ACCEPTANCE LIMIT FOR ULTRASONIC TESTING OF WELD JOINTS

(As per API-1104, 20th Edition)

9.6.2 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS
9.6.2.1 : a. Indications determined to be Cracks (C) shall be considered defect.
b. Individual indications with a vertical height (through wall) dimension determined to
be greater than one fourth of the Wall thickness. (E.g. LSF, Pin-hole)
c. Multiple indications at the same circumferential location with a summed vertical
height (through wall) dimension exceeds one half of the wall thickness (E.g. any
combinations of LF, LSF, Pin-hole)
9.6.2.2 : Linear Surface (L.S.) indications (other than Cracks) interpreted to be open to the ID
and OD surface shall be considered defect should any of the following condition exists
(E.g. LP, LF, IUC at ID surface and EUC at OD surface)
a) The aggregate length of the LS indication in any continuous 300mm length of weld
exceeds 25mm.
b) The aggregate length of LS indication exceeds 8% of total weld length.
9.6.2.3 : Linear Buried (L.B.) indications (other than Cracks, E.g. LCP, IFD, ESI, HB)
interpreted to be subsurface within the weld and not ID or OD subsurface-connected
shall be considered defect should any of the following condition exists a) The aggregate length of the LB indication in any continuous 300mm length of weld
exceeds 50mm.
b) The aggregate length of LS indication exceeds 8% of total weld length.
9.6.2.4

: Transverse (T.) indications (other than Cracks, e.g. IFD, ISI) shall be considered
volumetric and evaluated using the criteria for volumetric indications. The letter T shall
be used to designate all reported transverse indications.

9.6.2.5

: Volumetric Cluster (V.C, e.g. Clustered porosity, ISI) indications shall be considered
defects when the maximum dimension of VC indication exceeds (13mm)

9.6.2.6

: Volumetric Individual (V.I. e.g. Porosity, ISI) indications shall be considered defects
when the maximum dimension of VI indication exceeds 1/8 (3mm) both in width and
length.

9.6.2.7

: Volumetric Root (VR, e.g. Burn through, Concavity) indications interpreted to be

open to the ID surface shall be considered defects should any one of the following
conditions exists
a) The maximum dimension of V R indication exceeds (6mm).
b) The total length of V R indication exceeds (13mm) in any continuous 12
(300mm) weld length.

9.6.2.8

: Any Accumulation of Relevant (AR) indications shall be considered defects when

any one of the following conditions exists
a) The aggregate length of indications above evaluation level exceeds 2 (50mm) in
any 12 (300mm) length of weld.
b) The aggregate length of indications above evaluation level exceeds 8% of the weld
length.

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Types of Indications /Defects

Through Wall Pin-hole, Incomplete Fusion Due to Cold lap (IFD) between weld and
parent metal.
Linear Surface - Inadequate Penetration (IP), Inadequate Penetration Due to high-low
(IPD), Incomplete Fusion (IF), Cracks, Internal and External Undercut (IU & EU).
Linear Buried - Inadequate Cross Penetration (ICP), Incomplete Fusion Due to Cold
lap (IFD), ESI, Cracks (C),
Transverse Indication Cracks (C), Isolated Slag Inclusion (ISI), Incomplete Fusion
Due to Cold lap at start and end in the weld passes (IFD),
Volumetric Root Burn-through (BT), Internal Concavity (IC)
Volumetric Individual Porosity (P), Isolated Slag Inclusion (ISI)
Volumetric Clustered Clustered Porosity (CP), Isolated Slag Inclusion (ISI)

INTERPRETATION
Generally the interpretation of welding discontinuity is done after sketching and plotting
on the graph paper after drawing on 1:1 scale. Any decision regarding the type of defect
shall be taken only after plotting on the graph paper. For plotting generally same data is
required like.
1) Beam bath (available from the UFD screen).
2) Surface distance from the probe index.
3) Weld edge preparation angle or HAZ angle.
4) Material thickness.
5) Sound beam angle in the material.
6) Distance of the probe index from weld central axis.
Lack of penetration:- The indication lack of penetration will be on the axis from the root
area as in sketch below is a sharp indication. Beam Path Length of this indication is less
than V or 1V. When the probe is moved along the length of weld, this indication
remains at the same position on the screen.
Undercut:- Undercut at root will from root with sharp indication. The indications will
appear from V (approximately). But indications are not continuous. Undercut on face
of the weld will come at full V path from the top surface (sharp indication).
Lack of sidewall fusion:- Lack of sidewall fusion will reflect from bevel face or the HAZ
area (sharp indication). The nature of echo is very sharp and narrow at base .The defect
is linear in nature. In most of the cases, lack of fusion can be detected from one side
only.
Slag inclusion:- If broad indication comes from between the weld then the same will be
interpreted as slag inclusion. The nature of the indication may be spot or linear. In most
of the cases, slag inclusion can be detected from both sides.

Porosity:- It is very difficult to identify porosity with UT. The indications may come from
the weld body. The moment the probe is twisted, the indication disappears. The
indications are not continuous but intermittent in nature.

Excess penetration:- Beam path is extended or greater than the actual path generally
obtained from both or one side. It can also be confirmed by placing the probe above the
weld crown if the Crown is even and flat or grinded.
Mismatch due to high or low:- A strong echo indication may be present when scanned
from the lower side of the joint and no indication when scanned from upper side. From
one side it will show greater beam path and from other side will show lesser beam path.
Concavity at root:- A sharp indication comes from the root but when depth is
calculated will be Equal to the parent metal thickness.
Crack:- Crack is a type of defect, where determination is dependent on its orientation
and size. But gives a sharp indication if it falls perpendicular to the beam path or beam
direction. It may appear at root as well as in the weld body. It may be along the welding,
transverse to the welding or may be oblique to the welding. A detail investigation is
required prior to declaring an indication as crack.