• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.649-658
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• 2002

As an attempt to further improve the reliability and effectiveness of ultrasonic testing (UT), a two-dimensional numerical simulator of UT was developed. The simulator models the wave medium (or test object) using the mass-spring lattice model (MSLM) that consists of mass-points and springs. Some previous simulation results, obtained by using MSLM, are briefly reviewed in this paper, for propagation, reflection, and scattering of ultrasonic waves. Next, the models of transmitting and receiving piezoelectric transducers are introduced with some numerical results, which is a main focus of this paper. The UT simulator, established by combining the transducer models with the MSLM, was used to simulate many UT setups. In this paper, two simple setups are considered as examples, and their simulated A-scan signals are discussed. The potential of the MSLM, transducer models, and the UT simulator developed in this study to be used in the actual UT is confirmed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.40-45
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• 2008

There exist many types of pipe and component fatigue through vibrations, thermal fatigues or shifting. In some cases of thermal stratification/thermal fatigue, pipes & components are receiving thermal stress by means of material expansion and shrinkage by continuous thermal repetitive variation. Small cracks initially occur on the inside surface by thermal stress. These cracks grow in depth the pipe wall and finally come to a rupture. Pipe parts of susceptibility to thermal stratification and thermal fatigue are now being examined by conventional UT(ultrasonic test) as volumetric examination. It is difficult to fully satisfy the code & standards requirements because 3" weldolet weldments of RCS 16" pipe to 3" branch connection lines have complex structural shape. To solve the problems of conventional UT examination, we made a realistic mock-up and UT calibration block. We performed a simulation of phased array UT utilizing CIVA as NDE(Non-Destructive Examination) simulation software. Also we designed phased array UT transducer and wedge, optimal frequency by using simulation data. We performed phased array UT experiment through mock-up including artificial flaws(notch). The phased array UT technique is finally developed to improve the reliability of ultrasonic test at RCS 16" pipe to 3" branch connection weld.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1995.04b
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• pp.348-352
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• 1995

In the conventional linear elasticity, ultrasonic velocity is determined by elastic modulus and density of te medium which ultrasonic wave propagates through. But, practical ultrsonic wave depends on the stress acting in the medium, and as the stress increases such dependency becomes nonlinear. This nonlinear dependencyof ultrasonic velocity on stress can be identified by using nonlinear elastic modulus up to 4th order. In thid paper, with the above background relationships between nonlinear elastic modulus and the internalstatus of materials, normal, plastic deformed or heat stressed, are discussed. For this purpose, a new type of measuring system extended from the general nondestructive UT(ultrasonic test) equipment is constructed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.40-47
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• 2011

KSNPs(Korea Standard Nuclear Power Plant) have been applied the break exclusion criteria to the high energy lines passing through containment penetration area to ensure that piping failures would not cause the loss of containment isolation function, and to reduce the resulting dynamic effects. Systems with the criteria are the Main Steam system, Feed Water system, Steam Generator Blowdown system, and Chemical & Volume Control system. In accordance with FSAR(Final Safety Analysis Report), a 100% volumetric examination by augmented in-service inspection of all pipe welds appled the break exclusion criteria is required for the break exclusion application piping. However, it is difficult to fully satisfy the requirements of inspection because 12", 8" and 6" weldolet weldments of Main Steam pipe line have complex structural shapes. To resolve the difficulty on the application of conventional UT(Ultrasonic Testing) technique, realistic mock-ups and UT calibration blocks were made. Simulations of conventional UT were performed utilizing CIVA, a commercial NDE(Nondestructive Examination) simulation software. Phased array UT experiments were performed through mock-up including artificial notch type flaws. A phased array UT technique is finally developed to improve the reliability of ultrasonic test at main steam line pipe to 12", 8" and 6" branch connection weld.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.431-437
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• 2000

Standard Test Block(STB) for UT(Ultrasonic Testing) is a block approved by authoritative for material, shape and quality. STB is used for characteristic tests, sensitivity calibration and control of the time base range of UT inspection devices. The material, size and chemical components of STB should be strictly controled to meet the related standards such as ASTM and JIS because it has an effect upon sensitivity, resolution and reproductivity of UT. The STBs which are not approved are sometimes used because the qualified STBs are very expensive. So, the purpose of this study is to survey the characteristics, quality and usability of Non-Standardized Test Blocks. Non-Standardized Test Blocks did not meet the standard requirements in size or chemical components, and ultrasonic characteristics. Therefore if the Non-Standardized Test Blocks are used without being tested, it's likely to cause errors in detecting the location and measuring the size of the defects.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.129-134
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• 2012

