Impact Testing

Determination
ASME Section VIII,
Division 1
 Impact Testing Determination
o Failure of materials and fabricated assemblies can occur In one of
two ways:
Ductile or Brittle
o ASME impact testing rules determine ability to resist brittle failure.

Characteristics Affecting Resistance To Brittle Failure

o Mechanical properties and chemical composition of:
Base material , Weld material, Weldments
o Thickness
o Applied Stress
o Metal Temperature
 ASME Code Rules
o Impact testing is required unless exempted by Code.
o Requirements for IT exemptions are described in Subsection C
for a given class of material.
o Exemptions may appear either directly in Code paragraphs, or by
paragraph reference to Code figures and notes.

o When not exempted, impact testing shall be by the charpy V notch

testing method & shall meet the requirements of UG-84 which
may include testing of:
materials, including welding material,
PQR material
weldments fabrications
 ASME Code Rules
UG - 84 Addresses:
(a) general
(b) test procedures
(c) test specimens
(d) IT of materials
(e) procedural requirements
(f) IT of welds
(g) specimen location, orientation, testing temperature and
acceptance values
(h) IT of PQR specimens
(i) Vessel (Production) IT test plates
(j) rejection
 Charpy V Notch Impact Testing Method
o Rules for the performance of impact testing appear in UG-84.
I.T. procedures and apparatus shall conform to 5A-370.
Calibration of IT. Equipment calibration shall be performed in accordance
with ASTM E23.

Principles of the Charpy V Notch Method

SA-370, 21.1.1: A charpy impact machine is
one in which a notched specimen is broken
by a single blow of a freely swinging
pendulum. The pendulum is released from a
fixed height so that the energy of the blow is
fixed and known.

The height to which the pendulum rises in its swing after breaking the specimen
is measured and used to determine the residual energy of the pendulum. The
specimen is supported horizontally as a simple beam with the axis of the notch
vertical. It is struck in the middle of the face opposite the notch.
 Principles of the Charpy V Notch Method

Fig. UG-84 Simple Beam Impact

Test Specimens (Charpy
Type Test)

NNotch Original cross section

O = original width before break

F = final width after break

Determining Lateral Expansion

Principles of the Charpy V Notch Method
 Principles of the Charpy V Notch Method
o One "set" is composed of 3 specimens
o Specimens are tested at or below the MDMT of
the vessel.
o Testing determines
• Ft/lb's of force required to break the
specimens,
• lateral expansion (mils), measured after
breaking,
• brittle or ductile fracture.
 Section VIII, Div. 1
Flow Diagram for
Determining Impact Testing Exemptions
 Exemptions by Code Paragraph
o UG-20
(f) Impact testing per UG-84 is not mandatory for pressure vessel
materials which satisfy all of the following.
(1) The material shall be limited to P-No. 1, Gr. No. 1 or 2, and the
thickness, as defined in UCS-66(a) [see also General Note (1) in Fig.
UCS-66.2], shall not exceed that given in (a) or (b) below:
(a) 1 / 2 in. (13 mm) for materials listed in Curve A of Fig. UCS-66;
(b) 1 in. (25 mm) for materials listed in Curve B, C, or D of Fig. UCS-66.
(2) The completed vessel shall be hydrostatically tested per UG-99(b)
or (c) or 27-4.
(3) Design temperature is no warmer than 650°F (345°C) nor colder
than −20°F (−29°C). Occasional operating temperatures colder than
−20°F (−29°C) are acceptable when due to lower seasonal
atmospheric temperature.
Thermal or mechanical shock loadings are not a controlling design
requirement, cyclical loading is not a controlling design
requirement.22
 UCS-66 Materials
o (a) Figure UCS-66 shall be used to establish impact testing
exemptions for steels listed in Part UCS.
o Unless otherwise exempted by the rules of this Division, impact
testing is required for a combination of minimum design metal
temperature (MDMT) and thickness which is below the curve
assigned to the subject material.
o If a MDMT and thickness combination is on or above the curve,
impact testing is not required by the rules of this Division,
except as required by:
UCS-66Q), and UCS-67(a)(2)
o Pressure parts shall be evaluated as separate components (e.g.,
Shells, heads, nozzles, manways, reinforcing pads, flanges,
tube sheets, flat cover plates, backing strips [remaining in
place] and attachments essential to the structural integrity of
the vessel when welded to the pressure containing component).
 UCS-66 Materials
o UCS-66(a) continued... Each Component shall be evaluated
for impact test requirements based on its individual
material:
Classification
Thickness
MDMT
Governing Thickness UCS-66(a)(1)
o The following thickness limitations apply when using Fig. UCS-66.
Excluding castings, the governing thickness (tg)of a welded part
is as follows:
o(a)(l)(a) For butt joints (except those in flat heads and
tubesheets), the nominal thickness of the thickest welded joint
[see Fig. UCS-66.3, sketch (a)],
o(a)(l)(b) For corner, fillet or lap welded joints, including
attachments, the thinner of the two parts joined,
 Governing Thickness UCS-66(a)(1)

