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Time of Flight Diffraction (Tofd) Technique - Asme V
Time of Flight Diffraction (Tofd) Technique - Asme V
SCOPE
III-430
III-431
III-420
GENERAL
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.
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.
Table III-422
Requirements of a TOFD Examination
Procedure
Requirement (as Applicable)
Instrument manufacturer and model
Instrument software
Directions and extent of scanning
Method for sizing flaw length
Method for sizing flaw height
Data sampling spacing (increase only)
Essential
Variable
Nonessen
tial Variable
X
X
X
X
X
X
INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENTS
III-422
EQUIPMENT
III-432
SEARCH UNITS
ARTICLE 4
III-435
(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 15 MHz unless variables, such as production material
grain structure, require the use of other frequencies to assure adequate penetration or better resolution.
MECHANICS
III-460
III-463
CALIBRATION
CALIBRATION
III-463.1 Calibration Block. Calibration shall be performed utilizing the calibration block shown in Figure
III-434.2.1(a) or Figure III-434.2.1(b), as applicable.
III-434
ARTICLE 4
CALIBRATION BLOCKS
III-434.1 General.
III-434.1.1 Reflectors. Side-drilled holes shall be
used to confirm adequate sensitivity settings.
III-434.1.7 Block Curvature. Paragraph T-434.1.7
shall also apply to piping.
III-463.3 Confirmation of Sensitivity. Scan the calibration blocks SDHs with them centered between the
probes, at the reference sensitivity level set in III-463.2.
The SDH responses from the required zone shall be a minimum of 6 dB above the grain noise and shall be apparent
in the resulting digitized grayscale display.
III-464
III-465
III-434.4 Cladding Calibration Blocks. The requirements of T-434.4 are not applicable to the TOFD
technique.
2013 SECTION V
ARTICLE 4
2013 SECTION V
Figure III-434.2.1(a)
TOFD Reference Block
T/4
3T/4
Up to 1 (25)
/32 (2.5)
1
/8 (3)
/16 (5)
/4 (6)
Over 4 (100)
GENERAL NOTES:
(a) Holes shall be drilled and reamed 2 in. (50 mm) deep minimum, essentially parallel to the examination surface and the scanning direction.
(b) Hole Tolerance. The tolerance on diameter shall be 1/32 in. (0.8 mm). The tolerance on location through the block thickness shall be 1/8 in.
(3 mm).
(c) All holes shall be located on the same face (side) of the block and aligned at the approximate center of the face (side) unless the indication
from one reflector affects the indication from another. In these cases, the holes may be located on opposite faces (sides) of the block.
(d) When the weld is broken up into multiple zones, each zone shall have a T z /4 and T z (3/4) side drilled hole, where Tz is the zone thickness.
(e) For components 20 in. (500 mm) in diameter, calibration block diameter shall meet the requirements of T 434.1.7.2.
Fig III-434.2.1(b)
Two-Zone Reference Block Example
T1/4
T13/4
T
Upper zone
T1
T2/4
T23/4
Lower zone
T2
Cladding (when present)
GENERAL NOTES:
(a) T1 equals the thickness of the upper zone.
(b) T2 equals the thickness of the lower zone.
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ARTICLE 4
Figure III-463.5
Offset Scans
SCAN #3
PCS offset 1/2 of applicable zone
width 1/2 in. (13 mm)
applicable zone
width 1/2 in.
(13 mm)
SCAN #1
PCS centered on weld
axis
SCAN #2
PCS offset 1/2 of applicable zone
width 1/2 in. (13 mm)
III-467
ENCODER CONFIRMATION
III-471.6
The unrectified (RF waveform) A-scan signal shall be recorded. The A-scan gated region shall be set to start just
prior to the lateral wave and, as a minimum, not end until
all of the first back-wall signal with allowance for thickness and mismatch variations, is recorded. Useful data
can be obtained from mode-converted signals; therefore,
the interval from the first back-wall to the modeconverted back-wall signal shall also be included in the
data collected when required by the referencing Code.
III-470
III-471.1
EXAMINATION
EXAMINATION COVERAGE
III-471.4
III-471.8
An angle beam examination shall be performed in accordance with T-472.1.3 for reflectors transverse to the weld
axis unless the referencing Code Section specifies a TOFD
examination. In these cases, position each TOFD probe
pair essentially parallel to the weld axis and move the
probe pair along and down the weld axis. If the weld reinforcement is not ground smooth, position the probes on
the adjacent plate material as parallel to the weld axis as
possible.
OVERLAP
III-471.5
2013 SECTION V
13
III-471.9
2013 SECTION V
III-486
III-472
III-473
CLADDING TECHNIQUE
III-490
III-475
III-492
III-493
III-485
DOCUMENTATION
EXAMINATION RECORD
REPORT
74
ARTICLE 4