APPENDIX VI

ROUNDED INDICATIONS

VI-1000 Rounded Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

VI-1100 Acceptance Standards for Radiographically Determined Rounded
Indications in Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1110 Applicability of These Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1120 Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1121 Rounded Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1122 Aligned Indications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1123 Thickness t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1130 Acceptance Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1131 Image Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1132 Relevant Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1133 Maximum Size of Rounded Indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1134 Aligned Rounded Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1135 Spacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
VI-1136 Rounded Indication Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
VI-1137 Weld Thickness t Less Than 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
VI-1138 Clustered Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Table
VI-1132-1 Maximum Size of Nonrelevant Indications and Acceptable
Rounded Indications — Examples Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Figures
VI-1134-1 Aligned Rounded Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
VI-1134-2 Groups of Aligned Rounded Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
VI-1136-1 Charts for t Equal to 1⁄8–1⁄4 in. (3.2–6 mm), Inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
VI-1136-2 Charts for t Over 1⁄4–3⁄8 in. (6–10 mm), Inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
VI-1136-3 Charts for t Over 3⁄8–3⁄4 in. (10–19 mm), Inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
VI-1136-4 Charts for t Over 3⁄4–2 in. (19–51 mm), Inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
VI-1136-5 Charts for t Over 2–4 in. (51–102 mm), Inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
VI-1136-6 Charts for t Over 4 in. (102 mm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

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 ARTICLE VI-1000
ROUNDED INDICATIONS

VI-1100 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS VI-1130 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

FOR RADIOGRAPHICALLY
DETERMINED ROUNDED
INDICATIONS IN WELDS
VI-1110 APPLICABILITY OF THESE
STANDARDS
These standards are applicable to ferritic, austenitic,
and nonferrous material.
VI-1120 TERMINOLOGY
VI-1121 Rounded Indications
Indications with a maximum length of three times
the width or less on the radiograph are defined as
rounded indications. These indications may be circular,
elliptical, conical, or irregular in shape and may have
tails. When evaluating the size of an indication, the
tail shall be included. The indication may be from any
source in the weld, such as porosity, slag, or tungsten.
VI-1122 Aligned Indications
A sequence of four or more rounded indications
shall be considered to be aligned when they touch a
line parallel to the length of the weld drawn through
the center of the two outer rounded indications.
VI-1123 Thickness t
t is the thickness of the weld, of the pressure retaining
material, or of the thinner of the sections being joined,
whichever is least. If a full penetration weld includes
a fillet weld, the thickness of the fillet weld throat
shall be included in t.
VI-1131 Image Density
Density within the image of the indication may vary
and is not a criterion for acceptance or rejection.
VI-1132 Relevant Indications
(See Table VI-1132-1 for Examples)
Only those rounded indications which exceed the
following dimensions shall be considered relevant:
1
⁄10t for t less than 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm);
1
⁄64 in. (0.4 mm) for t equal to 1⁄8–1⁄4 in. (3.2–6 mm),
inclusive;
1
⁄32 in. (0.8 mm) for t greater than 1⁄4–2 in. (6–
51 mm), inclusive;
1
⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) for t greater than 2 in. (51 mm).
VI-1133 Maximum Size of Rounded Indication
(See Table VI-1132-1 for Examples)
The maximum permissible size of any indication
shall be 1⁄4t or 5⁄32 in. (4 mm), whichever is less, except
that an isolated indication separated from an adjacent
indication by 1 in. (25 mm) or more may be 1⁄3t or
1
⁄4 in. (6 mm), whichever is less. For t greater than 2
in. (51 mm), the maximum permissible size of an
isolated indication shall be increased to 3⁄8 in. (10 mm).
VI-1134 Aligned Rounded Indications
Aligned rounded indications are acceptable when the
summation of the diameters of the indications is less
than t in a length of 12t (see Fig. VI-1134-1). The
length of groups of aligned rounded indications and
the spacing between the groups shall meet the require-
ments of Fig. VI-1134-2.
VI-1135 Spacing
The distance between adjacent rounded indications
is not a factor in determining acceptance or rejection,

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 VI-1135 2001 SECTION III, DIVISION 1 — APPENDICES VI-1138

TABLE VI-1132-1
MAXIMUM SIZE OF NONRELEVANT INDICATIONS AND ACCEPTABLE ROUNDED
INDICATIONS — EXAMPLES ONLY
Maximum Size of Acceptable Maximum Size
Rounded Indication, in. (mm) of Nonrelevant
Thickness t, Indication, in.
in. (mm) Random Isolated (mm)

< 1⁄8 (<3.2) 1

⁄4t 1
⁄3 t 1
⁄10t
1
⁄8 (3.2) 0.031 (0.8) 0.042 (1.1) 0.015 (0.4)
3
⁄16 (4.8) 0.047 (1.2) 0.063 (1.6) 0.015 (0.4)
1
⁄4 (6.4) 0.063 (1.6) 0.083 (2.1) 0.015 (0.4)
5
⁄16 (7.9) 0.078 (2.0) 0.104 (2.6) 0.031 (0.8)
3
⁄8 (9.5) 0.091 (2.3) 0.125 (3.2) 0.031 (0.8)
7
⁄16 (11.1) 0.109 (2.8) 0.146 (3.7) 0.031 (0.8)
1
⁄2 (12.7) 0.125 (3.2) 0.168 (4.3) 0.031 (0.8)
9
⁄16 (14.3) 0.142 (3.6) 0.188 (4.8) 0.031 (0.8)
5
⁄8 (15.9) 0.156 (4.0) 0.210 (5.3) 0.031 (0.8)
11
⁄16 (17.5) 0.156 (4.0) 0.230 (5.8) 0.031 (0.8)
3
⁄4 –2, incl. (19–51, incl.) 0.156 (4.0) 0.250 (6.4) 0.031 (0.8)
>2 (>51) 0.156 (4.0) 0.375 (9.5) 0.063 (1.6)

except as required for isolated indications or groups graph, but are typical of the concentration and size of
of aligned indications. indications permitted.

