ASRO Equipment and Supply (CA0149963-T)

Distortion Control: Tips and Tricks to reduce or prevent heat distortion when welding.

2009-09-10T07:23:00.026+08:00

Distortion Control: Tips and Tricks to reduce or prevent heat distortion when welding.

If you weld or design weldments you will experience shrinkage and distortion. Anticipating what will happen is half the battle.

Distortion Control of a simple Tee joint

Distortion Control

The effect of heat on weldments can cause all kinds of distortions problems. Many of these problems can be eliminated by planning the sequence, size, and location of the welds. Some general rules that have been outlined in many of the texts published by the Lincoln Electric Company are listed below.

1) Do not overweld

2) Use intermittent welding.

3) Use as few weld passes as possible.

4) Place welds near the neutral axis.

5) Balance the welds about the neutral axis.

6) Use backstep welding

7) Anticipate the shrinkage forces.

8) Plan the welding sequence.

9) Remove weld shrinkage forces after welding.

10)Minimize welding time.

An excellent text for reference is The Procedure Handbook from which the above list was taken. The Lincoln Electric Company, 22801 St. Clair Ave. Clevland, Ohio

The Welding Institute has an informative website:
http://www.twi.co.uk/bestprac/jobknol/jk36.html

The following discussion shows some examples for problems encountered and possible solutions.

Distortion of a simple Tee joint

The first example is very common and has several possible solutions. The tee joint using plate is a common subject of examples in text and has some problems that many people fail to visualize.

In example A the bracing prevents movement and forces the weld to stretch or yield as it cools. There will be some tension on the bead faces . It will be the amount of tension that would match the yield strength of the weld metal. Some minor distortion will be evident when the braces are released but it usually is within acceptable tolerances.

In Example B the brace will ensure that the relationship between the right side and the upright will stay close to ninety degrees however the left side is free to shrink and distort. Often the braces will be placed as in this example because braces on the left interfere with the welder's free access to that side.

Example C is the result of welding equally on both sides. The upright remains vertical but the base piece is bowed.

Example D is the best solution to prevent C however it requires that the assembly be pre-bent against the brace or strongback.

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Overwelding

Overwelding is a common error which increases the chance of distortion.. Sometimes it is caused by simple ignorance and other times it is a combination of people and factors. Typically the engineer calls for a 3/8 fillet five inches long. The detail draftsman rounds it up to say six inches. . . after all a six inch bead was called for for all the other parts of the job. The fabricator in the shop assembles the unit and marks out the welds for the welder. He wants to make sure that the marks are at least six inches apart and in his haste some of the marks are seven inches apart. The welder, seeing that he must use stitch welds goes one half inch past the marks left by the fitter.

Now the weldment is completed. The welds are certainly strong enough however the item has been overwelded by 3/5 or sixty percent. If there was potential a distortion problem it will now rear its ugly head. Now is the time everyone will try to point fingers. It is of no use because the deed is done. Care in following instructions would have prevented the problem before it occurred.

An example is the welding done on a small aluminum tool tote. The material that it was made of was 3mm thick aluminum The bottom and sides were one piece formed into a "U" with end pieces welded on. The welds were all corner joints done from the outside to form a nice radius. The owner had not time to run fillets on the inside of the box. He expressed the intention of doing those inside welds when he had time so that the box would be much stronger. It was pointed out to him that the only likely place of weakness was at the top edge of the corner joint and a one inch long bead on the inside at the top would be more than adequate. If he welded the complete inside corner he would be the owner of a twisted and buckled tool tote that would not be any stronger.

The example is shown below. For most cases an open corner joint will produce more than enough strength when it is welded from one side only. If there is a serious strength concern then stitch the inside at critical points only.

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Welding About Central Axis

This concept along with proper sequencing can significantly reduce unwanted distortion. The objective is to make the shrinkage forces exert their influence against each other in order to balance out. In most cases the forces created by shrinking weld metal will act thru the central axis as a fulcrum. The diagram shows this effect. The left side of the piece is welded which causes the shrinking force as shown by the arrows. The left side is placed under tension and stretches so that the unwelded side becomes the long side and the welded side becomes the short side. In the example on the right the forces of the two welds balance out and the assembly remains straight. Keep in mind however that the overall length will be slightly reduced.

