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INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 23279

Third edition
2017-08

Non-destructive testing of welds —

Ultrasonic testing — Characterization
of discontinuities in welds
Essais non destructifs des assemblages soudés — Contrôle par
ultrasons — Caractérisation des discontinuités dans les assemblages
soudés

Reference number
ISO 23279:2017(E)

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ISO 23279:2017(E)


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ISO 23279:2017(E)


Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 Principle......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
5 Criteria............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
5.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
5.2 Echo amplitude criteria (stages 1 and 2).......................................................................................................................... 3
5.2.1 Low amplitudes (stage 1).......................................................................................................................................... 3
5.2.2 High amplitudes (stage 2)......................................................................................................................................... 3
5.3 Directional reflectivity criteria (stage 3)........................................................................................................................... 3
5.3.1 Applicability based on length................................................................................................................................ 3
5.3.2 Application conditions................................................................................................................................................. 3
5.3.3 Criteria....................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
5.4 Echo static pattern criteria (stage 4).................................................................................................................................... 4
5.5 Transverse echo dynamic pattern criteria (stage 5)............................................................................................... 4
5.6 Complementary testing.................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Annex A (normative) Classification of indications from internal discontinuities in welds —
Flowchart procedure......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Annex B (informative) Directional reflectivity........................................................................................................................................... 8
Annex C (informative) Basic echo dynamic patterns of reflectors......................................................................................10

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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
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electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
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URL: www​.iso​.org/​iso/​foreword​.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44, Welding and allied processes,
Subcommittee SC 5, Testing and inspection of welds.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 23279:2010), which has been technically
revised.
Requests for official interpretations of any aspect of this document should be directed to the Secretariat
of ISO/TC 44/SC 5 via your national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at
www​.iso​.org.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 23279:2017(E)

Non-destructive testing of welds — Ultrasonic testing —

Characterization of discontinuities in welds

1 Scope
This document specifies how to characterize indications from discontinuities by classifying them as
originating from planar or non-planar embedded discontinuities.
This procedure is also suitable for indications from discontinuities that break the surface after removal
of the weld reinforcement.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11666, Non-destructive testing of welds — Ultrasonic testing — Acceptance levels
ISO 17640, Non-destructive testing of welds — Ultrasonic testing — Techniques, testing levels, and
assessment

3 Terms and definitions

No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://​w ww​.electropedia​.org/​
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://​w ww​.iso​.org/​obp

4 Principle
Classification of discontinuities as planar or non-planar is based on several parameters:
a) welding techniques;
b) geometrical position of the discontinuity;
c) maximum echo amplitude;
d) directional reflectivity;
e) echo static pattern (i.e. A-scan);
f) echo dynamic pattern (envelope).
The process of classification involves examining each of the parameters against all the others in order
to arrive at an accurate conclusion.
For guidance, Figure A.1 gives the classification of indications from internal weld discontinuities
suitable for general applications. Figure A.1 should be applied in conjunction with the two parameters
a) and b) listed above and not taken in isolation.

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The classification procedure specified in this document is also suitable for indications that come from
surface breaking discontinuities after removal of the weld reinforcement (see Figure 1).
Dimensions in millimetres

Key
A ground weld

Figure 1 — Origin of indications from a weld

5 Criteria

5.1 General
The classification is carried out by the successive application of several discriminatory criteria to:
a) echo amplitude;
b) directional reflectivity;
c) echo static pattern (A-scan);
d) echo dynamic pattern (envelope).
These criteria shall be applied using the flowchart procedure according to Annex A and as described in
Clause 5.
It is recommended that the same probes be used for detection and for classification of discontinuities.
The flowchart procedure standardizes a system of classification. Several thresholds are defined in
decibels by a comparison with the distance-amplitude curve (DAC) or by a comparison of the maximum
echo heights from the discontinuity when tested from different directions.
Proposed thresholds for the different stages in the flowchart procedure are given in Table A.1.
The flowchart procedure calls for five stages:
— stage 1: to avoid the classification of indications with very low echo amplitudes;
— stage 2: to classify all indications with high echo amplitude as associated with planar discontinuities;
— stage 3: primarily to classify lack of fusion;
— stage 4: primarily to classify inclusions;
— stage 5: primarily to classify cracks.
NOTE Indications resulting from a combination of an inclusion and lack of fusion are classified as originating
from a planar discontinuity by the flowchart procedure. An example of this type of discontinuity is given in
Figure A.2.

