EDDY CURRENT PROCEDURE FOR SURFACE

INSPECTION ON FERROUS & NON-FERROUS WELDMENT

Contract No. :
Contract Title:
Client:
Contractor:

THIS OPERATING PROCEDURE IS CONTROLLED BY THE SIEVERT INTERNATIONAL

INSPECTION CO WLL AND MAY NOT BE AMENDED, REVISED OR ALTERED IN ANY
OTHER WAY WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THAT COMPANY.
THE SIGNATURES BELOW AUTHORISE ALL PAGES OF THIS PROCEDURE FOR USE
FROM THE DATE OF APPROVAL SHOWN

PREPARED BY

REVIEWED BY

APPROVED BY

Date

Date

Date

REVISION HISTORY

ISSUE

REVISIO
N

01

00

DATE

REMARKS
Issued for Initial review

INDEX

S.No

DESCRIPTIONS

PAGE NO.

COVER PAGE

REVISION HISTORY

INDEX

1.

SCOPE

2.

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION

PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION

SAFETY

EQUIPMENTS

PROBES

CALIBRATION STANDARD

CALIBRATION BLOCK

10

CALIBRATION STEPS

11

SURFACE CONDITION

12

PROCEDURE

13

PROBE TRAVERSE SPEED

14

EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE

15

IMAGE RECARDING

10

16

DATA ANALYSIS

10

17

REPORTING

11

1.0 SCOPE
Perform eddy current inspections for the detection of surface discontinuities in
Magnetic and Non-magnetic weldment by using an absolute surface probe
with eddy current technique.
2.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
3.0

ASME Section V
2010 Edition
ASNT SNT TC 1A
2011 Edition
BS EN 1711-2000

Non Destructive Examination

Guidelines for Personnel Qualification &
Certification
NDT Examination of welds- Eddy
current on welds
Written procedure for Training and
Certification of Personnel
QHSE General Safety Plan

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION:
The interpretation and recording of the test results shall be carried out by the
NDT Level II as per written procedure. All the personnel used to operate ECT
equipment shall have minimum 1 year of experience and shall be well versed
with the operation of relevant Equipment and safety standards.

4.0

PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION:

Procedure qualification test shall be performed to the satisfaction of the client

before starting of the work. All qualification tests shall be witnessed by client.
5.0

SAFETY:
All Personnel shall have responsibility to themselves and other persons with
regard to safety and shall ensure that site facilities are adequate with regard to
lighting, scaffolding and the like, prior to commencement of Operations.

6.0

EQUIPMENT:
The eddy current instrument called Phasec 3d Manufactured by GE shall be used
for surface discontinuities detection. It is having many advanced features as
given below
a) Dual frequency to enhance the Inspection capability.
b) High Accuracy frequency and filter setting.
c) Possibility on Ferrous material also for surface inspection.
d) Compact & portable and Battery operated.
The frequency range of the instrument shall be adequate to provide for a suitable
depth of penetration for the material under examination. Defect images can be
stored and transferred from equipment by using concern software.

7.0

PROBES:
The eddy current absolute probe shall be capable of inducing alternating currents
into the material and sensing changes in the material surface.

The above weldscan probe is going to utilize for scanning on weld and heat
affected zone. The frequency of the probe can be chosen as per material type &

dimensions and 100KHz is the nominal frequency for surface inspection of

ferrous and non-ferrous material.
The diameter of the probe shall be selected relative to the geometry of the
component to be tested.
8.0

CALIBRATION STANDARD:
The probe frequency and gain settings shall be selected to provide a suitable
depth of penetration within the material so that the depth of the deepest notch is
distinguishable from the next smaller notch. The gain settings on the vertical and
horizontal axis shall be set so that there is a dB difference with the discontinuity
depth gain being higher. The probe shall be nulled on the bare metal away from
the notches. The X-Y position of the null point shall be placed on one corner of
the screen. The phase or rotation control shall be adjusted so that when the probe
is lifted off the metal surface, the display point travels at 90 deg to the
discontinuity depth.

9.0

CALIBRATION BLOCK :
A Calibration block shall be prepared as per BS-EN 1711-2000, Eddy current
examination on welds, the block should be same type of material as the
component to be examined shall be used. It shall have EDM notches of 0.5mm,
1.0mm and 2.0mm. The tolerance on the notch depth shall be 0.1mm. The
recommended width of the notches shall be 0.2mm.
The calblock drawing given below will provide the reflectors locations and
dimensions.