There are two main shrinkage forces that change the shape of a welded assembly as the weld cools. The transverse shrinkage is the one of main concern to most situations. When splicing plates or using long weld beads the longtitudinal shrinkage forces must also be considered. The diagram below illustates their action. These are not the only forces that are considered by engineers but for the average application they are the primary forces.

Identifying the central axis can be difficult in some applications. Generally the central axis will run through the center of gravity. If one imagines hanging the structure from a string at two single points the string will intersect the center of gravity.

A square block of metal is a simple problem that has an obvious solution . In the case of the angle iron shown the central axis is in the air between the two legs of the angle. Shrinkage from the heat of welding will act though the central axis as a fulcrum.

In the first example below the addition of a flat bar to the edge of a channel will not only pull the channel upwards but also sideways. With a three inch channel and a two inch wide flat bar welded on to the corner this bending would not be significant until the length is over two feet. One of the quick solutions is to skip weld. Often continuous welds are not required for strength.

Reinforcements added to beams can cause unwanted bending if consideration is not given to how the assembly will distort from weld shrinkage.

Often a flat bar doubler will be added to the top or bottom surface of a beam continuously welding will result in a pronounced camber. If the camber is desired the beam can be left in that condition and loading will cause it to straighten.

If the camber is not wanted then planning is required. The example below will cause the beam to camber. It is important to use a staggered sequence starting from the center and alternately moving towards the ends of the beam. Welding one side only will pull the beam sideways.

Removing the camber can be done two ways. The first is to weld "false" welds or heats with a torch on the opposite flange so that there is an equal shrinkage force on both flanges above and below the central axis. The second method would be to bend the beam opposite to the direction it will distort by an amount equal to the expected distortion. The diagram illustrates this application to beams however this method can be used for any assembly that has to be welded on one side ot the central axis and distortion is expected once the welds cool. This is not unlike prepositioning a Tee joint so that when the weld pulls the tee becomes ninety degrees.

Distortion Control of Sheets

Joining plates or other items along a straight seam not only creates problems with transverse shrinkage but also longtitudinal shrinkage. The two main tactics are skip welding and back stepping. Skip welding reduces the effect of distortion simply by reducing the total amount of heat put into the work. Often there is no need for continuous weld beads particularly if the item welded on is acting as a stiffener. Back stepping reduces distortion by locking up the joint ahead of where the main part of the weld will occur thereby preventing movement of the joint as the heat builds up in the weldment. Prepositioning of large plates can help in some situations. An example is the longtitudinal welds on the side of a truck dump box. Below is drawn a single side with an insert strip that creates the inside of the box

Left and right sides are placed against each other with a spacer block in the center and clamps on the ends creating a bow on each piece. When the weld is completed and cooled the clamps are released and the sidewalls spring back to a flat shape.

In the previous example skip welding and then welding in the remaining sections or a backstepping procedure would still be prudent. When trying to control distortion one must use all available tactics in combination for maximum effect.

Splicing plates together can result in unwanted buckling. When initial fitting the plates there are several approaches. It is wise to lay the edges together and see how they meet. Often for some reason the edges are not exactly straight. This can be used to the advantage of the fitter or can create future problems both for the fitter and for the welder. Generally when butting two plates together edge to edge there will be shrinkage as the edges are tack welded together. The point that closest contact is made is often the best location for the first tack weld. If the edges are absolutely true then it is wise to set the plates almost touching at one end and having a gap at the other end of the joint. The first tack is placed at the point of contact and successive tack welds will pull the plates together as the joint is lined up and tacked. If the joint is closing up too rapidly then the tacks sould be made in a backstepping direction and kept small in size. It the gap needs to be closed then the tacks should be larger and made in the direction of the successive tacks. One can place a finger across the weld joint ahead of where the tack is being made. As the tack weld is made one can feel the initial spreading of the joint and then the closing of the gap as the cooling tack weld shrinks. The movement is so slight that the eye often will not detect it.

