A06 ARTICLE 15

ALTERNATING CURRENT FIELD MEASUREMENT

TECHNIQUE (ACFMT)

T-1510 SCOPE and/or supplement the provisions of this Article in accor-

dance with T-150(a). Additional items, which are neces-
(a) This Article describes the technique to be used sary, are production weld mock-ups with reference
when examining welds for linear type discontinuities 1⁄4 notches or other discontinuities machined adjacent to, as
in. (6 mm) and greater in length utilizing the Alternating well as within, the weld deposit.
Current Field Measurement Technique (ACFMT).
(b) When specified by the referencing Code Section,
T-1522 Written Procedure Requirements
the ACFMT examination technique in this Article shall
be used. In general, this Article is in conformance with T-1522.1 Requirements. ACFMT shall be performed
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SE-2261, Standard Practice for Examination of Welds in accordance with a written procedure that shall, as a
minimum, contain the requirements listed in Table
Using the Alternating Current Field Measurement Tech-
T-1522. The written procedure shall establish a single
nique.
value, or range of values, for each requirement.
T-1522.2 Procedure Qualification. When procedure
qualification is specified, a change of a requirement in
T-1520 GENERAL
Table T-1522 identified as an essential variable shall
The ACFMT method may be applied to detect cracks require requalification of the written procedure by demon-
and other linear discontinuities on or near the surfaces stration. A change of a requirement identified as an nones-
of welds in metallic materials. The sensitivity is greatest sential variable does not require requalification of the
for surface discontinuities and rapidly diminishes with written procedure. All changes of essential or nonessen-
increasing depth below the surface. In principle, this tech- tial variables from those specificed within the written
nique involves the induction of an AC magnetic field in procedure shall require revision of, or an addendum to,
the material surface by a magnetic yoke contained in a the written procedure.
hand held probe, which in turn causes a uniform alternat-
ing current to flow in the material. The depth of the
T-1530 EQUIPMENT
penetration of this current varies with material type and
T-1531 Instrument
field frequency. Surface, or near surface, discontinuities
interrupt or disturb the flow of the current creating ACFMT instrument and software shall be capable of
changes in the resulting surface magnetic fields which operating over a range of frequencies of from 1 to 50
are detected by sensor coils in the probe. kHz. The display shall contain individual time or
distance-based plots of the x compound of the magnetic
field Bx, parallel to the probe travel, z component of
T-1521 Supplemental Requirements the magnetic field Bz, perpendicular to the examination
surface, and a combined Bx and Bz plot (i.e., butterfly
ACFMT examinations of some types of welds (e.g.,
display).
dissimilar, austenitic and duplex, etc.) may not be possible
or may result in a larger flaw (i.e, depth) detection thresh-
old than carbon and low alloy steel ferritic-type weld T-1532 Probes
examinations because of the wide variations in magnetic The nominal frequency shall be 5 kHz unless variables,
permeability between the weld, heat affected zone, and such as materials, surface condition, or coatings require
plate material. It is necessary in these cases to modify the use of other frequencies.

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 T-1533 ARTICLE 15 — ALTERNATING CURRENT FIELD MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE (ACFMT) T-1543

TABLE T-1522
REQUIREMENTS OF AN ACFMT EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
Requirement Essential Nonessential
(As Applicable) Variable Variable

Instrument (Model and Serial No.) X ...

Probes (Model and Serial No.) X ...
Directions and extent of scanning X ...
Method for sizing (length and depth) indications, when required X ...
Coating X ...
Coating thickness (increase only) X ...
Personnel performance qualification requirements, when required X ...
Surface preparation technique ... X
Personnel qualification requirements ... X

