ASTM E164-03

Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Contact Examination of Weldment

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The techniques for ultrasonic examination of welds described in this practice are intended to provide a means of weld examination for both internal and surface discontinuities within the weld and the heat-affected zone. The practice is limited to the examination of specific weld geometries in wrought or forged material.
The techniques provide a practical method of weld examination for internal and surface discontinuities and are well suited to the task of in-process quality control. The practice is especially suited to the detection of discontinuities that present planar surfaces perpendicular to the sound beam. Other nondestructive tests may be used when porosity and slag inclusions must be critically evaluated.
When ultrasonic examination is used as a basis of acceptance of welds, there should be agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser as to the specific reference standards and limits to be used. Examples of reference standards are given in Section 6. A detailed procedure for weld examination describing allowable discontinuity limits should be written and agreed upon.
Personnel Qualification—In order to meet the intent of this recommended practice, it is essential that evaluation be performed by properly trained and qualified testing personnel. The user is referred to Practice SNT-TC-1A published by American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) or other equivalent programs.
Nondestructive Testing Agency Evaluation—Use of an NDT agency (as defined in Practice E 543) to perform the examination may be agreed upon by the using parties. If a systematic assessment of the capability of the agency is specified, a documented procedure such as Practice E 543 shall be used as the basis for evaluation.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers techniques for the ultrasonic A-scan examination of specific weld configurations joining wrought ferrous or aluminum alloy materials to detect weld discontinuities (Note 1). The reflection method using pulsed waves is specified. Manual techniques are described employing contact of the search unit through a couplant film or water column.
1.2 This practice utilizes angle beams or straight beams, or both, depending upon the specific weld configurations. Practices for special geometries such as fillet welds and spot welds are not included. The practice is intended to be used on thicknesses of 0.250 to 8 in. [6.4 to 203 mm].
Note 1—This practice is based on experience with ferrous and aluminum alloys. Other metallic materials can be examined using this practice provided reference standards can be developed that demonstrate that the particular material and weld can be successfully penetrated by an ultrasonic beam.
Note 2—For additional pertinent information see Practice E 317, Terminology E 1316, and Practice E 587.
1.3 Values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. SI units are given for information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-2003
• ICS: 25.160.40 - Welded joints and welds
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.06 - Ultrasonic Method

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E164-97 - Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Contact Examination of Weldments
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM E164-08 - Standard Practice for Contact Ultrasonic Testing of Weldments
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Referred By: ASTM F914/F914M-20 - Standard Test Method for Acoustic Emission for Aerial Personnel Devices Without Supplemental Load Handling Attachments
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM A1123/A1123M-22 - Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Laser and Laser-Hybrid Welded, Sharp-Cornered Profile (SCP), Built-Up, Square, Rectangular, and Special Shape Tube
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2375-22 - Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of Wrought Products
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1797-18(2022) - Standard Test Method for Acoustic Emission Testing of Insulated and Non-Insulated Digger Derricks
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E543-21 - Standard Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive Testing
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1430/F1430M-20 - Standard Test Method for Acoustic Emission Testing of Insulated and Non-Insulated Aerial Personnel Devices with Supplemental Load Handling Attachments
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1961-16(2021) - Standard Practice for Mechanized Ultrasonic Testing of Girth Welds Using Zonal Discrimination with Focused Search Units
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2981-21 - Standard Guide for Nondestructive Examination of Composite Overwraps in Filament Wound Pressure Vessels Used in Aerospace Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2373/E2373M-19 - Standard Practice for Use of the Ultrasonic Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) Technique
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2700-20 - Standard Practice for Contact Ultrasonic Testing of Welds Using Phased Arrays
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E 164 – 03
Standard Practice for
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Ultrasonic Contact Examination of Weldments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 164; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
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1. Scope E 1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
2.2 ASNT Standard:
1.1 ThispracticecoverstechniquesfortheultrasonicA-scan
Practice SNT-TC-1A Personnel Qualification and Certifica-
examination of specific weld configurations joining wrought
3
tion in Nondestructive Testing
ferrous or aluminum alloy materials to detect weld disconti-
2.3 ISO Standard:
nuities (Note 1). The reflection method using pulsed waves is
ISO 2400 ReferenceBlockfortheCalibrationofEquipment
specified. Manual techniques are described employing contact
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for Ultrasonic Examination
of the search unit through a couplant film or water column.
1.2 This practice utilizes angle beams or straight beams, or
3. Significance and Use
both, depending upon the specific weld configurations. Prac-
3.1 The techniques for ultrasonic examination of welds
tices for special geometries such as fillet welds and spot welds
described in this practice are intended to provide a means of
are not included. The practice is intended to be used on
weld examination for both internal and surface discontinuities
thicknesses of 0.250 to 8 in. [6.4 to 203 mm].
within the weld and the heat-affected zone. The practice is
NOTE 1—This practice is based on experience with ferrous and alumi-
limited to the examination of specific weld geometries in
num alloys. Other metallic materials can be examined using this practice
wrought or forged material.
provided reference standards can be developed that demonstrate that the
3.2 The techniques provide a practical method of weld
particular material and weld can be successfully penetrated by an
examination for internal and surface discontinuities and are
ultrasonic beam.
well suited to the task of in-process quality control. The
NOTE 2—For additional pertinent information see Practice E 317,
Terminology E 1316, and Practice E 587. practice is especially suited to the detection of discontinuities
that present planar surfaces perpendicular to the sound beam.
1.3 Values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as
Other nondestructive tests may be used when porosity and slag
the standard. SI units are given for information only.
inclusions must be critically evaluated.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.3 When ultrasonic examination is used as a basis of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
acceptance of welds, there should be agreement between the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
manufacturer and the purchaser as to the specific reference
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
standards and limits to be used. Examples of reference stan-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
dards are given in Section 6. A detailed procedure for weld
2. Referenced Documents examination describing allowable discontinuity limits should
be written and agreed upon.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.4 Personnel Qualification—In order to meet the intent of
E 317 Practice for Evaluating Performance Characteristics
this recommended practice, it is essential that evaluation be
of Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Examination Systems Without
2
performed by properly trained and qualified testing personnel.
the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
The user is referred to Practice SNT-TC-1A published by
E 543 Practice for Agencies Performing Nondestructive
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American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) or other
Testing
equivalent programs.
E 587 Practice for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam Examination by
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3.5 Nondestructive Testing Agency Evaluation—Use of an
the Contact Method
NDT agency (as defined in Practice E 543) to perform the
examination may be agreed upon by the using parties. If a
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde-
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on
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Ultrasonic Method. AvailablefromTheAmericanSocietyforNondestructiveTesting(ASNT),P.O.
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2003. Published October 2003. Originally Box 28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518.
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approved in 1960. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as E 164 - 97. Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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