ASTM E127-10

Standard Practice for Fabricating and Checking Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Reference blocks fabricated to this practice will exhibit specific area-amplitude and distance-amplitude relationships only with an immersion test at 5 MHz using the search unit, test instrument, and test parameters described in this practice. Comparison tests at other frequencies or with uncalibrated test systems will not necessarily give the same relationships shown in this practice.
Note 2—The 1964 and prior issues of this practice required a test frequency of 15 MHz. Blocks conforming to earlier issues of this practice may not produce ultrasonic responses that conform to this issue. See Section 13 regarding provision for recertification or correction curves and tables.
Although the primary ultrasonic evaluation of blocks is performed at a specified frequency, the blocks may be used to standardize ultrasonic tests at any frequency and with any pulse-echo ultrasonic test system. Establishment of distance-amplitude and area-amplitude characteristics is necessary for each application. This use may be inappropriate for other materials and curved surfaces without special compensation. Also see (3) for cautions regarding use of standard blocks for test standardization.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for fabricating aluminum alloy ultrasonic standard reference blocks that can be used for checking performance of ultrasonic testing equipment and for standardization and control of ultrasonic tests of aluminum alloy products using pulsed longitudinal waves introduced into test material either by the direct-contact method or by the immersion method. A recommended procedure for checking blocks is described and calibration data for a number of reference blocks are tabulated. Statements concerning procedures are provided without a discussion of the technical background for the preference. The necessary technical background can be found in Refs. (1-16).
Note 1—Practice E428 and Guide E1158 also describe procedures for selecting material, fabricating blocks, and checking response. Unlike this practice, there is no requirement for evaluation relative to a specified standard target.  
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: 14-Feb-2010
• ICS: 77.040.01 - Testing of metals in general
• ICS: 77.120.10 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.06 - Ultrasonic Method

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E127-07 - Standard Practice for Fabricating and Checking Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E1901-23 - Standard Guide for Detection and Evaluation of Discontinuities by Contact Pulse-Echo Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Methods
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E543-21 - Standard Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive Testing
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2375-22 - Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of Wrought Products
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM B594-19e1 - Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Inspection of Aluminum-Alloy Wrought Products
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E1774-17(2022) - Standard Guide for Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs)
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E317-21 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Performance Characteristics of Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems without the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E3370-23 - Standard Practice for Matrix Array Ultrasonic Testing of Composites, Sandwich Core Constructions, and Metals
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM A1-00(2018) - Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Tee Rails
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM B999-15(2022) - Standard Specification for Titanium and Titanium Alloys Plating, Electrodeposited Coatings of Titanium and Titanium Alloys on Conductive and Non-Conductive Substrate
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010
• 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: 15-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM A531/A531M-18(2023) - Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Turbine-Generator Steel Retaining Rings
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2010

