AIC-UTT-100-Rev-03-ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE - 1

AXIS INSPECTION LTD. No.
: AIC-UTT-100
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03
OPERATING PROCEDURE
ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT
This document is the property of Axis Inspection Ltd and must not be copied, loaned or information it contains be disclosed to a third
party without the written consent of Axis Inspection Ltd. Page 1 of 9
AXIS INSPECTION LTD. No. : AIC-UTT-100
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
APPROVAL HISTORY
Revision # Date Pages Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by
0 August 4, 2015 Ryan Collado Anil Mehta Srinivas Budde

01 Sep 21, 2019 10 Anil Mehta Anil Mehta Srinivas Budde
02 Nov 21, 2019 9 Vijay Vesvikar Vijay Vesvikar Srinivas Budde
03 April 02,2020 9 Vijay Vesvikar Vijay Vesvikar Srinivas Budde
REVISION HISTORY
Rev # Revision Type Date
0 Issue 1 August 4, 2015
01 Update Sep 21, 2019
02 Update Nov 21, 2019
R3
03 Update some figures and related data April 02, 2020
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to provide instruction and define the responsibilities for
conducting thickness testing on materials utilizing digital A-scan ultrasonic equipment.
2.0 SCOPE
This procedure describes the method for manual, contact, ultrasonic wall thickness
measurement of carbon and stainless steel piping, piping components and pressure retaining
vessels without clad overlay and plates or fabricated parts thereof.
The applicable diameter and wall thickness range is not limited, provided the reference
calibration standards have sufficient variety of thickness to cover the range of component
thickness being examined.
The selected systems will have drawings showing the general arrangement of the piping and
equipment, and locations of thickness measurement locations (TMLs).Design data for piping
systems and equipment shall also be provided. Thickness measurements (TMs) will be taken
at each TML.
This procedure covers pulse-echo, single and dual element, straight beam or longitudinal wave
techniques.
3.0 APPLICATIONS
The principal objective of the methods given herein is to ultrasonically measure and record
the wall thickness of components for the purpose of verifying wall thickness and locating
possible areas of thinning due to erosion and corrosion, if present.
4.0 DEFINITIONS
Definitions shall be as defined in ASTM E 1316-95b, Specification of Terminology for
Nondestructive Examinations.
5.0 REFERENCES
R3 5.1 AIC-CERT-100, Rev-02 Axis Inspection Ltd. Procedure for the Qualification and
Certification of NDT Personnel
5.2 SAEP-1146 Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure for Ultrasonic Thickness Testing.
5.3 ANSI/ASNT CP-189-2016, Standard for Qualification and Certification of NDT
Personnel.
5.4 A554-K-PRG-CE-SPC-DES-017 Rev: 0 Ras Tanura Integrated Project (RTIP)
5.5 ASME Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Article 23, SE-114,
5.6 ASTM E 797-90, Standard Practice for Measuring Thickness by Manual Ultrasonic
Pulse-Echo Contact Method.
5.7 A554-N-375-MN-GEN-REP-001
5.8 A554-N-375-MN-GEN-REP-002
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
6.0 PROCEDURE
6.1 General
6.1.1 The customer shall determine the area to be examined as well as the
evaluation criteria.
6.1.2 Prior to commencing a UT Thickness measurement the operator shall obtain
the following information about the material to be examined:
6.1.2.1 Anticipated thickness.
6.1.2.2 Coating material and thickness.
6.1.2.3 General condition of surface
6.2 Personnel Qualification
Personnel performing and/or evaluating UT thickness measurement shall be qualified
and certified to at least Level II in Ultrasonic Thickness Testing in accordance with AIC-
R3 CERT-100 Rev – 02, Axis Inspection Ltd. Procedure for the Qualification and
Certification of NDT Personnel.
All the personal performing UT Thickness measurement shall be approved by client.
7.0 EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

7.1 Pulse-echo ultrasonic instruments with A- Scan displays,
7.2 Screen height and amplitude control linearity are not required for instruments used
for thickness measurements only.
7.3 Documentation of instrument certification shall be supplied for verification of
acceptable horizontal linearity which is necessary for accurate thickness
measurements.
7.4 Equipment used for the TMs shall be Ultrasonic A-scan thickness instrument with data
logging capabilities. The instrument shall operate in the 1 to 5 MHz range, and have
the capability to measure through paint and other tight surface coatings. The
suggested ultrasonic search unit frequency to be used is 4.0 MHz It may be necessary,
due to material attenuation, extreme thinning or pitting, etc., to use a frequency
either lower or higher than 4.0 MHz.
7.5 Straight beam, echo, single or dual element search units having element sizes from
0.125 inch to 0.500 inch (round, square or rectangle) may be used.
7.6 The search unit cable shall be of the coaxial type and shall not exceed 12 feet in length.
7.7 Couplant such as sweet water, glycerin, Sonatrace 40, Ultragel II etc., are normally
used but any couplant that produces adequate results may be used.
8.0 CALIBRATION BLOCKS
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
8.1 The calibration blocks shall be accurately machined and stepped to provide a
sufficient number of thicknesses to cover the range of thickness of the components
being examined.
8.2 As a minimum, two thickness steps shall be used for calibration. One thickness shall
be near the maximum or nominal thickness to be measured.
8.3 Available pipe calibration standards, pipe sections or stock material may also be used
for thicknesses calibrations or verifying calibration accuracy.
9.0 SURFACE PREPARATION