These principles are universal and don't really change whether one is joining half inch thick steel plate or autobody sheetmetal. Big job or small, the mistakes in the fitting are just as embarrassing. In addition to paying attention to the gap along the joint the thicknesses of the two plates must be aligned as the tacks are made. The following situations show the approach to take when panels are not cut absolutely straight. The sequence of tack welds are indicated. Similarly the sequence of weld should follow a similar sequence. The welder, if he takes a few moments, can reduce problems of buckling by monitoring plate movement and changing the placement and direction of his welding weld bead as he notices problems.

The example below is more realisitic. In this case one will have to start the tack welding sequence at the center of the seam line. Note that tacks are alternated to prevent the plates from hinging and opening more at one end than the other. The welding would follow a similar sequence however the welder would decide if he need to pull the joint together more with his welding or not. If the joint is closing up too much he would back step. If no problems are indicated the proper backstepping procedure would be: 2 to 1 then 3 to 1 then 4 to 2 then 5 to 3 then 6 to 4 then 7 to 5 and finally edge to 7 and edge to 6.

A true insert is always a problem because one cannot simply "chase" the shrinkage out to the edges of the plate. In the diagram below one can see that the transverse shrinkage will pull the plate in several directions. The likely result is buckling at the turn of the seam. This oil can effect on the plate can be reduced by strongbacking across the seam before welding . In addition it would be wise to follow a sequence. The fit at "b" and "c" is closed and will pull the sheet to the right. The area at "d" should not open up so can be left as the last location to tack weld. The welding will also have to follow a similar sequence. Likely b-a , c-b, a-d, edge to c and finally edge to d would offer the least distortion. The sequence might vary as the welder notes the nature of the shrinkage after each weld. Usually the curve of the seam will control or minimize the longtitudinal shrinkage. The transverse shrinkage now becomes the concern. Buckling or oil canning is a problem with this type of insert.
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Distortion control of frameworks

Distortion Control of Frameworks Frames are the easiest to control because they are inherently braced. A plan of attack by the welder will prevent most problems. Solving the problem afterwards is usually the most difficult since the framework is locked in position.

A basic tip is to start at the centre of the framework and work outward.

Hand railings often show a kink at the stanchions. The amount of bending may not be important in an industrial setting. In a residence or shopping mall it would not be acceptable.

The standard measures to control this effect are:

Minimize gaps. Excessively large gaps will require more weld metal to fill and will increase the distortion.
Minimize size of a weld bead.
Preheat top of rail. Even heating top surface to a blue with a torch before or during welding the underside of the rail will reduce the shrinkage.
Use temporary bracing on all free ends. Free ends such as the lower part of a stanchion or the extension of the handrail will pull unless a temporary brace not tacked into position and removed after the weldment has cooled. A full length brace is another option.
The diagonal and the full length are not both required.

Placing the railing horizontal on saw horses makes welding more convenient however all the welding on one side must not be completed before the railing is turned over otherwise the railing will come out bent to one side. If one joint is going to be completely welded before the next then it is important to start in the middle of the railing and work out from the centre as should be done for a truss.

When tubes meet at right angles to form a tee, the welds that join will apply heat on one side of the long tube.

It is wise to regularly check the straightness of members using a two foot straightedge. A camber over 1/8 inch in two feet becomes easily noticeable.

A similar thing happens with permanent braces placed to strengthen and hold a corner connection at ninety degrees. The diagram below illustrates the problem. Applying that correct heats to the red areas will pull the tubes back.

One simple solution is to duplicate the welds placed on the inner corners of the tubing with simple weld beads placed on the free corners of the tubing. Heating with a torch to a red heat and letting cool will have the same effect. One must be careful not to apply too much heat. Doing it in two or three stages is prudent until one is sure what amount of heat is required.

Some framing such as a canopy that attaches to a wall over a store front entrance requires additional bracing before welding and sometimes requires further straightening after welding is completed. The blue indicates the forces and resulting distortion. The red indicates the location of the corrective heats. Bracing would reduce or eliminate this problem.

The photos show actual examples of framing. Note that shrinking heats were applied in order to straighten the assembly after it had distorted from welding. The major problem was caused by a little angle that had to be continuously welded on the inside of the tubing.