VI-1137 Weld Thickness t Less Than 1⁄8 in.

VI-1136 Rounded Indication Charts
(a) The rounded indications as determined from the
radiographic film shall not exceed that shown in the
charts.
(b) The charts in Figs. VI-1136-1 through VI-1136-
6 illustrate various types of assorted, randomly dis-
persed, and clustered rounded indications for different
weld thicknesses greater than 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm). These
charts represent the maximum acceptable concentration
limits for rounded indications.
(c) The chart for each thickness range represents
full-scale 6 in. (152 mm) radiographs and shall not be
enlarged or reduced. The distributions shown are not
necessarily the patterns that may appear on the radio-
(3.2 mm)
For t less than 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) the maximum number
of rounded indications shall not exceed 12 in a 6 in.
(152 mm) length of weld. A proportionally fewer
number of indications shall be permitted in welds less
than 6 in. (152 mm) in length.
VI-1138 Clustered Indications
The illustrations for clustered indications show up
to four times as many indications in a local area, as
that shown in the illustrations for random indications.
The length of an acceptable cluster shall not exceed
the lesser of 1 in. (25 mm) or 2t. Where more than
one cluster is present, the sum of the lengths of the
clusters shall not exceed 1 in. (25 mm) in a 6 in.
(152 mm) length of weld.

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 Fig. VI-1134-1

L1 Lx

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L2
Sum of L1 to Lx shall be less than t in a length of 12 t.

Fig. VI-1134-1 ALIGNED ROUNDED INDICATIONS

COPYRIGHT American Society of Mechanical Engineers

87
APPENDIX VI

L1 3L2 L2 3L3 L3 3L3 L4

The sum of the group lengths shall be less than t in a length of 12 t.

Maximum Group Length Minimum Group Spacing

L = 1/4 in. (6 mm) for t less than 3/4 in. (19 mm) 3L where L is the length of the
L = 1/3 t for t equal to 3/4 in. to 21/4 in. (19 mm to 64 mm) longest adjacent group being
L = 3/4 in. (19 mm) for t greater than 21/4 in. (64 mm) evaluated.

Fig. VI-1134-2 GROUPS OF ALIGNED ROUNDED INDICATIONS

Fig. VI-1134-2
 Fig. VI-1136-1 2001 SECTION III, DIVISION 1 — APPENDICES Fig. VI-1136-2

(a) Random Rounded Indications [Typical

concentration and size permitted in
any 6 in. (152 mm) length of weld.]

1 in. (25 mm) 1 in. (25 mm)

(b) Isolated Indication (Maximum size (c) Cluster

per Table VI-1132-1.)

FIG. VI-1136-1 CHARTS FOR t EQUAL TO 1⁄8–1⁄4 in. (3.2–6 mm), INCLUSIVE

(a) Random Rounded Indications [Typical

concentration and size permitted in
any 6 in. (152 mm) length of weld.]

1 in. (25 mm) 1 in. (25 mm)

(b) Isolated Indication (Maximum size (c) Cluster

per Table VI-1132-1.)

FIG. VI-1136-2 CHARTS FOR t OVER 1⁄4–3⁄8 in. (6–10 mm), INCLUSIVE

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 APPENDIX VI Fig. VI-1136-3

(a) Random Rounded Indications [Typical

concentration and size permitted in
any 6 in. (152 mm) length of weld.]

1 in. (25 mm) 1 in. (25 mm)

(b) Isolated Indication (Maximum size (c) Cluster

per Table VI-1132-1.)

FIG. VI-1136-3 CHARTS FOR t OVER 3⁄8–3⁄4 in. (10–19 mm), INCLUSIVE

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 Fig. VI-1136-4 2001 SECTION III, DIVISION 1 — APPENDICES

(a) Random Rounded Indications [Typical

concentration and size permitted in
any 6 in. (152 mm) length of weld.]

1 in. (25 mm) 1 in. (25 mm)

(b) Isolated Indication (Maximum size (c) Cluster

per Table VI-1132-1.)

FIG. VI-1136-4 CHARTS FOR t OVER 3⁄4–2 in. (19–51 mm), INCLUSIVE

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 APPENDIX VI Fig. VI-1136-5

(a) Random Rounded Indications [Typical

concentration and size permitted in
any 6 in. (152 mm) length of weld.]

1 in. (25 mm) 1 in. (25 mm)

(b) Isolated Indication (Maximum size (c) Cluster

per Table VI-1132-1.)

FIG. VI-1136-5 CHARTS FOR t OVER 2–4 in. (51–102 mm), INCLUSIVE

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 Fig. VI-1136-6 2001 SECTION III, DIVISION 1 — APPENDICES

(a) Random Rounded Indications [Typical

concentration and size permitted in
any 6 in. (152 mm) length of weld.]

1 in. (25 mm) 1 in. (25 mm)

(b) Isolated Indication (Maximum size (c) Cluster

per Table VI-1132-1.)

FIG. VI-1136-6 CHARTS FOR t OVER 4 in. (102 mm)

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