AWS B1.10M/B1.10:2016

An American National Standard

Guide for the Nondestructive Examination

of Welds

AWS B1.10M/B1.10:2016

An American National Standard

Approved by the American National Standards Institute

August 29, 2016

Guide for the Nondestructive Examination of Welds

5th Edition

Supersedes AWS B1.10M/B1.10:2009

Prepared by the American Welding Society (AWS) B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection

Under the Direction of the AWS Technical Activities Committee

Approved by the AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This guide acquaints the user with the nondestructive examination methods commonly used to examine weldments. The standard also addresses which method best detects various types of discontinuities. The methods included are visual, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, radiographic, ultrasonic, electromagnetic (eddy current), and leak testing.

International Standard Book Number: 978-0-87171-895-2

© 2016 by American Welding Society

All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

Photocopy Rights. No portion of this standard may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, including mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Authorization to photocopy items for internal, personal, or educational classroom use only or the internal, personal, or educational classroom use only of specific clients is granted by the American Welding Society provided that the appropriate fee is paid to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, tel: (978) 750-8400; Internet: www.copyright.com.

Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS American National Standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.

AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While the AWS administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this standard. AWS also makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is neither undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. It is assumed that the use of this standard and its provisions are entrusted to appropriately qualified and competent personnel.

This standard may be superseded by the issuance of new editions. Users should ensure that they have the latest edition.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept any and all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent or product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.

Finally, the AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.

On occasion, text, tables, or figures are printed incorrectly, constituting errata. Such errata, when discovered, are posted on the AWS web page (www.aws.org).

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society, Attention: Managing Director, Technical Services Division, 8669 NW 36 St, #130, Miami, FL 33166 (see Annex D). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users of this standard, and they do not constitute professional advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection. It must be reviewed every five years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are requested and should be addressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 St #130, Miami, FL 33166.

This page is intentionally blank.

Personnel

B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection

W. A. Komlos, Chair Arc Tech LLC

R. Cook, 1st Vice Chair SME Steel Contractors

A. J. Moore, 2nd Vice Chair Marion Testing & Inspection

J. R. Douglass, Secretary American Welding Society

U. W. Aschemeier Subsea Global Solutions

B. L. Baker Bechtel National Inc

K. S. Baucher Technicon Engineering Services

R. E. Campbell Banker Steel Co

R. V. Clarke TEAM Industrial Services Inc

M. A. Cox EUROWELD Ltd

H. B. Craft Trinity Industries Inc

D. Crowe Mass Highway Department (Retired)

C. Eure AMEC E & I

G. Gratti Flowserve Corporation

J. H. Gravley Bureau Veritas

1. H. Hartley Terracon Consultants Inc

   1. R. Hill Materials Testing & Inspection

   2. Hill BH Consulting and Metal Works

      R. L. Holdren ARC Specialties, Inc / Welding Consultants LLC

      E. D. Levert Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control

      E. Lichtfusz Roush

   3. A. Mankenberg Shell Intl Exploration & Production

R. McCabe Consultant

J. K. Mehta Alta Vista Solutions

R. L. Mertz Alta Vista Solutions

J. L. Pariseau US Army Corps of Engineers

C. E. Pennington TTL Inc

K. J. Steinhagen PSI Inc

H. W. Thompson UL LLC

Advisors to the B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection

1. S. Armstrong LeTourneau Technologies Inc

   C. J. Hellier The Summit Group

   1. L. Johnson Johnson Inspection

C. K. Nicholson AMEC

C. F. Phelps Joseph Oat Corporation

T. W. Studebaker St Louis Testing

D. A. Wright Wright Welding Technologies

B1A Subcommittee on Nondestructive Examination

C. A. Mankenberg, Chair Shell Intl Exploration & Production

1. R. Douglass, Secretary American Welding Society

   B. L. Baker Bechtel National Inc

2. S. Baucher Technicon Engineering Services

R. E. Campbell Banker Steel Co

R. V. Clarke TEAM Industrial Services Inc

R. Cook SME Steel Contractors

M. A. Cox EUROWELD Ltd

D. Crowe Mass Highway Department (Retired)

C. Eure AMEC E & I

J. H. Gravley Bureau Veritas

M. D. Ison Tampa Tank Florida Structural Steel

W. A. Komlos Arc Tech LLC

E. Lichtfusz Roush

R. L. Mertz Alta Vista Solutions

A. J. Moore Marion Testing & Inspection

J. L. Pariseau US Army Corps of Engineers

C. E. Pennington TTL Inc

1. J. Steinhagen PSI Inc

   
   

