STANDARD PRACTICE FOR ULTRASONIC
INSPECTION OF METAL PIPE AND TUBING
SE-213
(Identical with ASTM Specification E 213-98)
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for detecting 2.1 ASTM Standards:
discontinuities in metal pipe and tubing using pulse- E 543 Practice for Evaluating Agencies That Perform
reflection ultrasonic contact or immersion angle beam Nondestructive Testing
techniques. Artificial discontinuities consisting of longi- E 1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
tudinal reference notches are employed as the primary
means of standardizing the ultrasonic system. If trans- 2.2 ASNT Documents:
verse as well as longitudinal examination is desired, a Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A for Nondestructive
procedure for employing transverse notches is provided. Testing Personnel Qualification and Certification
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 Standard for Qualification and Cer-
tification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel
1.2 This practice is intended for use with tubular
products having outside diameters approximately 1⁄2 in. 2.3 Military Standard:
(12.7 mm) and larger, provided that the examination MIL-STD-410 Nondestructive Testing Personnel Quali-
parameters comply with and satisfy the requirements fication and Certification
of Section 12. These procedures have been used success-
fully for smaller sizes, however, and may be specified
upon contractual agreement between the using parties. 3. Terminology
NOTE 1: Cautions — Exercise caution when examining pipe or 3.1 Definitions — For definitions of terms used in
tubes near or below the 1⁄2-in. specified limit. Certain combinations this practice, see Terminology E 1316.
of search unit size, frequency, thin wall thicknesses, and small
diameters could cause generation of unwanted sound waves that may
produce erroneous test results.
4. Summary of Practice
1.3 This practice does not establish acceptance crite-
4.1 A pulsed ultrasonic angle beam by either the
ria; they must be specified by the using party or parties.
surface contact or immersion method shall be used.
Figure 1 illustrates the characteristic angle beam sound
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be entry into the pipe wall for both contact and immersion
regarded as standard. The SI equivalents are in parenthe- testing using a single search unit.
ses and may be approximate.
NOTE 2 — Immersion test method may include tanks, wheel search
units, or systems that use liquid streams.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all
of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. 4.2 Variations of the single search unit method using
It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to multiple search units with the same or various angles
establish appropriate safety and health practices and and special gating are sometimes desirable and may
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations be necessary for efficient examination of thicker wall
prior to use. material.
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ARTICLE 23 — ULTRASONIC STANDARDS SE-213
5. Significance and Use 7. Personnel Qualification
5.1 The purpose of this practice is to outline a 7.1 If specified in the contractual agreement, person-
procedure for detecting and locating significant disconti- nel performing examinations to this standard shall be
nuities such as pits, voids, inclusions, cracks, splits, qualified in accordance with a nationally recognized
and the like, by the ultrasonic pulse-reflection method. NDT personnel qualification practice or standard such
as ANSI/ASNT CP-189, SNT-TC-1A, MIL-STD-410,
or a similar document and certified by the employer
or certifying agency, as applicable. The practice or
6. Basis of Application
standard used and its applicable revision shall be identi-
6.1 The following are items that must be decided fied in the contractual agreement between the using
upon by the using party or parties. parties.
6.1.1 Size and type of tubing to be examined.
6.1.2 Extent of examination, that is, scanning in
one or both circumferential directions, scanning in one 8. Surface Condition
or both axial directions, weld zone only if welded,
8.1 All surfaces shall be clean and free of scale,
pitch of feed helix during scanning, etc.
dirt, grease, paint, or other foreign material that could
6.1.3 The point(s) in the manufacturing process interfere with interpretation of test results. The methods
at which the material will be examined. used for cleaning and preparing the surfaces for ultra-
sonic examination shall not be detrimental to the base
6.1.4 Surface condition. metal or the surface finish. Excessive surface roughness
6.1.5 Maximum time interval between equipment or scratches can produce signals that interfere with
standardization checks, if different from that described the test.
in 13.2.
6.1.6 Type, dimensions, location, method of manu-
facture, and number of artificial discontinuities to be 9. Apparatus
placed on the reference standard.
9.1 The instruments and accessory equipment shall
6.1.7 Method(s) for measuring dimensions of arti- be of the pulse-reflection type and shall be capable of
ficial discontinuities and tolerance limits if different distinguishing the reference notches described in Section
than specified in Section 11. 11 to the extent required in the standardization procedure
6.1.8 Criteria for reportable and rejectable indica- described in Section 12. Figure 1 illustrates the refrac-
tions (that is, acceptance criteria). tion of sound in the pipe or tube wall, and the circumfer-
ential direction of ultrasonic energy propagation used
6.1.9 Reexamination of repaired/reworked items is to detect longitudinal notches.
not addressed in this standard and if required shall be
specified in the contractual agreement.
