ASTM E1324-00(2005)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic Examination Instruments
Standard Guide for Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic Examination Instruments
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The recommended measurement procedures described in this guide are intended to provide performance-related measurements that can be reproduced under the specified test conditions using commercially available test instrumentation. These measurements indicate capabilities of sections of the ultrasonic examination instrument independent of specific transducers or examination conditions. Measurements are made from normally available connectors or test points so that no access to internal circuitry is required. Further, this guide is not intended for service, calibration, or maintenance of circuitry for which the manufacturer’instructions are available. It is intended primarily for pulse echo flaw detection instruments operating in the nominal frequency range of 100 kHz to 25 MHz, but the procedures are applicable to measurements on instruments utilizing significantly higher frequency components.
These procedures can be applied to the evaluation of any pulse-echo ultrasonic examination instrument which can be described as a combination of the electronic sections discussed in this guide.
Note 2—These procedures are not intended to preclude the use or application of equipment for which some or all of the measurement techniques of this document are not applicable.
An ultrasonic examination instrument that cannot be completely described as a combination of the electronic sections discussed in this practice can be partially evaluated. Each portion of the ultrasonic examination instrument that is evaluated must fit the description for the corresponding section.
This guide is meant to be used by electronic personnel to evaluate the electronic system components and not the ultrasonic system characteristics.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes procedures for electronically measuring the following performance-related characteristics of some sections of ultrasonic instruments:
1.1.1 Power Supply Sectionline regulation,battery discharge time, andbattery charge time.
1.1.2 Pulser Sectionpulse shape,pulse amplitude,pulse rise time, pulse length, andpulse frequency spectrum.
1.1.3 Receiver Sectionvertical linearity, frequency response,noise and sensitivity, and dB controls.
1.1.4 Time Base Sectionhorizontal linearity, andclock (pulse repetition rate).
1.1.5 Gate/Alarm Sectiondelay and width, resolution, alarm level, gain uniformity, analog output, and back echo gate.
1.2 This guide complements Practice E 317, and is not intended for evaluating the performance characteristics of ultrasonic examination instruments on the inspection/production line.Note 1
No access to internal circuity is required.
General Information
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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:E1324–00 (Reapproved 2005)
Standard Guide for
Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic
Examination Instruments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1324; 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.
NOTE 1—No access to internal circuity is required.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide describes procedures for electronically mea-
2. Referenced Documents
suring the following performance-related characteristics of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
some sections of ultrasonic instruments:
E317 Practice for Evaluating Performance Characteristics
1.1.1 Power Supply Section:
of Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems
line regulation,
without the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
battery discharge time, and
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
battery charge time.
2.2 Military Standard:
1.1.2 Pulser Section:
MIL-STD-45662A Calibration System Requirements
2.3 Other Standard:
pulse shape,
IEEE Std. 100, IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and
pulse amplitude,
Electronic Terms
pulse rise time, pulse length, and
pulse frequency spectrum.
3. Summary of Guide
1.1.3 Receiver Section:
3.1 The electronic performance of each section is measured
by identifying that portion of the electrical circuit of the
vertical linearity,
instrument which comprises the section, applying the recom-
frequency response,
mended stimulus or load, or both, and performing the required
noise and sensitivity, and
measurements using commercially available electronic test
dB controls.
equipment. These data are then summarized in tabular or
1.1.4 Time Base Section:
graphical form as performance-related values which can be
comparedwithcorrespondingvaluesofotherultrasonicexami-
horizontal linearity, and
nation instruments or of values for the same instrument
clock (pulse repetition rate).
obtained earlier (see Section 12 for a suggested reporting
1.1.5 Gate/Alarm Section:
format).
3.2 The following describes the sections of the ultrasonic
delay and width,
instrument and their interrelations during measurement:
resolution,
3.2.1 Power Supply Section—The power supply section is
alarm level,
that portion of the total instrument circuitry which supplies the
gain uniformity,
regulated DC voltages required to power all other sections of
analog output, and
the ultrasonic instrument, including the high voltage (that is,
back echo gate.
pulser and CRT voltage) circuitry.
1.2 This guide complements Practice E317, and is not
3.2.2 Pulser Section—The pulser section is that portion of
intended for evaluating the performance characteristics of
the total instrument circuitry which generates the electrical
ultrasonic examination instruments on the inspection/
production line.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestruc- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
tive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on Ultrasonic the ASTM website.
Method. AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
Current edition approved January 1, 2005. Published January 2005. Originally Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E1324 - 00. DOI: Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE),
10.1520/E1324-00R05. 445 Hoes Ln., P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854-1331
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E1324–00 (2005)
pulse used to energize the ultrasonic search unit. The pulser Each portion of the ultrasonic examination instrument that is
section may also include the pulse-shape modification controls evaluated must fit the description for the corresponding sec-
such as pulse length, damping, or tuning controls. tion.
