Accurate numerical modeling for ultrasonic testing of anisotropic welds in nuclear power plants

원전내 이방성 용접부에 대한 초음파검사의 정밀 수치 모델링

Due to their elastic anisotropy, ultrasonic testing of austenitic welds, frequently used in nuclear power plants, is much more difficult than that of isotropic elements. For accurate testing of austenitic welds, ultrasonic wave phenomena therein must be full understood. This study uses an accurate and effective numerical model, the mass-spring lattice model, for such phenomena. By comparing the numerical results with the corresponding analytical results, it is shown that the model is capable of accurately predicting the generation, reflection, refraction, and scattering phenomena of ultrasonic waves in anisotropic austenite welds. Therefore, the mass-spring lattice model will provide a very useful tool for simulating ultrasonic testing of austenitic welds, and thus will contribute to the enhancement of reliability of such ultrasonic testing.