6.1.10 Requirements for permanent records of the
response from each tube, if applicable. 10. Couplant
10.1 A liquid couplant such as water, oil, or glycerin,
6.1.11 Contents of testing report.
capable of conducting ultrasonic vibrations between the
6.1.12 Operator qualifications and certification, if transducer and the pipe or tube being tested shall be
required. used. Rust inhibitors, softeners, and wetting agents may
be added to the couplant. The couplant liquid with all
6.1.13 Qualification of nondestructive agencies. If additives should not be detrimental to the surface
specified in the contractual agreement, NDT agencies condition of the pipe or tube, and shall wet the surface
shall be qualified and evaluated as described in E 543. of the material to provide adequate coupling efficiency.
The applicable edition of E 543 shall be specified in
the contractual agreement. NOTE 3 — In contact testing, some couplants result in better
ultrasonic transmission when the tubing is precoated several hours
6.1.14 Level of personnel qualification (see 7.1). before the test.
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SE-213 2001 SECTION V
11. Reference Standards 11.5.2 The width of the notches shall be as small
as practical, but should not exceed twice the depth.
11.1 A reference standard of a convenient length
shall be prepared from a length of pipe or tube of the 11.6 Other types and orientations of reference discon-
same nominal diameter, wall thickness, material, surface tinuities may be specified by the using party or parties.
finish, and heat treatment as the material to be examined.
The reference pipe or tube shall be free of discontinuities
or other conditions producing indications that can inter-
12. Standardization of Apparatus
fere with detection of the reference notches.
12.1 Using the reference standard specified in Section
11.2 Longitudinal (axial) reference notches shall be
11, adjust the equipment to produce clearly identifiable
introduced on the outer and inner surfaces of the
indications from both the inner and outer surface
standard.
notches. The relative response from the inner and outer
NOTE 4 — For sizes below 1⁄4-in. inner diameter, the ratio of the surface notches should be as nearly equal as possible.
outer diameter to wall thickness must be taken into consideration. Use the lesser of the two responses to establish the
rejection level. On large diameter or heavy wall pipe
11.3 If two or more reference notches are placed
and tubing, if the inner and outer surface notch ampli-
on the same end of the reference standard, they shall
tude cannot be made equal because of test metal distance
be separated sufficiently (circumferentially or axially
and inside diameter curvature, a separate rejection level
or both) to preclude interference and interpretation
may be established for the inner and outer surface
difficulties.
notches.
11.4 All upset metal, burrs, etc., adjacent to the
NOTE 7 — Indication amplitude may not be proportional to
reference notches shall be removed. notch depth.
11.5 The notch dimensions, which are length, depth, 12.2 Standardize the equipment under dynamic condi-
and width (and for V-notches, the included angle) must tions that simulate the production examination. The
be decided upon by the using party or parties. Figure pipe or tubing to be examined and the search unit
2 illustrates the common notch configurations and the assembly shall have a rotating translating motion relative
dimensions to be measured (Note 5). Reflection ampli- to each other such that a helical scan path will be
tudes from V-, square-, and U-shaped notches of compa- described on the outer surface of the pipe or tube.
rable dimensions may vary widely depending on the Maintain the speed of rotation and translation constant
angle, frequency, and vibrational mode of the interrogat- within ±10%. Axial scanning with circumferential in-
ing sound beam. dexing may be used to provide equivalent coverage.
NOTE 5 — In Figure 2 (a), (b), and (d), the sharp corners are for 12.3 The pitch of the feed helix shall be small
ease of illustration. It is recognized that in normal machining practice,
a radius will be generated.
enough to ensure 100% coverage at the test distance
and sensitivity established during calibration.
11.5.1 The notch depth shall be an average mea-
sured from the circular tubing surface to the maximum
and minimum penetration of the notch. Measurements 13. Procedure
may be made by optical, replicating, or other agreed 13.1 Unless otherwise specified, examine the pipe
upon techniques. Notch depth shall be within ±0.0005 or tubing with the ultrasound transmitted in one circum-
in. (0.013 mm) of the specified value for notches 0.005 ferential direction under the identical conditions used
in. (0.13 mm) or less in depth, and within +10, −15% for equipment standardization (Note 8). Examination
of the specified value for notches over 0.005 in. in may be required with the ultrasound transmitted in
depth. both circumferential directions (see Supplementary Re-
NOTE 6 — For as-rolled or scaly tube surfaces, it may be necessary quirement S1). If the examination is to be performed
to modify 11.5.1. Two acceptable modifications are listed below. in both directions, conduct the standardization procedure
Modification (a) is preferred; however, modification (b) may be used of Section 12 in both directions.
unless otherwise specified.
(a) The circular tube surface may be smoothed or prepared in NOTE 8 — Identical conditions include all instrument settings,
the notch area, or mechanical motions, search unit position and alignment relative to
(b) The notch depth shall be within ±0.001 in. (0.025 mm), or the pipe or tube, liquid couplant, and any other factors that affect
+10, −15% of the specified depth, whichever is greater. the performance of the examination.
