ASTM E214-68(1996)

Standard Practice for Immersed Ultrasonic Examination by the Reflection Method Using Pulsed Longitudinal Waves

SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes an ultrasonic examination procedure for detecting discontinuities in material using instruments that transmit and receive pulsed longitudinal ultrasonic waves introduced into the material to be examined while immersed in or impinged upon by a liquid coupling agent. This practice applies to any material that can conduct sound waves of an appropriate frequency, and can be immersed in a liquid coupling agent for inspection, or can be subject to inspection by the use of a column or stream of the couplant between the search unit and the material being examined.
Note 1--Practice E1001 is a complementary document that extends Practice E214 by describing more detailed procedures.
1.2 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-Mar-2001
• ICS: 77.040.20 - Non-destructive testing of metals
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.06 - Ultrasonic Method

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E214-01 - Standard Practice for Immersed Ultrasonic Examination by the Reflection Method Using Pulsed Longitudinal Waves
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM B351/B351M-13(2023) - Standard Specification for Hot-Rolled and Cold-Finished Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy Bars, Rod, and Wire for Nuclear Application
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM B548-03(2017) - Standard Test Method for Ultrasonic Inspection of Aluminum-Alloy Plate for Pressure Vessels
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E588-03(2020) - Standard Practice for Detection of Large Inclusions in Bearing Quality Steel by the Ultrasonic Method
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM B884-11(2019) - Standard Specification for Niobium-Titanium Alloy Billets, Bar, and Rod for Superconducting Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E2533-21 - Standard Guide for Nondestructive Examination of Polymer Matrix Composites Used in Aerospace Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM B594-19e1 - Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Inspection of Aluminum-Alloy Wrought Products
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1001-21 - Standard Practice for Detection and Evaluation of Discontinuities by the Immersed Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Method Using Longitudinal Waves
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM A646/A646M-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Premium Quality Alloy Steel Blooms and Billets for Aircraft and Aerospace Forgings
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 214 – 68 (Reapproved 1996) An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Immersed Ultrasonic Examination by the Reflection Method
Using Pulsed Longitudinal Waves
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 214; 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.
1. Scope frequency electrical pulses at the required frequency and
energy levels, and employ A-Scan; time base versus magnitude
1.1 This practice describes in general terms an ultrasonic
(Note 2). The instrument used should provide stable amplifi-
test procedure for detecting discontinuities in material using
cation of received pulses at the required test sensitivity levels.
testing instruments which have been designed to transmit and
An appropriate line-voltage regulating transformer shall be
receive pulsed longitudinal ultrasonic waves introduced into
used, if required, to ensure maximum stability.
the material to be inspected through a liquid coupling agent.
NOTE 2—Other presentations, such as B-Scan and C-Scan, are available
NOTE 1—Practice E 1001 is a complementary document that extends
but are not covered in this practice.
Practice E 214 by describing more detailed procedures.
4.2 Immersion Search Units—Immersible transducers for
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
transforming electrical impulses into sound vibrations and vice
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
versa, at the appropriate frequencies and energy levels shall be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
used. The transducers shall be capable of transmitting and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
receiving ultrasound to and from the immersed test specimen.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.3 Couplant—The couplant, a liquid such as water, oil,
2. Referenced Documents
glycerin, etc., capable of conducting ultrasonic vibrations from
the transducer to the material being tested shall be used. Rust
2.1 ASTM Standards:
inhibitors, softeners, and wetting agents may be added to the
E 127 Practice for Fabricating and Checking Aluminum
couplant. The couplant liquid with all additives should not be
Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks
detrimental to the surface condition of the test specimen or the
E 428 Practice for Fabrication and Control of Steel Refer-
container, and should wet the surface of the material to provide
ence Blocks Used in Ultrasonic Inspection
an intimate contact. Couplant may be heated to a comfortable
E 1001 Practice for Detection and Evaluation of Disconti-
working temperature and must be free of air bubbles.
nuities by the Immersed Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Method
4.4 Manipulator—The holder for the search tube and search
Using Longitudinal Waves
unit that provides angular manipulation of the transducer for
3. Application
optimum response from the internal discontinuities. The maxi-
mum tolerance or play allowable in the manipulator and in the
3.1 This procedure applies to any material that can conduct
traversing unit should be adequate to permit ultrasonic testing
sound waves of an appropriate frequency, and can be immersed
at the sensitivity specified.
in a liquid coupling agent for inspection, or can be subject to
4.5 Accessory Equipment—Coaxial cables and search tubes
inspection by the use of a column or stream of the couplant
used in conjunction with the electronic apparatus capable of
through an appropriate container attached to the part or
conducting the electrical pulses while immersed in a liquid,
transducer.
and collimators for shaping the sound beam shall be used.
4. Apparatus
4.6 Reference Blocks—In order to correct for the many
variables involved in ultrasonic testing, it is necessary to use
4.1 Electronic Apparatus—The electronic apparatus shall
references to establish instrument settings, assist reproducibil-
be capable of producing, receiving, and displaying high-
ity of techniques, and evaluate discontinuities. The fabrication
1 of reference blocks should be governed by the requirements
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-7 on Nonde-
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on described in Practices E 127 or E 428.
Ultrasonic Testing Procedures.
Current edition approved Sept. 13, 1968. Published November 1968. Originally
5. Calibration of Apparatus
published as E 214 – 63 T. Last previous edition E 214 – 68.
5.1 Prior to inspection, it is recommended that the ultrasonic
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Practice
SE-214 in the Code.
system be standardized by means of ASTM reference blocks as
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03.
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E 214
specified in the product specification. The equipment should be transducer indexing must be adequate to provide 100 % cov-
operated with the reference hole signal amplitude in the range erage at the test sensitivity and test distance. Select a scanning
between 25 % above the noise level and below the saturation speed such as to permit detection of the smallest discontinuities
level (usually between 25 and 75 % of full screen height). As referenced in the specification and slow enough to allow any
an alternative, a system sensitivity may be established by recording or signalling device to function.
adjusting the height of the first back reflection or number of 6.4 Make evaluation of ultrasonic indications after reflec-
multiple back reflections over an ultrasonically clean area as tions are maximized by angular manipulation of the transducer
specified in the product specification. over the indication. In the case of scanning by hand or using
5.2 If reference blocks are used, they should have ultrasonic some device other than a rigidly mounted manipulator, the
characteristics, such as attenuation, noise level, and velocity transducer-work couplant distance should be carefully main-
similar to the metal being tested, or suitable correction should tained as referenced under Section 5.
be made. 6.5 Establish the scanning of the material being
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