O(a)(l)(c) For flat heads or tubesheets, the larger of (b) above or

the component thickness divided by four,
O(a)(l)(d) for welded assemblies comprised of more than two
components (e.g., nozzle-to-shell joint with reinforcing pad), t
and MDMT of the individual welded joints of the assembly shall
be determined, and the warmest of the MOMTs shall be used as
the MDMT of the welded assembly, [see Figure UCS-66.3,
sketch (b)]

o If the governing thickness at any welded joint exceeds 4 inches

and the MDMT is colder than 120°F (49° C), impact tested
material shall be used.
 Governing Thickness UCS-66(a)(1)
o (2) The governing thickness of a casting shall be its largest
nominal thickness.
o (3) The governing thickness of flat nonwelded parts, such as
bolted flanges, tubesheets, and flat heads, is the flat component
thickness divided by four.

o (4) The governing thickness of a nonwelded dished head [Fig. 1-6

sketch (c)] \s the greater of the flat flange thickness divided by 4
or the minimum thickness of the dished portion.
o (5) If the Governing thickness of a nonwelded part exceeds 6
inches (152 mm) and the minimum design temperature is colder
than 120°F (49°C), impact tested material shall be used.
 UCS-66(b), Reduction In MDMT Without
Impact Testing
o (b) When the coincident ratio defined in Fig. UCS-66.1 is less than
one, Figure UCS-66.1 provides a basis for the use of components
made of Part UCS materials to have a colder MDMT than that
derived from UC5-66(a) without impact testing.
o (b)(l)(a) For such components, and for a MDMT of -55°F (-48°C) and
warmer, the MDMT without impact testing determined in (a) above
for the given material and thickness may be reduced as determined
by Fig, UCS-66.2.
o If the resulting temperature is colder than the required MDMT,
impact testing of the material is not required.
o (b)(l)(b) Fig. UCS-66.1 may also be used for components not
stressed in general primary membrane tensile stress (defined in
Appendix 3).
 UCS-66(b), Reduction In MDMT Without
Impact Testing
o (b)(l)(c) In lieu of using (b)(l)(b), the MDMT determined in UCS-
66(a) or (c) may be reduced for a flange attached by welding, by
the same reduction as determined in (b)(l)(b) for the neck or shell
to which the flange is attached.
o (b)(2) For minimum design temperatures colder than -55°F (-
48°C), impact testing is required for all materials, except as
allowed in (b)(3) and in UCS-68(c).
o (b)(3) When the MDMT is colder than -55°F (-48°C) and no colder
than -155°F (-104°C), and the coincident ratio (Fig. UCS 66.1) is
< 0.35, impact testing is not required.
 UCS-68(c) Exemption when PWHT is Performed
o If postweld heat treating is performed when it Is not otherwise a
requirement of this Division, a 30°F (17°C) reduction in the
impact testing exemption temperature may be given to the
minimum permissible temperature from Fig. UC5-66 for P-No. 1
materials. The resulting exemption temperature may be colder
than -55°F (-48°C).
o No impact testing is required for the following flanges when
used at MDMTs no colder than -20°F (-29°C):
(1) ASME B16.5, ferritic steel
(2) ASME B16.47, ferrltic steel
(3) split loose flanges using SA-216 GR WCB
(4) Carbon and low alloy steel long weld neck flanges
 UCS-66(f), Impact Testing Based On Yield
Strength
o Unless specifically exempted in Fig. UCS-66, materials having a
specified minimum yield strength greater than 65KSI (448MPa)
must be impact tested.

