewSite Help
Index A-Z
Contact Us
Email UpdatesNRC Facebook
NRC Twitter Feed
NRC Linkedin
NRC Youtube Channel
NRC Flickr Gallery
NRC Blog Archived
NRC Email Subscriptions - GovDelivery Home
          NRC Library  Document Collections  NUREG-Series Publications  Publications Prepared by NRC ContractorsApplying Ultrasonic Testing in Lieu of Radiography for Volumetric Examination of Carbon Steel Piping (NUREG/CR-7204, PNNL-24232)

On this page: Publication Information AbstractDownload complete document NUREG/CR-7204 (PDF - 14.3 MB)Publication Information **Manuscript Completed:** May 2015**Date Published:** September 2015 **Prepared by:** T. L. Moran, M. Prowant, C. A. Nove*, A. F. Pardini, S. L. Crawford, A. D. Cinson, and M. T. Anderson Pacific Northwest National Laboratory P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 *U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission C. A. Nove, NRC Project Manager NRC Job Code V6097 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington DC 20555-0001 Availability Notice Abstract Confirmatory research is being conducted for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to assess the effectiveness and reliability of advanced nondestructive examination methods as they are applied to pressure boundary components and other materials installed in light-water reactors. The work reported here provides an initial technical evaluation of the capabilities of phased-array ultrasonic testing to supplant traditional radiographic testing for detection and characterization of welding fabrication flaws in carbon steel welds. The work was performed on a limited set of piping girth welds and welded plates containing varied types and sizes of volumetric and planar fabrication flaws. Phased-array ultrasonic data were acquired using transmit-receive shear waves at 4.0 and 5.0 MHz, and compared to consensus evaluations and computed radiography in correlating detection and flaw characterization capabilities. The results show that, for carbon steel, phased-array ultrasonic testing is capable of detecting all but very small volumetric flaws, and is much more capable of detecting planar flaws than standard radiographic techniques. The study also shows that characterization of flaws using ultrasonic testing (i.e., determining whether a flaw is volumetric or planar in nature) can be highly subjective based on operator experience; thus, radiographic imaging may have an advantage over ultrasonic imaging in this regard. Finally, several technical knowledge gaps were discovered as a result of this work, including the lack of appropriate performance demonstration standards and robust acceptance criteria for fabrication weld inspection (i.e., fitness for service versus workmanship standards). 
      
      Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021  Home
NEWS RELEASES

EVENT REPORTS

ADAMS

OPEN GOV

DIGITAL GOVERNMENT

THE STUDENT CORNER

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

FOR DEVELOPERS
        About Us
STRATEGIC PLAN

BUDGET & PERFORMANCE

AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT

LICENSE FEES

HISTORY OF THE NRC

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

NRC ETHICS

AGENCY STATUS

CONTACT US
        Popular Documents
INFO DIGEST

FACT SHEETS & BROCHURES

FORMS

ELECTRONIC SUBMITTALS APPLICATION

ADJUDICATORY SUBMISSIONS

NRC REPORTS - NUREG

NRC REGULATIONS - 10-CFR

INSPECTION REPORTS

PLAIN WRITING

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

RULEMAKING

GLOSSARY
        Stay Connected
    
    
    
    
    United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    
    
    
    
    Regulations.gov

USA.gov

FOIA

Whistleblower Protection

No Fear EEO

Inspector General

Site Map

Accessibility

Privacy Policy

Site Disclaimer

For Employees