• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.31-39
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• 1993

It has not been performed to inspect the underclad cracking of nuclear pressure vessel in Korea since there is no code requirements for inspection. However, underclad cracks in nuclear pressure vessels have been reported since the early 1970s. The aim of this experiment is to find the suitable ultrasonic inspection techniques for underclad cracking. The various transducers, for example $70_{\backprime}$ refracted longitudinal wave, 50/70 multibeam, SLIC-40, SLIC-50, are used in this investigation. Experiments on prescreening blocks and a demonstration block under the same condition as in the nuclear power pressure vessels show that the $70_{\backprime}$ refracted longitudinal wave method is the best one for the length evaluation and also gives a good signal pattern for detection of the crack, while the 50/70 multibeam transducer is more effective for the detection of underclad cracking. On the other hand, the SLIC-50 transducer using M-SPOT(Satellite Pulse Observation Technique) and M-PET (Peak-Echo Technique) methods is the most effective one for the depth of underclad crack estimation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2009

An advantage of a magnetostrictive strip transducer for a long-range guided wave inspection is that the wave patterns are relatively clear and simple when compared to a conventional piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer. Therefore, if we can characterize the evolution of defect signals, it could be a promising tool for a structural health monitoring of pipes for a long period of time as well as an identification of flaws. However, when evaluating a signal during a realistic field examination, it should be careful because of some spurious signals or false indications, such as signals due to a directionality, multiple reflections, mode conversion, geometrical reflections etc. Mode converted signals from a realistic piping mockup were acquired and analysed. We found mode conversions between a torsional guided wave T(0,1) mode and a flexural F(1,3) or longitudinal L(0,2) mode generated by a magnetostrictive strip transducer. Based on the experimental observations, an interpretation of the source of the mode conversion is discussed in a viewpoint of electromagnetic properties and structure of the strip transducer.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.442-448
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• 2007

The ultrasonic inspection system for the expansion/transition area of steam generator tube was successfully developed. Variety of artificial flaw and real track specimen was tested using the UT system to verify the performance of the system. All artificial flaws of which through-wall depth larger than 10% was clearly detected by UT system. Measurement results of through-wall depth of flaws larger than 20% had good linearity and reproducibility with 3.27 of standard deviation. Results of real crack specimen test suggested that the detection limit of real crack strongly depends on the track morphology. A potential for measurement of PRL(percentage of remaining ligament) was recognized by the real crack specimen test.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 1997

An eddy current probe ($8{\times}1$ multiple-element, surface scan) was successfully designed and fabricated at the KEPRI using the impedance equivalent circuit theory. The probe is intended for the detection of circumferential deformations (cross-section view) of the heat exchanger tubing that can occur due to corrosion, erosion, and denting. Optimum design parameters providing the highest sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, such as the coil dimensions, electrical characteristics, and test frequencies, were determined based on initial laboratory experiments conducted on the test specimen (SS304 tubing: OD : 9.68mm, wall-thickness : 0.47mm) containing artificial flaws (e.g., dents and corroded surface on tube OD) using the available Zetec-made probe. Using this parameters, a new probe was made and tested on an unknown specimen. The result indicated that the new probe is capable of detecting the circumferential deformation with the error of ${\pm}0.2%$ (0.022mm) of the tube O.D.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.523-531
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• 2002

This study is concentrated on the development of high speed multi-object image processing algorithm in real time. Recently, the use of vision system is rapidly increasing in inspection and robot's position control. To apply the vision system, it is necessary to transform the physical coordinate of object into the image information acquired by CCD camera. Thus, to use the application of the vision system to the inspection and robot's position control in real time, we have to know the position of object in the image plane. Particularly, in case of rigid body using multi-cue to identify its shape, the each position of multi-cue must be calculated in an image plane at the same time. To solve these problems, the image processing algorithm on the position of multi-cue is developed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2002

The open-connect type eddy current transducer for the flaw detection in continuously connected pipelines was developed. This eddy current transducer is for the on-line inspection of the tubes in industries, to which commercial encircling probes are not applicable. The excitation coil that consists of a ribbon type cable and a flat connector can be opened and closed on purpose. The sensing coils of this transducer are circumferentially arrayed near the outside of the tube wall but axially displaced from the exciter by about one and half tube diameter. In application to steel tubes, and the performance of this transducer was evaluated as a little behind those of magnetic saturation type in signal to noise ratio and flaw size decision, but usable to detect or to locate large size flaws in steel tubes. Surface cracks deeper than 19% of the tube thickness could be detected with good signal to noise ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.501-509
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• 2001

For the enhancement of ECT reliability on the primary water stress corrosion cracks of nuclear steam generator tubes, of which the occurrence is on the increase, it is important to comprehend the signal characteristics on crack morphology and to select an appropriate probe type. In this paper, the sizing accuracy and the detectability for the inner wall axial cracks of tubes were quantitatively evaluated using the following specimens: the electric discharge machined notches and the corrosion cracks which were developed on the operating steam generator tubes. The difference of eddy current signal characteristics between pancake and axial coil were also Investigated. The results obtained from this study provide a useful information for more precise evaluation on the inner wall axial tracks oi stram generator tubes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.174-183
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• 1997

Turbine rotor disc consists of disc, bore, keyway, hub, and rim in which the typical defects are located. And these part of disc has very complicated geometry, therefore proper transducer selection, wedge design, fabrication, classification and evaluation of the signal identification are required. In this research, test block with the artificial flaws at keyway and boresurface parts have been used in order to establish the ultrasonic inspection technique for flaw detectability on disc. The analysis of the signals from the test blocks was performed. The wedges were designed according to the curvature from the discs. All the ultrasonic signals were collected and identified for evaluation. The ultrasonic inspection technique for the flaw-detection was established from this research. And it is proved that the result of this research can be applicable in the field inspection.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2013

Fatigue crack was detected from a temperature change around surface crack using the thermographic technique. Thermal gradient across the crack decreased very much due to thermal resistance of contact surface in the crack. Heat diffusion flow passing through the discontinuity was visualized in temperature by infrared camera to find and locate the crack. A fatigue crack specimen(SM-45C), which was prepared according to KS specification and notched in its center to initiate fatigue crack from the notch tip, was heated by halogen lamp at the end of one side to generate a heat diffusion flow in lateral direction. A abrupt jump in temperature across the fatigue crack was observed in thermographic image, by which the crack could be located and sized from temperature distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

Separate and layered transmitting and receiving spiral coil arrays had been used for the optimized individual applications of magnetostrictive type long-range ultrasonic testing. In this study, it was demonstrated that when taking advantages of the spiral coils with the leg width reduced to be half of the previous one and of the empty spaces due to the decrease of leg width, the transmitting and receiving coil array can be arranged to form a single layer structure allowing more easy use and fabrication. Because of the number of turns of the receiving coils that is proportional to their leg width, the sensitivity of the single layer coil array was about half that of the corresponding double layer coil array while it allowed the receiving amplifier to get faster recovery from a saturation due to the main bang echo. It was also found that the two types of coil arrays have almost the same performances in the view points of signal-to-noise ratio and directivity control.