With the increasing use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping for nuclear applications, nondestructive evaluation is an important tool for evaluation of the integrity in fused joints. This paper will discuss the method of using ultrasonic phased array for inspecting butt-fusion (BF) joints in HDPE piping. The benefit of phased array is the ability to perform a volumetric inspection using multiple angles, which greatly increases the probability of detection of defects and allows the data to be analyzed using a representative two-dimensional image of the joint. It has been determined that successfully producing BF joints is highly dependent on environmental and mating-surface conditions. The primary defects of concern are lack-of-fusion, an area of the joint where there is no bond, cold fusion, an area of partial bond, and inclusion. Phased array has successfully demonstrated the ability of detecting and characterizing these defects using low frequency ultrasound. Factors addressed include joint location, wall thickness, material temperature, transducer wedge material, and manual versus automated data acquisition.
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October 2010
Research Papers
High-Density Polyethylene Piping Butt-Fusion Joint Examination Using Ultrasonic Phased Array
Caleb Frederick,
Caleb Frederick
Structural Integrity Associates
, 11515 Vanstory Drive, Suite 125, Huntersville, NC 28078
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Allen Porter,
Allen Porter
Structural Integrity Associates
, 11515 Vanstory Drive, Suite 125, Huntersville, NC 28078
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David Zimmerman
David Zimmerman
Duke Energy
, 526 South Church Street EC076, Charlotte, NC 28202
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Caleb Frederick
Structural Integrity Associates
, 11515 Vanstory Drive, Suite 125, Huntersville, NC 28078
Allen Porter
Structural Integrity Associates
, 11515 Vanstory Drive, Suite 125, Huntersville, NC 28078
David Zimmerman
Duke Energy
, 526 South Church Street EC076, Charlotte, NC 28202J. Pressure Vessel Technol. Oct 2010, 132(5): 051501 (8 pages)
Published Online: August 25, 2010
Article history
Received:
September 3, 2009
Revised:
December 17, 2009
Online:
August 25, 2010
Published:
August 25, 2010
Citation
Frederick, C., Porter, A., and Zimmerman, D. (August 25, 2010). "High-Density Polyethylene Piping Butt-Fusion Joint Examination Using Ultrasonic Phased Array." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. October 2010; 132(5): 051501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001212
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