4.4 Thisguideismeanttobeusedbyelectronicpersonnelto
3.2.3 Receiver Section—The receiver section is that portion
evaluate the electronic system components and not the ultra-
ofthetotalinstrumentcircuitrywhichamplifies,ormodifies,or
sonic system characteristics.
both, the radio frequency (RF) pulses received from the
ultrasonic search unit. This includes the RF amplifiers, detec-
5. Apparatus
tors, video amplifiers, suppression and filtering, and the CRT
vertical deflection circuits. Some instruments may not contain
5.1 UltrasonicInstrument—Anyelectronicinstrumentcom-
all of these circuits.
prised of a power supply, pulser, clock, receiver, and a sweep
and display section to generate, receive, and display electrical
3.2.3.1 Time Variable Gain (TVG), (alternatively referred to
signals related to ultrasonic waves for examination purposes.
as Distance Amplitude Correction (DAC), Time Controlled
Gain (TCG), etc.) and reject or threshold, while part of the
NOTE 3—Someultrasonicinstrumentsdonotincludeacathoderaytube
receiver section, should be turned off while making measure-
display. Some sections of this guide may not apply to these instruments,
ments unless otherwise specified by the user. or may be applicable only with modifications. Such modifications should
be made only by personnel competent in electronics.
3.2.4 Gate/Alarm Section—This section monitors the sig-
nals in the receiver section to detect the presence or absence of
5.2 Voltmeter—Any instrument(s) capable of measuring the
significant indications. The gate may include attenuation or
AC line and DC battery voltages required for 7.1 or 7.2.
gain controls. This section is considered separate from the
5.3 Variable Transformer—An autotransformer or other
receiversectionforthepurposesofthisguide.Thealarmsignal
device capable of supplying variable AC power to the ultra-
may be audible, a voltage proportional to the indication
sonic instrument over the full range of voltages and waveforms
amplitude, or a mark on voltage or current sensitive paper or
specified by the manufacturer.
some combination of these.
5.4 Pulser Load—Unless otherwise requested by the using
parties, the pulser load should be a 50-ohm noninductive
3.2.5 Time Base Section—The time base section provides
resistor, preferably mounted in a shielded coaxial assembly.
the linear horizontal sweep, or baseline. It includes the hori-
The resistor must be able to withstand the maximum peak
zontal deflection circuits and the clock and delay circuits that
pulser voltage. The impedance of the resistor should be
control repetition rate and positioning of signals on the
checked at the anticipated operating frequency to ensure that it
baseline.
is noninductive. Other impedances may be used if specified.
5.5 Spectrum Analyzer—Any spectrum analyzer (and probe
4. Significance and Use
assembly if required) that is capable of analyzing the electrical
4.1 The recommended measurement procedures described
pulse from the pulser module and displaying the frequency
in this guide are intended to provide performance-related
components of the pulse as described in 8.3.Arecording of the
measurements that can be reproduced under the specified test
display (photograph or chart recorder) is desirable.
conditions using commercially available test instrumentation.
5.6 Probe—A wide band high input impedance ($10 kV)
These measurements indicate capabilities of sections of the
attenuating (1003 or 503) probe to reduce the pulse ampli-
ultrasonic examination instrument independent of specific
tude, as delivered to the oscilloscope and the spectrum ana-
transducers or examination conditions. Measurements are
lyzer, to a level that (a) will not harm the equipment and (b)
made from normally available connectors or test points so that
willallowforfrequencyandtimeanalysiswithoutsignificantly
no access to internal circuitry is required. Further, this guide is
altering the pulse shape. The probe output impedance should
not intended for service, calibration, or maintenance of cir-
match the input impedance of the measurement instrument. (If
cuitry for which the manufacturer’s instructions are available.
the impedance is high, a terminating resistance may be
It is intended primarily for pulse echo flaw detection instru-
required at the input to match the output impedance of the
ments operating in the nominal frequency range of 100 kHz to
probe.) The frequency bandwidth should be at least as wide as
25 MHz, but the procedures are applicable to measurements on
that of the measuring instruments. The probe must be able to
instruments utilizing significantly higher frequency compo-
withstand the pulser output voltage.
nents.
