NDTE3101 Ultrasonic Testing I

Lab: Normal Beam Area Amplitude Curve Rev.A-2021

Name: Date:

Purpose: To establish an area amplitude curve using the ASTM Area Amplitude Reference blocks.

Equipment:
-The Area Amplitude blocks are eight, 50mm diameter, 3.75” (95mm) in height cylinders in shape and
contain ¾” (19mm) deep Flat Bottom Holes (FBHs) of varying diameters (ranging in diameter from 1/64”
up to 8/64” increasing by 1/64ths). These are made of aluminum but various metals are available. 1 to 8
is indicated on block ID. Ie/7075-1-0300. The last 4 digits in the ID is the metal travel distance of 3”
(75mm).
-Other equipment is 2.25Mhz and 5.0MHz normal beam probes, cable, couplant and your UT
instrument.

Instructions:
a) To verify the height of the blocks, using the 2.25 Mhz (or 5 Mhz) normal beam probe, calibrate your
screen to show 2 backwall reflections from any one of the blocks. Remember to use the velocity setting
for aluminum (6320m/sec). With the range setting, adjust the first backwall (of block, not over hole) at 5
screen divisions (95mm) the second at 10 screen divisions. Notice the range setting. The reading should
be 190mm. Because there are 2 BW’s on screen the range reading actually gives the length of the
cylinder at 190/2 or 95mm.
Now set your range to 100mm FS.
b) Going through the blocks find the one which displays the highest amplitude after maximization on the
FBH.
c) On this block, adjust the gain to position the signal amplitude at 80% FSH.
d) Do not change the gain from now on. This is your reference gain. Record this dB below.
e) Record the sound path from the flat bottom hole in screen divisions, distance (in mm) and the signal
amplitude in the table below.
f) For the remaining blocks, maximize and measure the signal amplitude and sound path. Record these
in the table below.
g) Repeat the above steps for the 5.0Mhz probe and Construct an area amplitude chart. From your
results draw the area amplitude curve on the screen presentations below.

Reference gain ______ dB 2.25 MHz Reference gain ______ dB 5 MHz

@ 80FSH on ________ diameter hole (BLK ID) @ 80FSH on ________ diameter hole (BLK ID)
Block ID Hole Diameter Sound path to FBH Amplitude in Amplitude in
On side of block In 64ths of an inch In screen div. & mm FSH% 2.25 MHz FSH% 5.0 Mhz

Using the values of amplitude in % screen height, plot the amplitude % for the highest at position 1 (hole
8/64?) on the diagram below followed by the next highest, and so on down.

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 NDTE3101 Ultrasonic Testing I
Lab: Normal Beam Area Amplitude Curve Rev.A-2021

NOTE FOR YOUR GRAPHS: Vertical axis is – amplitude in %FSH Horizontal axis is – hole diameter

2.25Mhz area amplitude curve:

5.0Mhz area amplitude curve.

Learning Outcomes: What observations can you make? For area amplitude blocks, the size of the FBH
_________, but the distance to the FBH stays _____________ to produce the curve. The 5Mhz transducer has
better r___________and s___________ by finding smaller FBH's than 2.25 MHz transducer.

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