Publications
Simulation tools for ultrasonic testing inspection of welds
Bibliographie
G. Cattiaux, C. Poidevin, O. Roy, S. Chatillon,
3rd international conference on NDE in relation to structural integrity for nuclear pressurized components, Seville, Spain, 14-16 November 2001,
Rapport IRSN-DSR/25
Summary
TexteZone1
Ultrasonic in service inspections of primary and auxiliary circuit pipes of pressurized water reactors are mainly performed with contact transducers. Such components may have a complex geometry and irregular state of surface which leads to variable ultrasonic beam characteristics. The disorientation of the transducer and the unmatched contact between the wedge and the component surface will induce effects on the ultrasonic beam such as beam spreading, skewing or splitting. Modeling is an interesting tool to evaluate the influence of complex geometry on the radiated ultrasonic field and to provide help for expert’s interpretation of ultrasonic testing results. Therefore, the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) has developed an extension of its software Champ-Sons for field computation to take into account realistic geometry. This paper presents comparisons of predicted and measured fields obtained on complex geometry. It shows the mains effects induced by irregular surfaces such as welded shapes.