Radiometric analysis method for verification of doubtful findings in X-ray and ultrasonic testing

Within the scope of a Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) project, a test facility for nondestructive detection and description of the location and dimensions of defects in pipeline welds was developed and tested on model defects and weld specimens with real defects. The results show that this test facility can be used to detect and map crack-like defects with high reliability, while reaching at least the detection sensitivity of conventional transmission testing. The experience gathered during the tests indicates that further noise reduction in the measuring device and smaller collimation diameters can improve the detection sensitivity and thus detail resolution. The usefulness of the test facility, which is currently limited to freely accessible pipeline welds, can be improved by design measures such as rotating arm modeling through separate linear and rotational movements of the radiation source and counter tube, general reduction of structural dimensions and a non-pipeline bound supporting device for the manipulator. (orig./MM)