Ultrasonic testing: Computer modeling applications

Under Appendix VIII of ASME Section XI, the qualifications of ultrasonic testing personnel who conduct in-service inspections at nuclear power plants must be established through performance demonstrations. To help utilities meet this requirement, EPRI is exploring the use of computer modeling in the design of qualification samples, the optimization of inspection procedures, and the extension of samples and procedures to a broader range of cases. Such modeling applications promise to improve inspection reliability and reduce the costs of qualification