The ULTRATUBE automated ultrasonic testing systems for seamless pipes have successfully passed pre-shipment tests and have been shipped to the customer. The systems are designed for automated ultrasonic testing of the pipe body and pipe ends: detection of longitudinally and transversely oriented defects and laminations, wall thickness measurement, and detection of longitudinal surface defects with an orientation deviation from the pipe axis of up to ±36°.
Main technical specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Diameter range of tested pipes | 73.0–273.0 mm |
| Wall thickness range of tested pipes | 5.0–35.0 mm |
| Wall thickness measurement accuracy | ±0.05 mm |
| Testing methods | pulse-echo method |
| back-wall echo attenuation (mirror-shadow) method | |
| multiple back-wall echo attenuation method | |
| combinations thereof | |
| magnetic method | |
| Measurement rate (probe pulse repetition frequency) | over 4 kHz |
| Frequency range of the probe pulse spectrum | 1.0–6.0 MHz |
Testing sensitivity
| Defect type | Artificial reflector |
|---|---|
| Longitudinal and transverse defects | notch with a depth of 5 % of wall thickness and a length of 25.0 mm |
| Short deep surface defects | through hole 1.6 mm in diameter |
| Surface defects with an orientation deviation from the pipe axis of up to ±36° | notch 0.5 mm deep for wall thickness up to 16 mm |
| notch with a depth of 5 % of wall thickness for wall thickness over 16 mm | |
| Laminations | flat-bottom hole 3 mm in diameter (D3E) or larger |
| Magnetic method | through hole 1.6 mm in diameter |
| longitudinal and transverse notches with a depth of 5 % of wall thickness |
Combining ultrasonic testing methods with the magnetic method makes it possible to detect both internal and surface defects.