Small trailer frames are usually built on a single plane. By using a sequence one can keep the frame square and straight. If desired, a positive camber between the axle and hitch can be welded in and a negative camber created on the overhang behind the axle supports. If not successful at causing the frame to take a camber after welding is completed, the camber can be created afterward using heat from a torch. The blue lines indicate a desired trailer camber. This camber is slight in the order of 1/8 in a three-foot span.

Distortion is always a problem when welding. The suggestions outlined here are by no means the only solutions. If one keeps in mind that he may face a distortion problem whenever he welds there is a likelihood that the problem will not become impossible to control.

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Flame shrinking

Flame Shrinking or "The Hot Side Becomes The Short Side"

The process seems to be a black art but really is based on some basic principles. Autobody repairers are masters at shrinking light guage panels. My experience is primarily with material over 1/4 thick. Even with my knowledge I still envy those guys working with light guage because I am not familiar with all the particular tricks they use. For me they are the magicians/wizards.

The procedure goes something like this:

A small area is heated until it becomes red hot. The torch is then removed.
The heat expands outward against the surrounding cold metal.
The red area is plastic and soft like putty. As a result it "upsets". The metal cannot push anymore outward so it expands by swelling in thickness.
This thickened area now starts to cool. As it contracts it pulls at the cold surrounding metal. Since there is not enough metal to replace the thickened area the cooling spot pulls even more causing the metal around to move towards the area that was originally red.

The term "Hot side is the short side." is a quick way to remember which way the steel will move after it is cool. Credit is due to a man named John Adolph who has extensive experience in flame shrinkage

The pictures show an example of shrinking to repair a set of four frames. The frames had developed a pronounced bend after welding was completed. The Rosebud torch can be seen on the steel horse.

What was required was a series of heats along the flanges of the large channel. The lower flange needed more heats since it was opposite the majority of the weld beads. After cooling the string showed a bow of 1/8 inch which was "good enough".

In this case wet rags were used to cool the assembly down rather than a siphon gun which might have been quicker. Two frames were shrunk at the same time, alternating heats between. Because of all the locked in shrinkage from the welding, heats every six inches along the lower flange had to be applied. Usually four heats evenly spaced over the complete length were done then let cool before applying more heats.

This large rack for holding parts was overwelded. the vertical support tubes bent resulting in all the shelf arms sloping downward before they were even loaded. The following picture shows the location s of heat applied to straighten the vertical tubes. The shelves were emptied before the shrinking began. The burned paint indicates the pie shaped locations that were heated.

It is important to understand that the air and water mist is used to increase the gradient of temperature across the heated area. It is not used for direct cooling on the red hot metal. Quenching the red area with the water spray will not aid in shrinking the metal and can affect the strength and ductility in some cases.
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Siphon gun

A siphon gun is simply an air gun that sucks up liquid into the air stream and propels the mixture out the nozzle end. This section will explain how to make your own and the techniques to use when shrinking. Basic parts required:

a quick disconnect fitting to match the air line.

a valve to shut off or control air flow. (ball valve preffered)
short sections of pipe to match the air fitting and valve.
rubber hose or plastic tubing.
three inches of brake line or similar tubing to match the hose.

100 cfm is required for good effect. The siphon gun in this case would be using a 3/4 inch pipe nozzle. For smaller applications a siphon gun using only 1/8 pipe and using a 10 cfm air supply is adequate.

Metal can be shrunk without the application of water to cool the surrounding area however using some sort of cooling increases the effect. Partial measures include a plastic squirt bottle of water or even a bucket and a wet rag The picture shows a homemade unit using discarded welding hose for the tubing.

The unit shown was made from scrap pieces of pipe and a ball valve purchased at a local plumbing supply house. A short length of small diameter steel tube is welded to the pipe.

A hole was drilled in the side of the 1/2 inch pipe. I made it large enough so that the small steel tube would slide in easily and could be wiggled around . Strike the pipe in the area of the hole so that it is narrowed creating a venturi. Slip the small tube into the pipe while air is blasting through. By trial and error the "sweet" spot can be located. Tack weld the tube in position and then check before welding up solid.

If the draw of water is excessive then make up some sort of clamp to squeeze the rubber hose in order to restrict the flow of water. Ideally you want just enough water to increase the cooling effect of the air blast without dumping tons of water that will end up as puddles on the floor.