   Advisors to the B1A Subcommittee on Nondestructive Examination

2. Goldberg Sea Test Services

1. L. Johnson Johnson Inspection

2. Petras Nisource

Foreword

This foreword is not part of this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

The Guide for the Nondestructive Inspection of Welds was first prepared by the AWS B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection in 1977. The next edition was published in 1986, with updates to current industry practices. The 1999, 2009 and this current edition incorporate an overall edit and improvements to the figures. This fifth edition, B1.10M/B1.10:2016, Guide for the Nondestructive Examination of Welds, includes the above referenced changes and others notated with a vertical line along the side of the page.

The purpose of this guide is to give the reader an overview of the more common examination methods available without unnecessary detail and to provide an aid in deciding which method is generally best suited for the examination of a given weld.

The words examination, evaluation, inspection, and testing are considered synonymous when describing various nondestructive examination methods.

This guide has been prepared by the AWS B1 Committee on Methods of Inspection to serve as a simple but reliable source of general information. It is not intended that this document provide complete and comprehensive coverage of the subject. There are many reference manuals available. For more comprehensive coverage of the activities of the welding inspector, this guide should be used in conjunction with the AWS Welding Inspection Handbook, which provides a more thorough description of the duties and responsibilities of welding inspectors, the techniques and characteristics of the usual nondestructive examination methods, and the major aspects of sampling and documentation required for an adequate quality control system. For other references on the subject of inspection, refer also to the technical documents suggested in Clause 2, Normative References, and Annex E, Informative References. Annex A summarizes the required equipment, applications, advantages, and limitations of each of the seven examination methods covered in the document. Annex B is adapted from Part C—Nondestructive Examination Symbols of AWS A2.4, Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination. Annex C provides a list of typical application standards and the addresses of the standards developers. Annex D provides guidelines for requesting an official interpretation of an AWS standard.

This page is intentionally blank.

Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel v

Foreword vii

List of Tables xi

List of Figures xi

1. General 1

   1. Scope 1

   2. Advantages and Limitations of the Examination Method 1

   3. Acceptance Standards 1

   4. Cost 1

   5. Procedures 1

   6. NDE Symbols 2

   7. Standard Units of Measurement 2

   8. Safety and Health 2

2. Normative References 2

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Discontinuities 3

   1. Discussion of Discontinuities 3

   2. List of Discontinuities 3

   3. Porosity 3

   4. Inclusions 5

   5. Incomplete Fusion 6

   6. Incomplete Joint Penetration 6

   7. Undercut 7

   8. Underfill 7

   9. Overlap 7

   10. Lamination 7

   11. Delamination 9

   12. Seams or Laps 9

   13. Lamellar Tear 9

   14. Cracks 9

   15. Concavity 12

   16. Convexity 14

   17. Weld Reinforcement 14

5. Nondestructive Examination Methods 16

   5.l Visual (VT) 16

   1. Liquid Penetrant (PT) 17

   2. Magnetic Particle (MT) 19

   3. Radiographic (RT) 21

   4. Ultrasonic (UT) 24

   5. Electromagnetic (ET) 32

   6. Leak (LT) 34

6. Interrelationships Among Welding Processes, Discontinuities, and Examination Methods 36

Annex A (Informative)—Examination Method Selection Guide 39

Annex B (Informative)—NDE Symbols and Abbreviations 43

Annex C (Informative)—Typical Industry Standards 51

Annex D (Informative)— Requesting an Official Interpretation on an AWS Standard 55

Annex E (Informative)—Informative References 57

List of AWS Documents on Weld Inspection 59

List of Tables

Table Page No.

1. Common Types of Discontinuities 4

2. Discontinuities Commonly Encountered with Welding Processes 15

3. Common Weld Examination Methods vs. Discontinuities 37

4. Applicable Examination Methods—Five Weld Joint Types 37

List of Figures

Figure Page No.

