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Started 4 years ago
Will I get an accurate reading using ultrasonic thickness gauging while doing hydrostatic pressure testing (or a pipe which flows at full capacity during operation).
I know because of safety reasons its not practical to measure during hydro testing. But I have been carrying this doubt for a long time.
Your valuable comment will be appreciated.
1 reply
4 years ago
Sound velocity in metals does change with tension or compression. For example, the slowing of sound velocity under tension is a significant factor in applications involving bolt elongation measurement. However I have not heard of this as a practical problem when measuring wall thickness of typical pressurized tanks or pipes, since the effect is fairly small under most conditions. Whether the velocity changes during a hydrostatic test would be of functional significance in your case would depend on the pressure being applied, the elastic constants of the metal in question, and especially the measurement accuracy required.
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