ASTM E1961-16(2021)

Standard Practice for Mechanized Ultrasonic Testing of Girth Welds Using Zonal Discrimination with Focused Search Units

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended primarily for the mechanized ultrasonic examination of pipe girth welds used in the construction of gas and oil pipelines. This practice, with appropriate modifications due to changes in weld profile, may also be used to examine repaired welds. Manual techniques such as described in Practice E164 may also be used to examine production or repaired welds. This practice, with appropriate modifications, may also be used to examine other forms of butt welds including long seams.  
4.2 Techniques used are to be based on zonal discrimination whereby the weld is divided into approximately equal vertical examination sections (zones) each being assessed by a pair of ultrasonic search units. See Fig. 1 for typical zones.
FIG. 1 Schematic Representation of Weld Zones and Discontinuities  
4.3 Thicknesses of material examined are normally 7 to 25 mm (0.28 to 1.00 in.) and pipe diameters 15 cm (6.0 in.) and greater but this standard may apply to other thicknesses and diameters if the techniques can be proven to provide the required zonal discrimination.  
4.4 Examination zones are typically 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in.) in height. For most applications this will require the use of contact focused search units to avoid interfering signals originating from off-axis geometric reflectors and to avoid excessive overlap with adjacent zones.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the requirements for mechanized ultrasonic examination of girth welds. Evaluation is based upon the results of mechanized ultrasonic examination. Acceptance criteria are based upon flaw limits defined by an Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) or other accept/reject criteria defined by the Contracting Agency.  
1.2 This practice shall be applicable to the development of an examination procedure agreed upon between the users of this practice.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.  
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-Oct-2021
• ICS: 25.160.40 - Welded joints and welds
• 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: E1961 − 16 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Practice for
Mechanized Ultrasonic Testing of Girth Welds Using Zonal
1
Discrimination with Focused Search Units
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1961; 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* Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Testing Instruments and Systems
without the Use of Electronic Measurement Instruments
1.1 This practice covers the requirements for mechanized
E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive
ultrasonic examination of girth welds. Evaluation is based
Testing
upon the results of mechanized ultrasonic examination.Accep-
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
tance criteria are based upon flaw limits defined by an
3
2.3 ASNT Standards:
Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) or other accept/reject
ASNT Practice SNT-TC-1A Personnel Qualification and
criteria defined by the Contracting Agency.
Certification in Nondestructive Testing
1.2 This practice shall be applicable to the development of
ANSI/ASNT-CP-189 Standard for Qualification and Certifi-
an examination procedure agreed upon between the users of
cation of Nondestructive Testing Personnel
this practice.
4
2.4 AIA Standard:
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
NAS-410 Nondestructive Testing Personnel Qualification
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for
and Certification
information only. 5
2.5 API Standard:
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
API STD–1104 Welding of Pipeline and Related Facilities
6
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2.6 CSA Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
CSA Z-662 Oil and Gas Pipelines Systems
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 7
2.7 ISO Standard:
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ISO 9712 Nondestructive Testing—Qualification and Certi-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
fication of NDT Personnel
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3. Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1 Definitions:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.1 Definitions relating to ultrasonic examination, that
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
appear in Terminology E1316 shall apply to the terms used in
this practice.
2. Referenced Documents
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1 The following documents form a part of this practice to
3.2.1 acceptance criteria—definition of acceptable/
the extent specified herein:
rejectable flaws as defined by an Engineering Critical Assess-
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
ment (ECA), such as defined in CSA-Z662 or API 1104, or
E164 Practice for Contact Ultrasonic Testing of Weldments
workmanship criteria as defined by the contracting agency.
E317 Practice for Evaluating Performance Characteristics of
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AvailablefromAmericanSocietyforNondestructiveTesting(ASNT),P.O.Box
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde- 28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518, http://www.asnt.org.
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structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.06 on Available fromAerospace IndustriesAssociation ofAmerica, Inc. (AIA), 1000
Ultrasonic Method. WilsonBlvd.,Suite1700,Arlington,VA22209-3928,http://www.aia-aerospace.org.
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Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published November 2021. Originally Available from American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L. St., NW,
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E1961 – 16. DOI: Washington, DC 20005-4070, http://www.api.org.
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10.1520/E1961-16R21. Available from Canadian Standards Association (CSA), 5060 Spectrum Way,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Mississauga, ON L4W 5N6, Canada, http://www.csa.ca.
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contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
the ASTM website. Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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