UCS-66(g), Material Specification Impact Testing

o Materials produced and impact tested in accordance with the

requirements of the specifications listed in Fig. UG-84, General
Note (c), are exempted from impact testing by the rules of this
Division at MDMTs of not more than 5°F (3°C) colder than the
temperatures required by the specifications.
 UCS-66(h), Exemptions for Metal Backing
Strips
o No impact testing is required for metal backing strips which remain
in place made of materials:
assigned to Curve A of Fig. UCS-66;
with thicknesses not exceeding 1/4 inch (6.3 mm);
and the MDMT is -20°F (-29°C) and warmer.

UCS-66(i), Part UCS Impact Tested Materials

o Fig. UCS-66.1 provides a basis for the use of impact tested
material at MDMTs colder than the IT. temperatures, provided the
coincident ratio (Fig. UCS-66.1) \s less than one and the MDMT \s
not colder than -155°F (-104°C).
(1) For such components, the MDMT shall not be colder than the
impact test temp, less the allowable temp, reduction as determined
from Fig. UCS-66.2.
 UCS-66(j), Base Metal Exemptions
o When the base metal Is exempted from impact testing by UCS-
66(g)(material specification required IT.), Or by Fig. UCS-66 Curves
C or D, -20°F (-29°C) is the coldest MDMT to be assigned for
welded components that do not meet the requirements of UCS-
67(a)(2) [SFA material classed by IT. at a temperature not warmer
than the MDMT].
UCS-67, Impact Testing Of Welding Procedures
o Except as exempted in UG-20(f), the Welding Procedure
Qualification shall include impact tests of the welds and heat
affected zones (HAZ) made in accordance with UG-84 when
required by the following provisions:

o The MDMT used below shall be that stamped on the nameplate or

the exemption temperature of the welded component before
applying the temperature reduction permitted by: UCS-66(b) [
reduction in MDMT based on material thickness ratio] UCS-68(c).
[non-mandatory PWHT]
 UCS-67, Impact Testing Of Welding Procedures
o UCS-67(a) Welds made with filler metal shall be impact tested in
accordance with UG-84 when any of the following apply:
(a)(l) when either base metal is required to be impact tested by the
rules of this Division,
(a)(2) when joining base metals exempt from impact testing by UCS-
66(g) or Fig. UCS-66 Curve C or D and the MDMT is colder than -
20°F (-29°c) but not colder than -55°F (-48°C), unless the welding
consumables which have been classified by impact tests at a
temperature not warmer than the MDMT by the applicable SFA
spec. are used; or
(a)(3) when joining base metals exempt from impact testing by UCS-
66(g) [materials produced and impact tested LAW the material
specification] when the MDMT is colder than -55°F (-48°C).
 UCS-67, Impact Testing Of Welding Procedures
o UCS-67(b) Welds in UCS Materials made without the use of filler
metal shall be impact tested when the thickness of the weld exceeds
1/2 inch (13mm) for all MDMTs; or
when the thickness of the weld exceeds 5/16 inch (8mm) and the
MDMT is colder than 50°F (10°C).
o This requirement does not apply to welds made as part of the
material specification.
o UCS-67(c) Weld heat affected zones produced with or without the
addition of filler metal shall be impact tested whenever any of the
following conditions apply:
(c)(l) when the base metal is required to be impact tested,
(c)(2) when the welds have any individual pass exceeding 1/2
inch (13mm) and the MDMT is colder than 70°F (21°C): or
(c)(3) when joining base metals exempted by UCS-66(g) when
the MDMT \s colder than -55°F (-48°C)
UCS-67, Impact Testing Of Welding Procedures
o UCS-67(d) Vessel (production) impact tests made in accordance
with UG-84(i) may be waived for any of the following:
(d)(l) weld metals joining steels exempted from impact
testing by UC5-66 for MDMTs of -20°F (-29°C) and
warmer: or

(d)(2) weld metals defined in (a)(2) above; or

(d)(3) heat affected zones (HAZ) in steels exempted
from impact testing by UCS-66, except when (c)(3)
above applies.