T-1533 Calibration Blocks as-forged condition. However, surface preparation by

T-1533.1 General grinding may mask an indication and should be avoided
when possible or kept to a minimum.
T-1533.1.1 Block Material. The material from
(b) Prior to ACFMT examination, the surface to be
which the block is fabricated shall be of the same product
examined and all adjacent areas within 1 in. (25 mm)
form and material specification, or equivalent P-number
shall be free of dirt, mill scale, welding flux, oil, magnetic
grouping, of the materials being examined.
coatings, or other extraneous matter that could interfere
T-1533.1.2 Weld Material. Blocks fabricated out with the examination.
of P-3 group materials or higher shall contain a represen- (c) Cleaning may be accomplished by any method that
tative weld of the same A-number grouping as the weld does not adversely affect the part or the examination.
being examined. (d) If nonmagnetic coatings are left on the part in the
T-1533.1.3 Notches. Known depth and length area to be examined, it shall be demonstrated to show
notches shall be used to verify that the system is function- that indications can be detected through the maximum
ing properly. coating thickness present.
T-1533.1.4 Quality. Prior to fabrication, the block
material shall be completely examined with an ACFMT
T-1542 Demagnetization
unit to assure it is free of indications that could interfere
with the verification process. Residual magnetic fields can interfere with the ACFMT
T-1533.1.5 Heat Treatment. The block shall induced field and may produce false indications; there-
receive at least the minimum tempering treatment fore, ACFMT should be performed prior to a magnetic
required by the material specification for the type and particle examination (MT). If ACFMT is performed after
grade. MT, the surface shall be demagnetized if any strong
residual fields exist.
T-1533.1.6 Residual Magnetism. The block shall
be checked for residual magnetism and, if necessary,
demagnetized. T-1543 Identification of Weld Examination
T-1533.2 Calibration Block. The calibration block Areas
configuration and notches shall be as shown in Fig.
(a) Weld Location. Weld locations and their identifi-
T-1533. Notches shall be machined at the toe (e.g., heat
cation shall be recorded on a weld map or in an identifica-
affected zone) and in the weld for blocks containing
tion plan.
welds.
(b) Marking. If welds are to be permanently marked,
low stress stamps and/or vibrating tools may be used,
T-1540 MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS unless prohibited by the referencing Code Section.
(c) Reference System. Each weld shall be located and
T-1541 Surface Conditioning
identified by a system of reference points. The system
(a) Satisfactory results are usually obtained when the shall permit identification of each weld and designation
surfaces are in the as-welded, as-rolled, as-cast, or of regular intervals along the length of the weld.

233.2
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 T-1560 2004 SECTION V T-1562.5

Weld notch, when required

Weld, when required
(See T-1533.2)
#2 #1

2 in.*
1 in.*
(50 mm)
#3 (25 mm)
typ. 6 in.*
(150 mm)
1/ in.*
2
(13 mm)

8 in.* (200 mm)

*Minimum Dimensions

Elliptical Length, Depth, Width,

Notch ID in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm)
1 2 (50) 0.2 (5)
2 0.25 (6) 0.1 (2.5) 0.02 (0.5) max.
3 0.25 (6) 0.1 (2.5)

GENERAL NOTES:
(a) The tolerance on notch depth shall be ± 0.01 in. (± 0.2 mm).
(b) The tolerance on notch #1 length shall be ± 0.04 in. (± 1 mm).
(c) The tolerance on notches #2 and #3 length shall be ± 0.01 in. (± 0.2 mm).
(d) Notch shape shall be elliptical.
(e) Notch #3 only required when block contains a weld.

FIG. T-1533 ACFMT CALIBRATION BLOCK

T-1560 CALIBRATION the manufacturers’ standard probe file loaded.

T-1561 General Requirements
T-1561.1 ACFMT System. Calibrations shall include T-1562.3 Instrument Display Scan Speed. The dis-
the complete ACFMT system (e.g., instrument, software, play scan speed shall be set at the maximum rate to be
computer, probe, and cable) and shall be performed prior used during the examination.
to use of the system.
T-1562.4 Probe Scanning Rate. The instrument shall
T-1561.2 Probes. The same probe to be used during
be calibrated by passing the probe over the notches in
the examination shall be used for calibration.
the calibration block and noting the responses. The nose
T-1561.3 Instrument Settings. Any instrument set- of the probe shall be orientated parallel to the notch length
ting which affects the response from the reference notches and shall maintain contact with surface being examined.
shall be at the same setting for calibration, verification The probe scan rate shall not exceed that which displays
checks, and the examination. a butterfly loop from the notch #1 of 50% (±10%) of full
scale height and 175% (±20%) of full scale width and
that also can readily detect a signal response from the
T-1562 Calibration
smaller notch.
T-1562.1 Warm Up. The instrument shall be turned
on and allowed to warm up for the minimum time speci-
T-1562.5 Probe Sensitivity. When the requirements
fied by the instrument manufacturer prior to calibration.
of T-1562.4 cannot be met, the probe sensitivity shall be
T-1562.2 Probe. The selected probe, and cable exten- adjusted, a different probe file loaded, or another probe
sions if utilized, shall be connected to the instrument and selected and the notches again scanned per T-1562.4.