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ARTICLE 23 — ULTRASONIC STANDARDS SE-213
13.2 Periodically check standardization of the equip- 14. Interpretation of Results
ment by passing the reference standard through the
14.1 All indications that are equal to or greater than
examination equipment. Make these checks prior to
the rejection level established during standardization as
any examination run, prior to equipment shutdown after
described in Section 12, or as specified by the using
an examination run, and at least every 4 h during
party or parties, shall be considered as representing
continuous equipment operation. Restandardize the
defects and may be cause for rejection of the pipe
equipment in accordance with Section 12 any time the
or tube.
equipment does not present a clearly defined, rejectable
signal from both the inner and outer surface notches 14.2 If, upon examination of the pipe or tube, no
of the standard. rejectable indications are detected, the material shall be
considered as having passed the ultrasonic examination,
13.3 For many tubular sizes and examination arrange- except as noted in 13.4.
ments, there will be a reflection from the entry surface
of the pipe or tube. This signal may be observed, but NOTE 10 — Rejected pipe or tubes may be reworked in a manner
acceptable to the purchaser. If, upon ultrasonic reexamination of the
not gated, as a supplement to the required checking reworked pipe or tube, no rejectable indications are detected, the
of the reference standard to give increased assurance material should be considered as having passed the ultrasonic exami-
that the equipment is functioning properly. If such a nation.
signal does not exist, make more frequent equipment NOTE 11 — Care should be exercised to ensure that reworking a
standardization checks. pipe or tube does not change its acceptability with respect to other
requirements of the material specification such as wall thickness,
13.4 In the event that the equipment does not present ovality, surface finish, length, and the like.
signals as outlined in 12.1 and 13.2, reinspect all pipe
or tubing examined since the last acceptable standardiza-
tion after restandardization has been accomplished. 15. Report
15.1 When a report is required, it shall contain
13.5 Do not make any equipment adjustments unless
such information as is mutually considered adequate
the complete standardization procedure described in
to document that the pipe or tubes supplied meet the
Section 12 is performed.
requirements of this practice.
13.6 The examination shall be applied to 100% of
the pipe or tubing unless otherwise specified.
16. Keywords
NOTE 9 — Some traversing mechanisms do not allow examination
of tubing ends. When this condition exists, clearly indicate the extent 16.1 angle beam; nondestructive examination; pipe;
of this effect, per tube, in the examination report. tubing; ultrasonic examination
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
These requirements shall apply only when individually specified by the using party
or parties. When details of these requirements are not covered herein, they may be
subject to agreement by a using party.
S1. Scanning metal distance shall be employed. Details of the proce-
dures used to establish and apply the distance–amplitude
S1.1 Scanning shall be conducted with the ultrasonic
correction (DAC) curve shall be established by the
beam directed in both circumferential directions.
using party or parties.
S2. Distance–Amplitude Correction S3. Transverse Notches
S2.1 A method of compensating for the reduction S3.1 Instead of (or in addition to) the longitudinal
in ultrasonic signal amplitude as a function of test notches described in Section 11, a transverse (circumfer-
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SE-213 2001 SECTION V
ential) notch shall be introduced on the inner and outer
surfaces of the reference standard. The requirements
of 11.3, 11.4, and 11.5 shall apply to transverse notches.
S3.2 An independent channel of instrumentation (in-
cluding search unit assembly) shall be employed for
the purpose of detecting transverse discontinuities.
S3.3 When transverse notches are required, the using
party or parties shall also determine whether scanning
is required in one or both axial directions. Figure 3
illustrates the refraction of sound in the pipe or tube
wall, and the axial propagation of ultrasonic energy to
detect transverse notches.
NOTE 12 — If a requirement exists for both longitudinal and
transverse notches, and scanning for each in two directions, the
following three options are available:
(a) Each pipe or tube is passed through a single-channel examination FIG. 1 CIRCUMFERENTIAL PROPAGATION OF
station four times, twice in each direction, SOUND IN TUBE WALL
(b) Each pipe or tube is passed through a two-channel examination
station twice, once in each direction, or
(c) Each pipe or tube is passed through a four-channel examination
station once.
S5.1.1 Identification of the material by type, size,
lot, heat, and the like.
S4. Recording
S5.1.2 Identification of the examination equipment
S4.1 A permanent record containing objective evi-
and accessories.
dence of the examination results shall accompany each
accepted pipe or tube. This may be in the form of a S5.1.3 Details of the examination technique, includ-
strip chart recording of the ultrasonic instrument output ing examination speed, testing frequency, and end ef-
during the examination. It shall contain recordings of fects if any (Note 12).
all standardizations and standardization checks and shall
S5.1.4 Description of the reference standard, in-
be annotated to provide a positive correlation between
cluding the actual (measured) dimensions of the artificial
each test record and the corresponding pipe and tube.
discontinuities.
S5.1.5 Description of the distance–amplitude cor-
S5. Report rection procedure, if used. (See Supplementary Require-
ment S2.)
S5.1 The supplier shall submit to the purchaser a
report that includes at least the following information: S5.1.6 Examination results.
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ARTICLE 23 — ULTRASONIC STANDARDS SE-213
FIG. 2 COMMON NOTCH SHAPES
FIG. 3 AXIAL PROPAGATION OF SOUND IN TUBE WALL
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