The main thing to understand when using a siphon gun when shrinking is not to quench the red area. The goal is to keep the area surrounding the red as cool as possible. Slowly move the blast around the perimeter, moving in toward the red as the metal turns black.

Don't quench the red area with the air blast!!

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tricks and tools

Listed below are tricks and tools that might be useful for the welder/fabricator

guide bars

Guide bars are very helpful when you want to make a short straight cut. The pictures illustrate the variations. The design is limited by your imagination.

To help the torch tip ride smoothly along the side of the bar rub the bar with soapstone. It works like a high temperature lubricant. A very gentle side ways pressure is used to hold the torch agains the guide. The user then only has to contend with height of the torch off the work and travel speed.

Some people design their guide bars so that they can ride the shoulder of the torch tip nut on an edge so that height is predetermined.

If one has to cut many slots or belvels that are all identical then some sort of guide will increase the quality of cut as well as increasing the speed. The picture below shows a Tee shaped guide used to cut flanges on beams when they are laying on their side.

There are several other guides hanging wating for another opportuninty to save time and trouble.

Running "buggo" or track burners can save considerable time and produce long quality cuts. The picture below is Tony's (workmate) invention. He used these little brackets to support the track when having to split beams into tees.

Turnbuckles

Large turnbuckles are used for a variety of rigging jobs but also very handing when building frames. Locally surplus turnbuckles with a length of over 18 inches can be purchased used for under twenty dollars Canadian. The short example shown was picked up for twelve.

If the turnbuckle is not long enough to span across a frame simply tack some bar to it. The photo shows a turnbuckle that is in regular service and paid for itself many times over. Scrap bar is tacked on the ends from the last time it was used.

When tack welded across the corner of a frame the turnbuckle can be used to push or pull the corner square. Keep in mind that the corner must be lightly tacked so that it will hinge.
Once square welding can commence and the turnbuckle can be removed after everyting is cooled down.

Oxy Fuel Cutting

Flame Cutting

There are several adjustments on a torch that control your success. They can be sorted into two groups according to whether you can do the adjustment while cutting or you have to do it prior. They are:

1) size of tip

2) oxy pressure ( fuel pressure is generally left constant)

3) amount of preheat (second group)

4) angle of torch (material under 1/4 inch)

5) cutting speed

6) height above work ( critical for acetylene)

Also remember the number one cause of frustration is a dirty tip.

The variables listed are not hard and fast for each thickness and application.

For example if the tip is too big then the preheat will be too big and the plate will overheat creating a lot of melted slag hanging on the bottom edge. The solution is to pickup the speed.

Excessive speed is indicated by sweeping lines on the edge when cutting thicker materials. If there is a need to increase the speed of the cut to save time and sacrifice quality then larger tips and more preheat is the solution

Freehand cuts need getting used to. Steady shallow breathing will control movements. A person holding their breathe cannot keep steady on longer cuts.

If you are right handed your left hand should be formed into a fist and resting on the plate. The right hand should be holding the torch so that the forward part rests on your fist which becomes a fulcrum. If you roll your fist the torch will move forward and back about an inch. You swing the torch with your right hand pivoting the torch on your fist creating a left to right motion that is a slight arc. You remove the arc by rolling your left fist. This will give you a cut about ten inches long before you must reposition.

I don't believe in using any hardware on my torch, however some people swear by their circle cutters. I have better success with my freehand approach.

I do use a guide bar that is simply a piece of heavy flat bar 3/4 by 1 ½ inch about twenty inches long. I usually have a short one also about ten inches or less for cutting flanges on beams. The edge that I use to slide the torch along is rubbed with soapstone. The stuff makes an excellent high temperature lube so that your torch tip glides smoothly along. Always make cuts towards yourself when using the bar. You must be careful however because the slag will be dropping in front of you and it could get into your boots if you stand too close.

When you start a cut the important thing to remember is to heat the edge to kindling temperature then move your torch off the edge, depress the lever and travel into your cut. If you press the lever while you are over the plate edge the metal erupts with slag flying up at you. The same thing applies if you are restarting. Heat the end of the cut until red, move back into the open kerf, depress your lever and move into the plate again.