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:E127 −10
StandardPractice for
Fabricating and Checking Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic
1
Standard Reference Blocks
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E127; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 than Aluminum, Reference Blocks Used in Ultrasonic
Testing
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for fabricating alumi-
E1158Guide for Material Selection and Fabrication of
numalloyultrasonicstandardreferenceblocksthatcanbeused
Reference Blocks for the Pulsed Longitudinal Wave Ul-
for checking performance of ultrasonic testing equipment and
trasonic Testing of Metal and Metal Alloy Production
for standardization and control of ultrasonic tests of aluminum
Material
alloyproductsusingpulsedlongitudinalwavesintroducedinto
E1316Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
test material either by the direct-contact method or by the
E1324GuideforMeasuringSomeElectronicCharacteristics
immersion method. A recommended procedure for checking
of Ultrasonic Testing Instruments
blocks is described and calibration data for a number of
reference blocks are tabulated. Statements concerning proce-
3. Terminology
dures are provided without a discussion of the technical
background for the preference. The necessary technical back-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms not specific to this
2
ground can be found in Refs. (1-15). practice, refer to Terminology E1316.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
NOTE 1—Practice E428 and Guide E1158 also describe procedures for
3.2.1 angular error—the condition observed in ultrasonic
selecting material, fabricating blocks, and checking response. Unlike this
practice, there is no requirement for evaluation relative to a specified
tests of reference blocks when the response from the hole
standard target.
bottom is not maximum while the search unit is positioned to
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
obtain either a maximum number of back reflections from a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the reference block or a maximum indication from its entry
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
surface. Angular error results when the entry surface, hole
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bottom, and back surface are not parallel to each other.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.2 area-amplitude response curve—a curve showing the
relationshipbetweendifferentareasofreflectingtargetslocated
2. Referenced Documents
ataconstantdistanceinanultrasonictransmittingmediumand
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
their respective amplitudes of ultrasonic response.
E317PracticeforEvaluatingPerformanceCharacteristicsof
3.2.3 back reflection—the indication, observed on the dis-
Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems
play screen of a test instrument, that represents the ultrasonic
without the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
energy reflected from the back surface of a reference block.
E428Practice for Fabrication and Control of Metal, Other
3.2.4 back surface—the end of a reference block that is
opposite the entry surface.
1
3.2.5 entry surface—the end of a reference block through
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde-
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on
which ultrasonic energy must pass when reflections from the
Ultrasonic Method.
hole bottom are obtained.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E127-07. DOI:
3.2.6 hole bottom—the flat reflecting surface in a reference
10.1520/E0127-10.
blockthatisobtainedbymakingtheentireendofadrilledhole
2
Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof
smooth and flat using best machining practices. The hole
this practice.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or bottom is parallel to the entry surface of the block.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3.2.7 holesize—thediameteroftheholeinareferenceblock
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. that determines the area of the hole bottom.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E127−10
TABLE 1 Dimensions and Identification of Reference Blocks in
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:E127–07 Designation: E127 – 10
Standard Practice for
Fabricating and Checking Aluminum Alloy Ultrasonic
1
Standard Reference Blocks
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E127; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This specification has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for fabricating aluminum alloy ultrasonic standard reference blocks that can be used for
checking performance of ultrasonic testing equipment and for standardization and control of ultrasonic tests of aluminum alloy
products using pulsed longitudinal waves introduced into test material either by the direct-contact method or by the immersion
method. A recommended procedure for checking blocks is described and calibration data for a number of reference blocks are
tabulated.Statementsconcerningproceduresareprovidedwithoutadiscussionofthetechnicalbackgroundforthepreference.The
2
necessary technical background can be found in Refs. (1-16).
NOTE 1—Practice E428 and Guide E1158 also describe procedures for selecting material, fabricating blocks, and checking response. Unlike this
practice, there is no requirement for evaluation relative to a specified standard target.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E317 Practice for Evaluating Performance Characteristics of Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems without
the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
E428 Practice for Fabrication and Control of Metal, Other than Aluminum, Reference Blocks Used in Ultrasonic Testing
E1158 Guide for Material Selection and Fabrication of Reference Blocks for the Pulsed Longitudinal Wave Ultrasonic Testing
of Metal and Metal Alloy Production Material
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
E1324 Guide for Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic Examination Instruments
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms not specific to this practice, refer to Terminology E1316.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 angular error—the condition observed in ultrasonic tests of reference blocks when the response from the hole bottom is
not maximum while the search unit is positioned to obtain either a maximum number of back reflections from a reference block
or a maximum indication from its entry surface.Angular error results when the entry surface, hole bottom, and back surface are
not parallel to each other.
3.2.2 area-amplitude response curve—a curve showing the relationship between different areas of reflecting targets located at
a constant distance in an ultrasonic transmitting medium and their respective amplitudes of ultrasonic response.
3.2.3 back reflection—the indication, observed on the display screen of a test instrument, that represents the ultrasonic energy
reflected from the back surface of a reference block.
3.2.4 back surface—the end of a reference block that is opposite the entry surface.
1
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE07onNondestructiveTestingandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE07.06onUltrasonicMethod.
CurrenteditionapprovedDec.1,2007.PublishedJanuary2008.Originallyapprovedin1958.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2006asE127-06.DOI:10.1520/E0127-07.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E127-07. DOI:
10.1520/E0127-10.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this practice.
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E127 – 10
3.2.5 entry surface—the end of a reference block through which ultrasonic energy mus
...