Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research Metallurgy and Materials Group
Kalpakkam - 603 102
Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research
Metallurgy and Materials Group
Kalpakkam - 603 102
Ultrasonics & Microstructural Analysis Section (UMAS)
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OBJECTIVES
¨ Development of ultrasonic techniques for detection and sizing of defects in components
¨ Development of ultrasonic test procedures for ISI of reactor components
¨ Low-frequency ultrasonic and Impact echo testing of concrete structures
¨ Microstructure characterization using ultrasonic NDE parameters
¨ Photoacoustic spectroscopy to characterize cold work and annealing in D9
¨ Modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation & flaw scattering
¨ Development of LASER triangulation technique for Inner surface profiling of dissolver vessels
¨ UItrasonic spectroscopy
¨ Development of Lcr technique for assessment of residual stresses and cold work
¨ Development of Eddy current position sensors
¨ Development of SAFT, TOFD and C-Scan imaging techniques and MEMS
¨ Fiber optic sensor development for temperature measurement
¨ Development of software for tomographic reconstruction
STAFF
MEMBERS
Dr. C. Babu Rao, Head, UMA Section
Dr. Mrs. Vaidehi Ganesan, SO/E
FACILITIES AVAILABLE
▪ Microprocessor based ultrasonic flaw detectors
▪ Ultrasonic Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique
▪ Ultrasonic velocity measurement system
▪ Ultrasonic immersion system
▪ Impact echo system
▪ Digital storage oscilloscopes
▪ Critically refracted longitudinal wave (Lcr) generation facility
▪ Photoacoustic spectroscopy
▪ C-scan imaging
▪ Videomicroscope
▪ In-situ metallography equipment
▪ Scanning acoustic microscope
RECENT ACTIVITIES
· A new ultrasonic methodology for ISI of support shell weld of core support structure
· Low-frequency UT and Impact echo testing of concrete structures
· Assessment of damage to concrete due to sodium fire
· Correlation between concrete density and acoustic wave velocity
· Residual stress measurements (Main vessel sector and roof slab by hole-drilling method and Lcr wave based technique)
· Inner surface profiling of dissolver vessel in lead mini cell using LASER triangulation technique
· ISI of nitric acid loop
· In-situ metallography of dished ends of storage tanks
· ISI of secondary sodium circuits pipe weld joints and steam generator circuit weld joints (UT)
· Stress measurement in bolts of upper flange joint of SGTF
· Wall Thickness measurements of secondary sodium valves
· Failure analysis of main boiler feed water pump valve plug and dissimilar weld joint of steam generator
· Structural integrity assessment of foundation bolts and concretes of heavy water plant Baroda and Kota
R&D Activities
o Fatigue crack growth studies on carbon steel elbows, stainless steel T joints and straight weld pipes
o Spectral analysis based methodology for thickness measurement of thimbles of ECHM
o Reconstruction software based on Filtered Back Projection development
o RS measurements in 9Cr-1Mo steel and carbon steel weld joints
o LCR wave velocity measurements for assessment of residual stresses
o Photoacoustic spectroscopy to characterize cold work and annealing in D9 alloy
o Modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation & flaw scattering
o Nondestructive acoustic investigation of musicall pillars of Vithala temple, Hampi, Karnataka, India
o Development of ultrasonic guided wave inspection methodology for inspection of Hexcan tubes
o Development of guided wave based methodology for qualification of Hexcan seal weld of fuel subassembly
o Development of ECPS for DSRDM, PFBR
Ultrasonic Material Characterization
· M250 Maraging steel - ageing behaviour
· D9 stainless steel - forging studies
· Imaging of ferritic and austenitic steel weld profiles
· Zr-based bulk metallic glass – recrystallization studies
· Ti-alloys – β-transus temperature using a specimen with simple treatment
· Tensile deformation in stainless steel
· Recrystallization studies in D9 stainless steel
· Ultrasonic measurements at high temperatures
· Characterization of Kidney Stones
System and Software Development
▪ Portable Impact echo system
▪ Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT)
▪ Software for on-line measurement of ultrasonic velocity profile incorporating cross-correlation and spline fit algorithms
▪ Software for amplitude and TOF base C-scan imaging – using data from ULTIMA
Fiber Optic Sensor Development
· Raman scattering based temperature sensor
· FBG Strain sensor
· Feasibility studies on sodium circuits
Laying fiber optic sensor for temperature measurement