" Piercing "

If you must pierce plate heat a spot until you have it a red colour then slightly raise your torch and tilt it slightly. Gently depress the lever and the slag should erupt and fly up vertically but slightly off in another direction. If you have the torch vertical the slag will blow up into the tip and your tip is instantly fouled. If you still want to have a few friends be careful which way you tilt the torch. The slag will fly up and out until you manage to blow completely through.

PHASED ARRAY (PA) ULTRASONIC

2009-09-02T02:51:00.003+08:00

Radiograph Interpretation - Welds

2009-08-16T11:12:00.002+08:00

Panduan Solat Qasar Dan Jama'

2009-08-02T07:53:00.002+08:00

Penerangan solat qasar dan jama’ adalah seperti berikut:

1.0 Solat Qasar

1.1 Takrifan

Solat Qasar adalah mengqasarkan (memendekkan) solat yang empat rakaat iaitu Zuhur, Asar dan Isya’ kepada dua rakaat sementara solat Maghrib dan solat Subuh tidak boleh diqasarkan.
1.2 Hukum Qasar

Harus berdasarkan kepada dalil berikut:

i.Al-Quran surah al-Nisa’ ayat 101 yang bermaksud;

“Dan apabila kamu musafir di muka bumi, maka kamu tidaklah berdosa mengqasarkan
(memendekkan) solat jika kamu takut diserang oleh orang kafir…”

ii. Al-Sunnah yang bermaksud;

‘Ya’la bin Umayyah pernah bertanya kepada Umar bin al- Khattab, “Kenapa kita perlu
mengqasarkan solat sedangkan kita berada dalam keamanan?” Lalu beliau menjawab, “Aku telah bertanya kepada Nabi s.a.w., dan Baginda bersabda,solat qasar itu adalah sedekah yang
Tuhan telah bersedekah kepadamu, maka terimalah sekalian kamu akan sedekah- Nya”(Riwayat
al-Nasa’i dan Abu Daud)

1.3 Jarak Dibenarkan Qasar

Dua marhalah iaitu empat burudin di mana setiap burudin mempunyai empat farsakh dan setiap
farsakh terdiri daripada 5514 meter mengikut kiraan moden. Dari itu, dua marhalah adalah
bersamaan 89 kilometer.

1.4 Syarat Solat Qasar

i. Hendaklah pelayaran atau perjalanan itu diharuskan oleh syara’.
ii.Jauh pelayaran atau perjalanan itu tidak kurang daripada dua marhalah (89 kilometer / 56
batu).
iii.Berniat qasar di dalam takbiratul ihram.
iv.Tidak berimam dengan orang yang solat tamam (sempurna).
v.Hendaklah solat yang diqasarkan itu terdiri dari solat empat rakaat.

1.5 Contoh Niat
أصلي فرض الظهر ركعتين قصرا لله تعالى
(Sahaja aku solat fardhu Zuhur dua rakaat Qasar kerana Allah Taala)

2.0 Solat Jama'

2.1 Takrifan

Solat Jama’ terbahagi kepada :
i. Jama’ Taqdim iaitu mengerjakan solat Zuhur dan solat Asar dalam waktu Zuhur atau solat
Maghrib dan solat Isya’ dalam waktu Maghrib.
ii.Jama’ Ta’khir iaitu mengerjakan solat Zuhur dan solat Asar dalam waktu Asar atau solat
Maghrib dan solat Isya’ dalam waktu Isya’.

2.2 Syarat Solat Jama'

2.2.1.Solat Jama’ Taqdim
i.Hendaklah bersolat secara tertib iaitu mendahulukan solat Zuhur daripada solat Asar dan solat
Maghrib daripada solat Isya'.
ii.Hendaklah niat Jama’ Taqdim di dalam solat pertama sebelum salam tetapi yang afdhalnya di
dalam takbiratul ihram.
iii.Berturut-turut di antara solat yang dijama’kan itu.
iv.Berkekalan pelayaran atau perjalanan itu hingga takbiratul ihram solat yang kedua.
v.Berkeyakinan adanya waktu solat yang pertama (Zuhur atau Maghrib) berkekalan sehingga
didirikan solat yang kedua (Asar atau Isya’).

