Preliminary results for practical ultrasonic testing of austenitic steel welds

The welds of the austenitic reactor vessel of the liquid-metal fast-breeder reactor (Imfbr) SNR 300 were inspected by an ultrasonic method using transmitter-receiver angle-beam probes with longitudinal-wave ultrasound. The inspections showed that it is generally possible to find longitudinal defects, but not transverse defects. Furthermore, interpretation of the results for the type and size of defects is difficult, and phantom signals may lead to misinterpretation. Further developments and improvements are necessary.