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 T-1563 ARTICLE 15 — ALTERNATING CURRENT FIELD MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE (ACFMT) T-1594

T-1563 Peformance Confirmation shall be carried out to identify the location and extent of
T-1563.1 System Changes. When any part of the the discontinuity and whether it is linear or nonlinear.
examination system is changed, a verification check shall Determination of discontinuity size (length and depth) is
be made on the calibration block to verify that the settings not required unless specified by the referencing Code
satisfy the requirements of T-1562.2. Section.
T-1563.2 Periodic Checks. A verification check shall
be made at the finish of each examination or series of T-1580 EVALUATION
similar examinations, and when examination personnel
All indications shall be evaluated in terms of the accept-
are changed. The response from notch #1 shall not have
ance standards of the referencing Code Section.
changed by more than 10% in either the Bx or Bz response.
When the sensitivity has changed by more than 10%, all
data since the last valid verification check shall be marked T-1590 DOCUMENTATION
void or deleted and the area covered by the voided data
T-1591 Recording Indication
shall be reexamined.
T-1591.1 Nonrejectable Indications. Nonrejectable
indications shall be recorded as specified by the referenc-
T-1570 EXAMINATION ing Code Section.
T-1571 General Examination Requirements T-1591.2 Rejectable Indications. Rejectable indica-
T-1571.1 Rate of Probe Movement. The maximum tions shall be recorded. As a minimum, the extent and
instrument scan speed and probe scanning rate shall be location shall be recorded.
as determined in T-1562.4.
T-1571.2 Probe Contact. The probe shall be kept in T-1592 Examination Record
contact with the examination surface during scanning. For each examination, the following information shall
T-1571.3 Direction of Field. At least two separate be recorded:
examinations shall be performed on each area, unless (a) procedure identification and revision;
otherwise specified by the referencing Code Section. Dur- (b) ACFMT instrument identification (including man-
ing the second examination, the probe shall be positioned ufacturers’ serial number);
perpendicular to that used during the first examination. (c) software identification and revision;
(d) probe identification (including manufacturers’
serial number and frequency);
T-1572 Examination Coverage
(e) probe file identification and revision;
The weld to be scanned shall be examined by placing (f) calibration block identification;
the probe at the toe of the weld with the nose of the (g) identification and location of weld or surface
probe parallel to the longitudinal direction of the weld. examined;
The probe shall then be moved parallel to and along the (h) map or record of rejectable indications detected or
weld toe. A second longitudinal scan shall be performed areas cleared;
along the opposite toe of the weld. These two scans (i) areas of restricted access or inaccessible welds;
shall then be repeated per T-1571.3. Unless demonstrated (j) examination personnel identity and, when required
otherwise, if the width of the weld is wider than 3⁄4 in. by the referencing Code Section, qualification level; and
(19 mm), an additional set of scans shall be performed (k) date of examination.
along the centerline of the weld.
T-1593 Report
T-1573 Overlap
A report of the examination shall be made. The report
The overlap between successive probe incremental shall include those records indicated in T-1591 and
scans shall be 1 in. (25 mm) minimum. T-1592. The report shall be filed and maintained in accor-
dance with the referencing Code Section.
T-1574 Interpretation
T-1594 Performance Demonstration
The interpretation shall identify if an indication is false,
nonrelevant, or relevant. False and nonrelevant indica- Performance demonstration, when required by the ref-
tions shall be proven false or nonrelevant. Interpretation erencing Code Section, shall be documented.

233.4

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