ASTM E273-15

Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of the Weld Zone of Welded Pipe and Tubing

ABSTRACT
This practice describes the general ultrasonic examination procedures for the detection of discontinuities in the weld and adjacent heat affected zones of welded pipe and tubing by scanning with relative motion between the search unit and pipe or tube. When contact or unfocused immersion search units are employed, this practice is intended for tubular products having specified outside diameters and wall thicknesses. And when properly focused immersion search units are employed, this practice may also be applied to material of smaller diameter and thinner wall. This practice does not establish acceptance criteria for this procedure. A pulsed ultrasonic angle beam shall be propagated in the wall of the pipe or tube by either the surface contact or immersion method. The weld line shall then be examined from both sides to ensure detection of imperfections with a shape or orientation that produces a preferential direction of reflection.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of this practice is to outline a procedure for detecting weld discontinuities such as lack of fusion, pin holes, lack of penetration, longitudinal cracks, porosity and inclusions by the ultrasonic pulse-reflection method.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice2 describes general ultrasonic testing procedures for the detection of discontinuities in the weld and adjacent heat affected zones of welded pipe and tubing by scanning with relative motion between the search unit and pipe or tube. When contact or unfocused immersion search units are employed, this practice is intended for tubular products having specified outside diameters ≥2 in. (≥50 mm) and specified wall thicknesses of 1/8 to 11/16 in. (3 to 27 mm). When properly focused immersion search units are employed, this practice may also be applied to material of smaller diameter and thinner wall.
Note 1: When contact or unfocused immersion search units are used, precautions should be exercised when examining pipes or tubes near the lower specified limits. Certain combinations of search unit size, frequency, thin–wall thicknesses, and small diameters could cause generation of unwanted sound waves that may produce erroneous examination results.  
1.2 All surfaces of material to be examined in accordance with this practice shall be clean from scale, dirt, burrs, slag, spatter or other conditions that would interfere with the examination results. The configuration of the weld must be such that interfering signals are not generated by reflections from it. Treatment of the inner surface and outer surface weld beads such as trimming (“scarfing”) or rolling is often required to remove protuberances that could result in spurious reflections.  
1.3 This practice does not establish acceptance criteria, they must be specified by the using parties.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI equivalents are in parentheses and may be approximate.  
1.5 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: 31-May-2015
• ICS: 23.040.01 - Pipeline components and pipelines in general
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.06 - Ultrasonic Method

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: E273 − 15
Standard Practice for
Ultrasonic Testing of the Weld Zone of Welded Pipe and
1
Tubing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E273; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2
1.1 This practice describes general ultrasonic testing pro-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cedures for the detection of discontinuities in the weld and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
adjacent heat affected zones of welded pipe and tubing by
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
scanning with relative motion between the search unit and pipe
or tube.When contact or unfocused immersion search units are
2. Referenced Documents
employed, this practice is intended for tubular products having
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
specified outside diameters≥2 in. (≥50 mm) and specified wall
E543 Specification forAgencies Performing Nondestructive
1 1
thicknesses of ⁄8 to 1 ⁄16 in. (3 to 27 mm). When properly
Testing
focused immersion search units are employed, this practice
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
mayalsobeappliedtomaterialofsmallerdiameterandthinner
4
2.2 ASNT Documents:
wall.
Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A Personnel Qualifica-
NOTE 1—When contact or unfocused immersion search units are used,
tion and Certification in Nondestructive Testing
precautions should be exercised when examining pipes or tubes near the
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 Standard for Qualification and Certifi-
lowerspecifiedlimits.Certaincombinationsofsearchunitsize,frequency,
cation of Nondesctructive Testing Personnel
thin–wall thicknesses, and small diameters could cause generation of
5
unwanted sound waves that may produce erroneous examination results.
2.3 ISO Standard:
ISO 9712 Non-destructive Testing—Qualification and Cer-
1.2 All surfaces of material to be examined in accordance
tification of NDT Personnel
with this practice shall be clean from scale, dirt, burrs, slag,
spatter or other conditions that would interfere with the
3. Terminology
examination results. The configuration of the weld must be
such that interfering signals are not generated by reflections 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
from it. Treatment of the inner surface and outer surface weld practice, see Terminology E1316.
beads such as trimming (“scarfing”) or rolling is often required
4. Summary of Practice
to remove protuberances that could result in spurious reflec-
tions.
4.1 A pulsed ultrasonic angle beam shall be propagated in
the wall of the pipe or tube by either the surface contact or
1.3 This practice does not establish acceptance criteria, they
immersion method. Fig. 1 illustrates the characteristic oblique
must be specified by the using parties.
sound entry into the pipe wall for both contact and immersion
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
examination from one search unit.
as the standard. The SI equivalents are in parentheses and may
NOTE2—Theimmersionexaminationmethodmayincludetanks,wheel
be approximate.
search units, or bubbler systems.
1 3
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde- For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Ultrasonic Method. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved June 1, 2015. Published June 2015. Originally the ASTM website.
4
approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E273-10. DOI: AvailablefromAmericanSocietyforNondestructiveTesting(ASNT),P.O.Box
10.1520/E0273-15. 28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518, http://www.asnt.org.
2 5
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Practice Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
SE-273 in Section II of that Code. la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E273 − 15
6.4.3 Examination frequency,
6.4.4 Pulse repetition rate,
6.4.5 Sound bea
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E273 − 10 E273 − 15
Standard Practice for
Ultrasonic Testing of the Weld Zone of Welded Pipe and
1
Tubing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E273; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope Scope*
2
1.1 This practice describes general ultrasonic testing procedures for the detection of discontinuities in the weld and adjacent
heat affected zones of welded pipe and tubing by scanning with relative motion between the search unit and pipe or tube. When
contact or unfocused immersion search units are employed, this practice is intended for tubular products having specified outside
1 1
diameters ≥2 in. (≥50 mm) and specified wall thicknesses of ⁄8 to 1 ⁄16 in. (3 to 27 mm). When properly focused immersion search
units are employed, this practice may also be applied to material of smaller diameter and thinner wall.
NOTE 1—When contact or unfocused immersion search units are used, precautions should be exercised when examining pipes or tubes near the lower
specified limits. Certain combinations of search unit size, frequency, thin–wall thicknesses, and small diameters could cause generation of unwanted sound
waves that may produce erroneous examination results.
1.2 All surfaces of material to be examined in accordance with this practice shall be clean from scale, dirt, burrs, slag, spatter
or other conditions that would interfere with the examination results. The configuration of the weld must be such that interfering
signals are not generated by reflections from it. Treatment of the inner surface and outer surface weld beads such as trimming
(“scarfing”) or rolling is often required to remove protuberances that could result in spurious reflections.
1.3 This practice does not establish acceptance criteria, they must be specified by the using parties.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI equivalents are in parentheses and may be
approximate.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive Testing
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
4
2.2 ASNT DocumentsDocuments:
Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 Standard for Qualification and Certification of Nondesctructive Testing Personnel
5
2.3 ISO Standard:
ISO 9712 Non-destructive Testing—Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice, see Terminology E1316.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on Ultrasonic Method.
Current edition approved June 1, 2010June 1, 2015. Published July 2010June 2015. Originally approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 20052010 as
E273 - 01E273(2005).-10. DOI: 10.1520/E0273-10.10.1520/E0273-15.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Practice SE-273 in Section II of that Code.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
4
Available from American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), P.O. Box 28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518, http://www.asnt.org.
5
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E273 − 15
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 A pulsed ultrasonic angle beam shall be propagated in the wall
...