ASTM E1324-21

Standard Guide for Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic Testing Instruments

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 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 testing 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's 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.  
4.2 These procedures can be applied to the evaluation of any pulse-echo ultrasonic testing 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.  
4.3 An ultrasonic testing 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 testing instrument that is evaluated must fit the description for the corresponding section.  
4.4 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 Section:  
line regulation,
battery discharge time, and
battery charge time.  
1.1.2 Pulser Section:
pulse shape,
pulse amplitude,
pulse rise time, pulse length, and
pulse frequency spectrum.  
1.1.3 Receiver Section:
vertical linearity,
frequency response,
noise and sensitivity, and
dB controls.  
1.1.4 Time Base Section:
horizontal linearity, and
clock (pulse repetition rate).  
1.1.5 Gate/Alarm Section:
delay and width,
resolution,
alarm level,
gain uniformity,
analog output, and
back echo gate.  
1.2 This guide complements Practice E317 and is not intended for evaluating the performance characteristics of ultrasonic testing instruments on the inspection/production line.  
Note 1: No access to internal circuitry is required.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-May-2021
• ICS: 19.100 - Non-destructive testing
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.06 - Ultrasonic Method

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1324 − 21
Standard Guide for
Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic
1
Testing 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.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for
information only and are not considered standard.
1.1 This guide describes procedures for electronically mea-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
suring the following performance-related characteristics of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
some sections of ultrasonic instruments:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.1.1 Power Supply Section:
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
line regulation,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
battery discharge time, and
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
battery charge time.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1.2 Pulser Section:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
pulse shape,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
pulse amplitude,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
pulse rise time, pulse length, and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
pulse frequency spectrum.
1.1.3 Receiver Section:
2. Referenced Documents
vertical linearity,
2
frequency response,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
noise and sensitivity, and
E317PracticeforEvaluatingPerformanceCharacteristicsof
dB controls.
Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems
1.1.4 Time Base Section:
without the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
horizontal linearity, and
E1316Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
clock (pulse repetition rate).
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
1.1.5 Gate/Alarm Section:
ISO 10012 Measurement Management Systems—
delay and width,
Requirements for Measurement Processes and Measuring
resolution,
Equipment
alarm level,
ISO 17025General Requirements for the Competence of
gain uniformity,
Testing and Calibration Laboratories
analog output, and
4
2.3 Other Standard:
back echo gate.
IEEE Std. 100,IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and
1.2 This guide complements Practice E317 and is not
Electronics Terms
intended for evaluating the performance characteristics of
ultrasonic testing instruments on the inspection/production
3. Summary of Guide
line.
3.1 The electronic performance of each section is measured
NOTE 1—No access to internal circuitry is required.
by identifying that portion of the electrical circuit of the
1.3 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM 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.
3
Method. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
Current edition approved June 1, 2021. Published June 2021. Originally la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
4
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E1324–16. DOI: Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE),
10.1520/E1324-21. 445 Hoes Ln., P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854-1331
*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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E1324 − 21
instrument which comprises the section, applying the recom- primarily for pulse echo flaw detection instruments operating
mended stimulus or load, or both, and performing the required in the nominal frequency range of 100 kHz to 25 MHz, but the
measurements using commercially available electronic test procedures are applicable to measurements on instruments
equipment. These data are then summarized in tabular or utilizing significantly higher frequency components.
graphical form as performance-related values which can be
4.2 Theseprocedurescanbeappliedtotheevaluationofany
comparedwithcorrespon
...

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: E1324 − 16 E1324 − 21
Standard Guide for
Measuring Some Electronic Characteristics of Ultrasonic
1
Testing 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.
1. 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 Section:
line regulation,
battery discharge time, and
battery charge time.
1.1.2 Pulser Section:
pulse shape,
pulse amplitude,
pulse rise time, pulse length, and
pulse frequency spectrum.
1.1.3 Receiver Section:
vertical linearity,
frequency response,
noise and sensitivity, and
dB controls.
1.1.4 Time Base Section:
horizontal linearity, and
clock (pulse repetition rate).
1.1.5 Gate/Alarm Section:
delay and width,
resolution,
alarm level,
gain uniformity,
analog output, and
back echo gate.
1
This guide 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, 2016June 1, 2021. Published June 2016June 2021. Originally approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 20112016 as
E1324 - 11.E1324 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/E1324-16.10.1520/E1324-21.
*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 ----------------------
E1324 − 21
1.2 This guide complements Practice E317, D2548and is not intended for evaluating the performance characteristics of ultrasonic
testing instruments on the inspection/production line.
NOTE 1—No access to internal circuitry is required.
1.3 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D2548 Method of Test for Analysis of Oil Soluble Petroleum Sulfonates by Liquid Chromatography; Replaced by D 3712
3
(Withdrawn 1979)
E317 Practice for Evaluating Performance Characteristics of Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems without the
Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 10012 Measurement Management Systems—Requirements for Measurement Processes and Measuring Equipment
ISO 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
4
2.3 Other Standard:
IEEE Std. 100, IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics Terms
3. Summary of Guide
3.1 The electronic performance of each section is measured by identifying that portion of the electrical circuit of the instrument
which comprises the section, applying the recommended stimulus or load, or both, and performing the required measurements
using commercially available electronic test equipment. These data are then summarized in tabular or graphical form as
performance-related values which can be compared with corresponding values of other ultrasonic testing instruments or of values
for the same instrument obtained earlier (see Section 12 for a suggested reporting format).
3.2 The following describes the sections of the ultrasonic instrument and their interrelations during measurement:
3.2.1 Power Supply Section—The power supply section is that portion of the total instrument circuitry which supplies the regulated
DC voltages required to power all other sections of the ultrasonic instrument,
...