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5.2 Echo amplitude criteria (stages 1 and 2)

5.2.1 Low amplitudes (stage 1)

It is accepted that an indication with an echo amplitude lower than the evaluation level as specified in
ISO 11666 (defined as T1 in Figure A.1) is not significant and shall not be characterized.
For special applications, this value, T1, may be lowered, if defined by specification.

5.2.2 High amplitudes (stage 2)

It is assumed that an indication with an echo amplitude that is at least equal to the reference level plus
6 dB (defined as T2 in Figure A.1) is associated with a planar discontinuity.

5.3 Directional reflectivity criteria (stage 3)

5.3.1 Applicability based on length

Stage 3 of the flowchart procedure shall be applied only to those indications exceeding:
a) thickness t for the range 8 mm ≤ t ≤ 15 mm;
b) t/2 or 15 mm, whichever is larger, for thicknesses over 15 mm.
For indications not exceeding the specified length, proceed to stage 4.

5.3.2 Application conditions

The following application conditions apply:

a) Echoes compared shall be obtained from the same reflector.
b) The comparison shall be made at the position where echo height, Hd, max, is the highest along the
indication.
c) When a normal-beam probe and an angle-beam probe are used, their frequencies shall be chosen to
give similar wavelengths (e.g. 4 MHz for longitudinal waves and 2 MHz for transverse waves for steel).
d) When two or more beam angles are used, the differences between the nominal refracted beam
angles shall be equal to or greater than 10°.
e) If the comparison is made between a beam passing through the weld and a beam passing through
the base material only, the attenuation of the weld material shall be taken into account.

5.3.3 Criteria

The highest echo amplitude, Hd, max, obtained from the discontinuity is compared with the minimum
echo amplitude, Hd, min, obtained from all the other directions.
To satisfy the directional reflectivity, the following conditions shall be fulfilled simultaneously:
a) Hd, max is greater than or equal to T3 (the reference level − 6 dB).
b) The modulus of the difference of the amplitudes of the indications, |Hd, max − Hd, min|, from two
different directions is at least
1) 9 dB using transverse wave angle-beam probes only, or
2) 15 dB using one transverse wave angle-beam probe and one longitudinal wave normal-
beam probe.

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The directional reflectivities depend on the angle of refraction and the test conditions (half skip, full skip).
Examples of different testing directions are given in Figure B.1.
An example of the application of these criteria is given in Figure B.2.

5.4 Echo static pattern criteria (stage 4)

At this stage, the echo static pattern (i.e. A-scan) of the discontinuity is compared with that obtained
from the reference reflector (3 mm diameter side-drilled hole).
If the echo static pattern is single and smooth, the discontinuity is classified as non-planar.
If the echo static pattern is not both single and smooth, proceed to stage 5.
These criteria shall be fulfilled for at least two directions of testing.

5.5 Transverse echo dynamic pattern criteria (stage 5)

The transverse echo dynamic pattern of a discontinuity is the envelope of the resulting echoes when
the ultrasonic probe is moved perpendicular to the discontinuity in accordance with ISO 17640. The
analysis takes into account not only the envelope, but also the behaviour of the echoes inside of it.
Classification of discontinuities depends on the patterns observed:
— pattern 1: single, non-planar discontinuity;
— pattern 2: excluded by previous stage;
— pattern 3 and pattern 4: planar discontinuity, if observed for the two directions of highest
reflectivity; if only observed for one reflectivity direction, use complementary tests (see 5.6);
— pattern 5: cluster of non-planar discontinuities.
These patterns used for classification are given in Annex C.
These criteria shall be fulfilled for at least two directions of testing.

5.6 Complementary testing

In case of doubt, carry out additional tests, for example:
a) use of additional reflectivity directions or additional probes;
b) analysis of the echo dynamic pattern when the probe is moved parallel to the discontinuity [see
Figure C.1 c), Figure C.2 c), Figure C.3 c), Figure C.4 c) and Figure C.5 c)];
c) other non-destructive testing methods (e.g. radiography).
This list is not restrictive.

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