When curvature of the examination object in the area of interest is not flat and
Affects the lift-off signal, a reference specimen representing that particular
geometry with the applicable notches shall be used
Calibration standards shall be manufactured from the same material
specification, same heat treatment, and same nominal size.
10.0

CALIBRATION STEPS:
Calibration is performed by passing the probe over the notches in the calibration
Block. The notched surface shall first be covered by non-conductive flexible
strips having a thickness equal to or greater than the measured thickness.
The equipment sensitivity is adjusted to give increasing signals from increasing
notch depths. The 1mm deep notch shall give a signal amplitude of
approximately 80% of the full screen height. The sensitivity levels shall then be
adjusted to compensate for component geometry.
Calibration check shall be performed periodically and as a minimum at the
beginning and the end of the examination and after every change in working
conditions.

11

SURFACE CONDITION:
Eddy current examination is dependent on close contact between the probe and
the test surface. For effective examination of welds, it should be noted that local
adverse weld form, excessive weld spatter. Scale, rust and loose paint can
influence sensitivity by separating the probe from the test objects. So for high
sensitivity the surface of the examination zone should be free of the above
mentioned factors.
Depending on the sensitivity requirements, the eddy current method is able to
indicate surface cracks through non-metallic coatings of up to 2mm thickness.
Coating thicknesses greater than this may be considered if the relevant sensitivity
can be demonstrated.

12

PROCEDURE
12.1

BASIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

The following minimum information is required prior to conducting an inspection:

Thickness and size

Materials
Characteristics:
Flat, Curvatures etc.
Scope of inspection: Number of Plate/ Spot/ Joints to scan, inspection pattern
Service:

(E.g., Medium used on, In-service parts, temperature)

Review of previous inspection reports
(If any)
Drawing, diagrams, maps or any other relevant information.

12.2

WORK INSTRUCTIONS

Inspection shall be performed in accordance with written Work Instructions or

Technique Sheets. Each shall include the following information:

Thickness and size

Size and type of probes
Mode of operation
Inspection frequencies
Inspection and recording equipment
Probe scan speed
Calibration/ Reference Specimen
Calibration procedure

Work instruction and Technique sheet shall be prepared by a Level 2 technician

and approved prior to application.
12.3

PRE-INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

Prior to conducting the inspection the technician shall conduct a visual inspection
and attempt to verify the following:

13.0

Unit /Part identification

Condition of work specimen (corroded, painted)
Condition of work specimen externally (baffle wear, fretting, dents)
Cleanliness of work specimen

PROBE TRAVERSE SPEED

The maximum probe traverse speed is limited by the frequency response of the
electronic system

14.0

EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE
The weld surface and the heat affected zones shall be scanned with the appropriate
probes. As far as the geometry of the test objects permits, the probe shall be moved
in the directions perpendicular to the main direction of the expected imperfections.
If this is unknown, or if imperfections in different directions are expected, at least
two probe runs shall be carried out, one perpendicular to other.

Scanning shall be done on weld region and also heat affected zones on both side.
Depend upon the cap width no of scanning shall be varied and if re-inforcement
width is small line scan is sufficient. Larger width Zig-Zag scan shall be applicable
to cover the total weld portion. The scanning pattern shall be as shown in below
diagram

Scanning Pattern
The area of interest shall be scanned with overlap on the next scan to include at
least 10% of the probe diameter. If the directions of suspected discontinuities are
known, the scan direction shall be perpendicular to the long axis of the
discontinuity. The object shall be scanned in two directions, 90 deg to each other.
During the examination, the maxi-mum scanning speed and lift-off distance shall
not be greater than those used for calibration.
ECT Wave Formation in defect position:
The ECT wave pattern in defective location will be as shown in below and
indication should be 90 deg differences from the lift-off signal.
Here two frequencies F1 and F2 can be utilized for better inspection and both can
be viewed same time while scanning in dual mode.

15.0

IMAGE RECORDING
For the purposes of this procedure all test results will be recorded as a image
format for wave form of defective portion in the scanning region.

16.0

DATA ANALYSIS
Data shall be analyzed while doing scanning itself and if any indication identified
in particular area that region shall be rescanned and confirmation can be done. The
wave nature from defect can be easily understood by phase change from its actual
position (Lift-off).

17.0

REPORTING
The following minimum information shall become part of the permanent record of
the inspection:
1. Procedure identification and revision
2.Examination personnel identity, and, when required by the referencing Code
Section, qualification level
3. Date of examination
4. Results of examination and related sketches or maps of indications.
5. Identification of part or component examined