2.2.2. Solat Jama’ Ta’khir
i.Hendaklah berniat jama’ dalam waktu pertama iaitu Zuhur atau Maghrib.
ii.Berkekalan pelayaran atau perjalanan hingga memberi salam solat yang kedua.

2.3 Contoh Niat

2.3.1 Jama’ Taqdim

i.Jama’ Taqdim Empat Rakaat
أصلي فرض الظهر اربع ركعات مجموعا إليه العصر اداء لله تعالى
(Sahaja aku solat fardhu Zuhur empat rakaat dihimpunkan kepadanya Asar tunai kerana Allah Taala)

ii.Niat Jama’ Taqdim Beserta Qasar
أصلي فرض الظهر ركعتين قصرا مجموعا إليه العصر اداء لله تعالى
(Sahaja aku solat fardhu Zuhur dua rakaat dihimpunkan kepadanya Asar tunai kerana Allah Taala)

2.3.2 Jama’ Ta’khir

i.Jama’ Ta’khir Empat Rakaat
أصلي فرض الظهر اربع ركعات مجموعا إلى العصر اداء لله تعالى
(Sahaja aku solat fardhu Zuhur empat rakaat dihimpunkan kepada Asar tunai kerana Allah Taala)

ii. Niat Jama’ Ta’khir Beserta Qasar
أصلي فرض الظهر ركعتين قصرا مجموعا إلى العصر اداء لله تعالى
(Sahaja aku solat fardhu Zuhur dua rakaat dihimpunkan kepada Asar tunai kerana Allah Taala)

Characteristics of Piezoelectric Transducers

2009-07-31T10:39:00.003+08:00

The transducer is a very important part of the ultrasonic instrumentation system. As discussed on the previous page, the transducer incorporates a piezoelectric element, which converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations (transmit mode) and mechanical vibrations into electrical signals (receive mode). Many factors, including material, mechanical and electrical construction, and the external mechanical and electrical load conditions, influence the behavior of a transducer. Mechanical construction includes parameters such as the radiation surface area, mechanical damping, housing, connector type and other variables of physical construction. As of this writing, transducer manufacturers are hard pressed when constructing two transducers that have identical performance characteristics.

A cut away of a typical contact transducer is shown above. It was previously learned that the piezoelectric element is cut to 1/2 the desired wavelength. To get as much energy out of the transducer as possible, an impedance matching is placed between the active element and the face of the transducer. Optimal impedance matching is achieved by sizing the matching layer so that its thickness is 1/4 of the desired wavelength. This keeps waves that were reflected within the matching layer in phase when they exit the layer (as illustrated in the image to the right). For contact transducers, the matching layer is made from a material that has an acoustical impedance between the active element and steel.Immersion transducers have a matching layer with an acoustical impedance between the active element and water. Contact transducers also incorporate a wear plate to protect the matching layer and active element from scratching.

The backing material supporting the crystal has a great influence on the damping characteristics of a transducer. Using a backing material with an impedance similar to that of the active element will produce the most effective damping. Such a transducer will have a wider bandwidth resulting in higher sensitivity. As the mismatch in impedance between the active element and the backing material increases, material penetration increases but transducer sensitivity is reduced.

Transducer Efficiency, Bandwidth and Frequency

Some transducers are specially fabricated to be more efficient transmitters and others to be more efficient receivers. A transducer that performs well in one application will not always produce the desired results in a different application. For example, sensitivity to small defects is proportional to the product of the efficiency of the transducer as a transmitter and a receiver. Resolution, the ability to locate defects near the surface or in close proximity in the material, requires a highly damped transducer.

It is also important to understand the concept of bandwidth, or range of frequencies, associated with a transducer. The frequency noted on a transducer is the central or center frequency and depends primarily on the backing material. Highly damped transducers will respond to frequencies above and below the central frequency. The broad frequency range provides a transducer with high resolving power. Less damped transducers will exhibit a narrower frequency range and poorer resolving power, but greater penetration. The central frequency will also define the capabilities of a transducer. Lower frequencies (0.5MHz-2.25MHz) provide greater energy and penetration in a material, while high frequency crystals (15.0MHz-25.0MHz) provide reduced penetration but greater sensitivity to small discontinuities. High frequency transducers, when used with the proper instrumentation, can improve flaw resolution and thickness measurement capabilities dramatically. Broadband transducers with frequencies up to 150 MHz are commercially available.

