API UT21 ThicknessProcedure 20190304
API UT21 ThicknessProcedure 20190304
API
Defined Procedure
for
API-UT-21
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Procedure API-UT-21 Revision 0: March 2019
1.0 PURPOSE
1.1 This procedure is applicable only to ultrasonic examinations conducted for American
Petroleum Institute (API) Qualification of Ultrasonic Examiners Certification Program.
1.2 The following procedure addresses equipment and evaluation techniques for ultrasonic
examination of ferrous and non-ferrous metal plating using manual ultrasonic
techniques only.
1.3 This procedure provides guidelines and techniques for ultrasonic thickness measurements
of corroded areas.
1.4 This procedure is applicable to material thicknesses from 0.160 inches and less than
2.00 inches.
1.5 This procedure outlines the requirements for contact methods, using longitudinal wave 0
degree straight beam techniques.
2.0 REFERENCES
5.0 EQUIPMENT
5.1.1 Any manual pulse echo ultrasonic instrument may be used provided that it
satisfies the requirements of this procedure. Ultrasonic instruments should
be equipped with a calibrated dB gain or attenuation control stepped in
increments of 2db or less. Ultrasonic imaging is prohibited.
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Procedure API-UT-21 Revision 0: March 2019
5.2.2 The search unit used shall be single or dual element type 0 degree longitudinal
waves for the UT thickness technique. Search units may include single element
dual element or delay tip single element transducers.
5.2.3 The search unit or transducer selection should consider near surface and far
surface flaw sensitivity and resolution, near field and beam spread effects.
Suitable standoff wedges may be used to account for coating effects and to
improve thickness measurement accuracy.
5.3 Cabling
5.4 Couplant
5.4.1 Any couplant material may be used. Higher viscosity couplants are
recommended for rough surfaces.
5.5.2 A thickness step wedge shall be used to establish the screen range
calibration to cover the full range of material thicknesses expected.
5.5.3 The thickness calibration block used shall be fabricated from carbon steel
or other metals provided that a calibration block of the same material is
used for calibration.
5.5.4 For Test Specimens that are coated, a technique using multiple back wall
echoes maybe used to determine the minimum wall thickness.
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Procedure API-UT-21 Revision 0: March 2019
6.0 CALIBRATION
6.1 The temperature of the calibration block material shall be within 25 degrees F of the
component to be examined.
6.2 The surface shall be free from scale, rust, dirt, or any other extraneous materials that would
prohibit the transmission of ultrasonic sound waves into the component under examination.
6.3 For coated test samples, a calibration reference block shall be used for calibration of the
ultrasonic system. As an alternative, coated examinations maybe compensated with an echo
to echo measurement.
6.4.1 System calibration shall include the complete examination system. Any
changes in search unit, shoes, couplant or instrument shall be cause for
recalibration.
6.4.2 Calibration the ultrasonic instrument for the appropriate screen range to cover
the maximum and minimum material thicknesses expected during inspection. .
6.4.3 For uncoated test specimens, a calibration block of similar material shall be
used for calibration.
6.4.4 For Coated test specimens, an appropriate screen range shall be used to
accommodate the increase thickness due to the coating plus multiple back
wall signals if using the echo-to-echo thickness measurement technique.
7.2.1 The area designated by the API Test Administrator shall be investigated with the
appropriate 0-degree technique.
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Procedure API-UT-21 Revision 0: March 2019
7.2.3 Layout a 4 by 4-inch grid for UT-TM examination. There will be 16 grading units
per Test Plate unless noted otherwise. See Figure 1
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16
7.2.4 The ultrasonic thickness examination of each test specimen shall be performed in
each grading unit.
7.2.6 Determine the minimum remaining wall thickness measurement for each grading
unit.
7.2.7 The minimum remaining wall thickness for each Grading Unit shall be recorded
on the API Thickness Measurement Report Form.
7.2.8 Determine the Grading Unit Flaw Category for each grading unit. See figure 2 for
a list of Grading Unit Flaw Categories.
Category
A: No Corrosion
B: General Corrosion
C: Isolated Corrosion/Erosion
D: Pitting Corrosion
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Procedure API-UT-21 Revision 0: March 2019
7.1.8 The Grading Unit Flaw Category for each grading unit shall be recorded on the API
Thickness Measurement Report Form.
Mechanical Deformations:
-Appear in many configurations; scrapes; gouges; slight wall thinning, dents;
normal mill operation distortions.
Laminations:
-Are formed when gas is entrapped and is flattened during the manufacturers
rolling process and are generally elongated but parallel to the surface. Generally,
a large lamination, which is greater than the diameter of the transducer, will
cause a total loss of the back wall signal. The signal characteristics will be
similar to the back wall signal.
Inclusions:
-Appear as small, less than ¼ inch irregularly spaced linear stringers at varying
depths. They are volumetric as such the back wall signal should still be present.
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Procedure API-UT-21 Revision 0: March 2019
8.1.1 Recording: Record one minimum thickness reading for each grading unit to three
significant digits (0.XXX”)
8.1.2 Document the Grading Unit Flaw Category each of the 16 grading units in each test
specimen.
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