NOTE 4—More than one probe may be needed to match the various test
4.2 Theseprocedurescanbeappliedtotheevaluationofany
instruments used.
pulse-echo ultrasonic examination instrument which can be
5.7 Function Generator—The function generator should be
described as a combination of the electronic sections discussed
capable of producing a single-cycle sine wave or a five-cycle
in this guide.
sine wave burst (as required in 9.1.3, 9.2.3, 9.3.1, 10.1.1, and
NOTE 2—These procedures are not intended to preclude the use or
11.1), the frequency of which is variable over the range of the
application of equipment for which some or all of the measurement
frequency capabilities of the ultrasonic instrument. The fre-
techniques of this document are not applicable.
quency read-out should be accurate to 1.0 %. It must be
4.3 An ultrasonic examination instrument that cannot be capable of being triggered from a signal derived from the
completely described as a combination of the electronic instrument clock to provide wave trains coherent with the
sections discussed in this practice can be partially evaluated. display. An adjustable delay of at least 10 µs is required.
E1324–00 (2005)
5.7.1 A free-running (that is, non-triggered) single-cycle 6.5 No minimum interval between instrument evaluations is
sine wave may not be used for receiver evaluation. recommended or implied.
5.8 Calibrated Oscilloscope—The oscilloscope should be 6.6 The accuracy of each measurement is dependent upon
capable of displaying all portions of the pulser output with the combined accuracies of each of the electronic measuring
sufficient timebase expansion, triggering capability, and fre- instruments (which should be described in the specifications
quency response to enable measurement of the pulse rise time, and calibrations for these instruments), and the precisions
amplitude, and duration, as well as fulfilling the requirements associated with reading the values of each part of the measure-
of other measurements. ment system. It is assumed that the precision of measuring the
5.9 CalibratedAttenuator—Theattenuatorshouldprovidea vertical and horizontal values from the ultrasonic instrument
measuring range of 60 dB in 1 dB steps with an accuracy screen is 60.04 in. [61 mm].
within 60.5 dB and have a frequency bandwidth at least as 6.7 All measuring instrumentation should have current cali-
wide as the highest frequency of interest. Most attenuators bration certificates. A calibration control system, such as that
have a nominal input and output impedance of 50 V, but other described in MIL-STD-45662A, is suggested.
impedancesmaybespecified.Properterminationrulesmustbe
7. Power-Supply Section Measurements
observed. An impedance matching probe should be used to
protect the attenuator if it is to be used to reduce pulse output.
7.1 AC-Powered Instrument Line Regulation:
5.10 Terminators—Terminators are used to match the im- 7.1.1 Connect the variable transformer, the voltmeter and a
pedances of instruments and cables used (see 5.4.). They
search unit which matches the nominal frequency of the
should be non-inductive, feed-through style. instrument, to the ultrasonic instrument as shown in Fig. 1.
5.11 Cables—Cables should be coaxial, with maximum
WhileFig.1showsanimmersionset-up,theevaluationmaybe
length of 6 ft [2 m] and a 50-ohm characteristic impedance. performed by either the contact or immersion method. The
Other lengths, or impedances, or both, may be used if autho-
primary requirement is that the signal from the reference
rized, but lengths should be kept as short as possible to reflector does not vary due to coupling or position variations
minimize the effects of cable capacitance on measurements. during the evaluation. Contact tests may require clamping of
5.12 Search Unit—An ultrasonic search unit of the desired the search unit to the test piece. A block with permanently
type, size, and frequency required for the procedures and test bonded search unit(s) is quite useful.
block selected for 5.14, 7.1.1, 7.2.1, 10.2,or 10.3. 7.1.2 Adjust the variable transformer for 100 % nominal
5.13 Immersion Tank (Optional)—An ultrasonic immersion line voltage and obtain a 50 % full-scale indication from the
system that will enable continuous variation of the distance reference block. Decrease the variable transformer output
between the ultrasonic search unit and a reflector over a water voltage until the reference reflector indication changes its
pathrangethatwillprovideatimerangecomparabletotheend amplitude, width, or horizontal position by 10 %.
use of the ultrasonic instrument. A distance (position) scale of
NOTE 5—Damage may result from going beyond the manufacturer’s
precision needed for the procedure in 10.2 must be incorpo-
line voltage specifications in either direction.
rated.
7.1.3 The ultrasonic instrument display may turn off before
5.14 TestBlock—Ablockofanysuitablematerialwhichcan
any significant signal change is noted.
be used to provide ultrasonic echo signals.
7.1.4 Record the variable transformer output voltage(s) at
5.15 Camera or Recorder—This is particularly helpful in
which the 10 % change or turn-off occurs. These are the input
measuring pulse characteristics, and is useful in making other
voltage limits.
measurements.
NOTE 6—If a regulating transformer is always used to supply power to
6. Precautions and Limitations
the instrument, the procedures in 7.1 may not be needed.
6.1 This guide describes procedures that are applicable to
7.2 Battery-Powered Instruments
laboratory measurement conditions using, in most instances,
7.2.1 Discharge Time:
commercially available electronic test equipment.
6.2 This guide is not intended, nor is it applicable, as a
specification defining the performance of ultrasonic examina-
tion systems.
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