9.1 The examination surface shall be free of irregularities, loose materials which interfere
with ultrasonic wave transmission.
9.2 Surface preparation is needed only at those areas where ultrasonic thickness
measurements will be taken.
9.3 If it requested by the client to measure thickness through protective coating, Echo to
Echo method shall be used to eliminate the coating thickness.
R3 9.4 Excessive differences between component and calibration block temperature will
affect ultrasonic thickness measurements. For most steels, a 100o F (380 C) difference
in temperature will introduce an approximate 1 percent error (thicker readings with
higher component temperatures) in the ultrasonic thickness measurement. The
R3 component temperature shall be within 500 F (100 C) of the calibration block to ensure
adequate accuracy.
10.0 CALIBRATION OF EQUIPMENT

10.1 Calibration shall include the complete ultrasonic examination system. Any change in
search units, couplants, and cables, instruments, recording devices or any other parts
of the examination system is cause for recalibration. The original calibration shall be
made on the proper calibration block/blocks for the thickness ranges being examined
(Paragraph 8.0). Simulator blocks may be used for calibration checks provided they
are documented on the calibration form.
10.2 The calibration data shall be recorded on the attached ultrasonic examination form.
10.3 Calibration shall be performed at the beginning of each day of examinations. A
calibration verification shall be made at least every four hours during examinations,
at the beginning and end of each shift and when a change in examination personnel
occurs as per SAEP-1146. Calibration and calibration verification times shall be
recorded on the calibration form.
10.4 Whenever a battery is replaced or machine is switched off, instrument shall be
calibrated before use. Record of calibration shall be maintained.
10.5 The ultrasonic system will require recalibration if any of the measurements vary more
than 5 percent of their original calibrated setting. If recalibration is needed a new
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
calibration shall be recorded and all thickness measurements taken since the last
calibration check shall be retaken.
10.6 The instrument range that covers the expected component thicknesses shall be
established (calibrated) by sequentially placing the search unit between the desired
calibration block thicknesses and adjusting the instrument controls until the display
presents the thickness readings to within +/- 2 percent accuracy.
10.7 The examiner shall be aware that laminations may cause low thickness readings and
if laminations are believed to be present, they should be noted on the ultrasonic data
sheet.
10.8 For accurate component thickness measurements, the back reflection signal
amplitude should be maintained at a similar level as when calibrated.
11.0 Examination:
11.1 Examination shall be conducted from OD surface or ID surface, as applicable
11.2 Paint markers used to identify or locate the TMLs shall be suitable for a temperature
R3
range 0 to 8000 F (-18 to 4270 C) with a maximum halide content of 40 PPM.
11.3 Apply couplant to the probe or the specimen surface. For hot temperature
measurement, couplant should always be applied to the face of the probe, not the
hot part.
11.4 The Transducer acoustic barrier shall be placed perpendicular to the center axis when
taking measurement on the pipe, or round objects up to 24 inch in diameter.
11.5 The transducer shall be held flat on the surface then slowly rocked tangentially after
contact to find the lowest reading. All digital readings shall be verified by viewing the
A-scan presentation on the instrument as doubling effects can give false readings on
digital outputs. The lowest reading shall be recorded. For difficult readings, additional
gain may be required to avoid grinding the transducer into the surface.
11.6 A valid reading is one that can be maintained on the gauge display for several seconds
and the value is steady within ± 0.002 inch.
11.7 Thickness readings shall be measured and recorded to three decimal places.
11.8 Correction for the change in ultrasonic sound velocity in metal is not required within
a thickness range of 0 to 1 inch. Temperature correction shall be performed for metal
thickness greater than 1 inch for temperatures below 32°F and over 215°F. The
following formula shall be used:
Ta = Tm x [1.0038 – (0.00018 x Temp)] (1)
Where:
Ta = the actual thickness of the part
Tm = measured thickness of the part
Temp = surface temperature in °F
R3
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
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11.9 The transducer face shall be cleaned before each measurement at temperatures
greater than 392° F (2000 C) as evaporated couplant can leave deposits on the
transducer face.
11.10 Use the "touch test" to monitor the transducer temperature. If the transducer face is
too hot to be held against your skin then it shall be cooled in air or water prior to
taking readings
12.0 Post Cleaning

All water based couplant shall be completely removed from the specimen, i.e. wiping with a
dry absorbent cloth or paper towel, fresh water wash etc.
13.0 Reporting
11.1 All test parameters and a detailed calibration technique will be entered on the
attached basic ultrasonic thickness measurement report form. (AXIS-UTT-150)
11.2 Additional thickness measurements may report as required on attached the form.
(AXIS-UTT-149)
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
ATTACHEMENT 1
Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Basic report Form
OPERATING PROCEDURE
(WORK INSTRUCTION)
Issue : 1
ATTACHMENT 2
Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Additional report Form

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AXIS INSPECTION LTD. No.

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

Revision # Date Pages Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

0 August 4, 2015 Ryan Collado Anil Mehta Srinivas Budde

03 April 02,2020 9 Vijay Vesvikar Vijay Vesvikar Srinivas Budde

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

All the personal performing UT Thickness measurement shall be approved by client.

7.0 EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

8.0 CALIBRATION BLOCKS

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

9.0 SURFACE PREPARATION

10.0 CALIBRATION OF EQUIPMENT

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

12.0 Post Cleaning

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Basic report Form

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT Rev. : 03

Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Additional report Form

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