1. Double-V-Groove Weld in Butt Joint 5

2. Single-Bevel-Groove and Fillet Welds in Corner Joint 6

3. Double-Bevel-Groove Weld in T-Joint 7

4. Double Fillet Weld in Lap Joint 8

5. Single Pass Double Fillet Weld in T-Joint 8

6. Single-Bevel-Groove Weld in Butt Joint 9

7. Fillet Weld Terminology 10

8. Fillet Weld Discontinuities 11

9. Groove Weld Terminology 12

10. Groove Weld Discontinuities 13

11. Crack Types 14

12. Steps in Penetrant Testing 18

13. Magnetic Field Leakage 19

14. Direct Magnetization Using dc Prods 20

15. Indirect Magnetization Using a Yoke 20

16. Making a Radiograph 22

17. Radiographs of Weld Discontinuities and Macrosections 23

18. Examples of Digitally Captured Radiographic Images 25

19. Detection of Planar Discontinuities at Various Orientations by Radiography 26

20. Block Diagram, Pulse-Echo Flaw Detector 27

21. Similarities Between Reflections of Light and Sound at Boundaries 28

22. Refraction 28

23. Diffraction 29

24. Example of Longitudinal Testing 29

25. No Discontinuities 30

26. Discontinuity 30

27. Backing Bar False Indication 30

28. Example of a Sectorial Scan (S-Scan) 31

29. Typical Analysis Window Showing a Sectorial (Left) and a Corresponding A-Scan (Vertical, Right) 32

30. Example of an Electronic Scan (Linear or E-Scan) 32

31. Eddy Current Weld Examination 33

32. Encircling Coil for the Eddy Current Examination of Welded Pipe 34

33. Typical Eddy Current Surface Probes for the Examination of Welds 35

This page is intentionally blank.

Guide for the Nondestructive Examination of Welds

1. General

   1. Scope. This standard provides a reference guide for the kinds of nondestructive examination methods that are used to verify that welds meet the requirements of a code or specification. The nondestructive examination methods described are:

      1. Visual (VT)

      2. Liquid Penetrant (PT)

      3. Magnetic Particle (MT)

      4. Radiographic (RT)

      5. Ultrasonic (UT)

      6. Electromagnetic (Eddy Current) (ET)

      7. Leak (LT)

         The types of discontinuities detected with each method and their causes are discussed. Acceptance criteria are not addressed in this standard. Requirements for nondestructive examination and acceptance criteria should be specified in procurement documents prior to the award of contracts.

         Principal factors to consider when choosing an examination method are the advantages and limitations of the method, anticipated type and size of discontinuity, acceptance standards, and cost. Annex A is a guide to process selection.

   2. Advantages and Limitations of the Examination Method. The advantages and limitations of the examination method help to determine which method(s) is (are) best for detecting discontinuities of a particular size, shape, and orientation. For example, radiography can detect discontinuities with major planes aligned parallel with the radiation beam, such as cracks oriented normal to material surfaces. Radiography, however, usually cannot detect laminations in material or cracks oriented parallel to the plate surface. Conversely, ultrasonic examination can detect cracks oriented in any direction provided the sound beam is oriented essentially perpendicular to the major axis of the crack.

   3. Acceptance Standards. The statement “the weld shall be radiographically examined” is incomplete unless acceptance standards are specified. Acceptance standards define characteristics of discontinuities. They also establish upper and lower limits that determine the acceptance or rejection of a given discontinuity in conformance with the applicable acceptance standard. Discontinuities may be acceptable providing their size and distribution are within specified limits. Some acceptance standards are shown in Annex C.

   4. Cost. Costs of the various examination methods depend on the particular situation. Two factors that should be considered in selection of a nondestructive examination method are the cost of performing the examination and of the equipment.

      Visual examination is usually the least expensive, but it is limited to the detection of surface discontinuities. In general, the cost of radiography, ultrasonic, or eddy current examination is higher than the cost of visual, magnetic particle, or liquid penetrant examination. To determine the method(s) that will best satisfy the intended purpose and minimize cost, qualified personnel should be consulted.

   5. Procedures. It should be recognized that all NDE methods must be performed in accordance with an approved procedure which is available to the technician performing the test or examination. This is almost always a requirement of the applicable code. Only by following a documented (written) procedure can the NDE technician ensure adherence to codes and specifications applicable to the fabrication under test. These procedures should be documented to provide all details of test preparation, performance, and interpretation to ensure reliability and reproducibility of results.

1