Inner wall inspection of steam generator tubes with circumferential welds using ultrasonic crack detection

Cracks in the neighbourhood of circumferential welds at the inside of generator tubes to the weld seam can be detected with an ultrasonic probe system using Rayleigh's surface waves. A reference reflector with about 0.5 mm in depth and 1.5 mm in length is used. The ultrasonic inspection system is using a rotating mirror with two faces which can detect cracks on both sides of the weld and which can clearly separate crown or root indications from real defects. The signal-to-noise ratio is better than 12 dB. The system and results on tubes with artificial and real test reflectors are described. 8 refs