UT(Ultrasonic Test), one of the non-destructive tests, is the most common thickness measurement method for evaluating the wear rate in NPPs(Nuclear Power Plants). UT is used widely because it is easy and safe for use. However some amount of error inevitably occurs in attempting to measure the thickness. The error, that could make the thickness data thicker or thinner, may affect estimation of wear rate in pipes. NPPs are composed of a lot of pipes and components. Some of them are tested to check the current status during RFO(Re-Fueling Outage). Reliability analysis of UT is essential for evaluating pipe wear rate and establishing the long-term management plan in NPPs. This paper reviewed the cause of error occurrence and presented the UT data reliability analysis method. Also, this paper shows the application result of reliability analysis to the UT data acquired in NPPs.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

As the Non Destructive Test (NDT) for the welded structure, PT(Penetration Test). MT(Magnetic Test), RT (Radioisotope Test) and UT(Ultrasonic Test) methods are widely used in practice. These NDT methods have been developed toward high efficiency, low cost, real time, and high precise new NDT. For example, RT methods are developed to CT(Computed Tomography)and DR(Digital Radiography), and UT metheds are developed into Phased array, Guide wave, TOFD method. Moreover, the Infrared thermography and Laser ultrasonic technique are newly developed for applying in high temperature objects as the non-contact NDT methods. In this review paper the new high efficiency NDT methods for the welded structure are introduced and the trend of NDT rules applying in welded structure are described.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 2001

Damage Profess of CFRP laminates under monotonic tensile test was characterized by the correlation between Acoustic Emission(AE) and Ultrasonic Test(UT). The amplitude distribution of AE signal from a specimens is an aid to the determination of the extent of the different fracture mechanism such as matrix crack, debonding, fiber pullout and fiber fracture as load is increased. In addtion, the characteristics of ultrasonic amplitude attenuation are useful lot analysis of the different type of fracture mechanism. Different orientation of carbon fiber reinforced plastic specimens were used to investigate the AE amplitude range and ultrasonic amplitude attenuation. Finally, loading-unloading tests were carried out to check Felicity effect. During the tests, ultrasonic amplitude attenuation was investigated at the same time and compared with AE parameters. The result showed that two parameters of both AE and UT could be effectively used for analysis of fracture mechanism in CFRP laminates.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.820-830
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• 2016

Pipe wall thinning by flow-accelerated corrosion and various types of erosion is a significant and costly damage phenomenon in secondary piping systems of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Most NPPs have management programs to ensure pipe integrity due to wall thinning that includes periodic measurements for pipe wall thicknesses using nondestructive evaluation techniques. Numerous measurements using ultrasonic tests (UTs; one of the nondestructive evaluation technologies) have been performed during scheduled outages in NPPs. Using the thickness measurement data, wall thinning rates of each component are determined conservatively according to several evaluation methods developed by the United States Electric Power Research Institute. However, little is known about the conservativeness or reliability of the evaluation methods because of a lack of understanding of the measurement error. In this study, quantitative models for UT thickness measurement deviations of nuclear pipes and fittings were developed as the first step for establishing an optimized thinning evaluation procedure considering measurement error. In order to understand the characteristics of UT thickness measurement errors of nuclear pipes and fittings, round robin test results, which were obtained by previous researchers under laboratory conditions, were analyzed. Then, based on a large dataset of actual plant data from four NPPs, a quantitative model for UT thickness measurement deviation is proposed for plant conditions.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.4 s.35
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• pp.45-54
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• 1999

Non destructive test is applied to revise mechanical strength and assume material strength or defect of material, equipment and structure, instead of fracture test. Especially, ultrasonic test has the characteristics such as an excellent permeability high-sensitiveness to fine defect and an almost exact measurement for position, size and direction of inner defect which differ from other non destructive tests. In this study, the program is developed to evaluate optimal testing condition, to distinguish obstacle echo and defect position. This program on the basic of Ray-Tracing model shows generation and processing of ultrasonic pulse. The simulation is compared with testing in the 3 cases of an oblique angle transducer like $45^{\circ},\;60^{\circ}\;and\;70^{\circ}$. The test result for all conditions is well compared with simulation result when relative not is within $0.1{\sim}7.2%$. And the course of several echos is simply assumed through simulation.