Transducers are constructed to withstand some abuse, but they should be handled carefully. Misuse, such as dropping, can cause cracking of the wear plate, element, or the backing material. Damage to a transducer is often noted on the A-scan presentation as an enlargement of the initial pulse.

UT on weldments (Welded Joints)

2009-07-31T10:23:00.002+08:00

The most commonly occurring defects in welded joints are porosity, slag inclusions, lack of side-wall fusion, lack of inter-run fusion, lack of root penetration, undercutting, and longitudinal or transverse cracks.
With the exception of single gas pores all the defects listed are usually well detectable by ultrasonics. Most applications are on low-alloy construction quality steels, however, welds in aluminum can also be tested. Ultrasonic flaw detection has long been the preferred method for nondestructive testing in welding applications. This safe, accurate, and simple technique has pushed ultrasonics to the forefront of inspection technology.
Ultrasonic weld inspections are typically performed using a straight beam transducer in conjunction with an angle beam transducer and wedge. A straight beam transducer, producing a longitudinal wave at normal incidence into the test piece, is first used to locate any laminations in or near the heat-affected zone. This is important because an angle beam transducer may not be able to provide a return signal from a laminar flaw.The second step in the inspection involves using an angle beam transducer to inspect the actual weld. Angle beam transducers use the principles of refraction and mode conversion to produce refracted shear or longitudinal waves in the test material. [Note: Many AWS inspections are performed using refracted shear waves. However, material having a large grain structure, such as stainless steel may require refracted longitudinal waves for successful inspections.] This inspection may include the root, sidewall, crown, and heat-affected zones of a weld. The process involves scanning the surface of the material around the weldment with the transducer. This refracted sound wave will bounce off a reflector (discontinuity) in the path of the sound beam. With proper angle beam techniques, echoes returned from the weld zone may allow the operator to determine the location and type of discontinuity.

To determine the proper scanning area for the weld, the inspector must first calculate the location of the sound beam in the test material. Using the refracted angle, beam index point and material thickness, the V-path and skip distance of the sound beam is found. Once they have been calculated, the inspector can identify the transducer locations on the surface of the material corresponding to the crown, sidewall, and root of the weld.

Motivasi Kerja

2009-07-31T09:24:00.003+08:00

SACRIFICIAL ANODE

Aku ibarat lilin (the defensive system to ensure continues integrity of a pipeline system).

A sacrificial anode, or sacrificial rod, is a metallic anode used in cathodic protection where it is intended to be dissolved to protect other metallic components.
The more active metal corrodes first (hence the term "sacrificial") and generally must oxidize nearly completely before the less active metal will corrode, thus acting as a barrier against corrosion for the protected metal.
More scientifically, a sacrificial anode can be defined as a metal that is more easily oxidized than the protected metal. Electrons are stripped from the anode and conducted to the protected metal, which becomes the cathode. The cathode is protected from corroding, i.e., oxidizing, because reduction rather than oxidation takes place on its surface.

Tuntutan Berbuat Baik & Bersabar Di Atas Perilaku Manusia

(Riwayat Muslim)

Seorang lelaki bertanya:

“Wahai Rasulullah sesungguhnya aku mempunyai beberapa orang kerabat, yang hubungan aku erat dengan mereka tetapi mereka memutuskannya. Aku berbuat baik kepada mereka tetapi mereka berperangai buruk kepadaku. Aku bersabar menghadapi sikap mereka itu tetapi mereka menganggap sikapku itu adalah bodoh.”

Kemudian Baginda menjawab:

”Sekiranya benar sepertimana yang engkau katakan itu, maka seolah-olah engkau menyuap mereka dengan abu yang panas, sedangkan engkau sentiasa mendapat pertolongan daripada Allah Taala selama mana engkau berada di dalam kebenaran atas perkara yang demikian itu”.

Huraian:

1. Islam mengajar umatnya supaya banyak bersabar di dalam semua keadaan sama ada ketika senang atau pun susah, kerana ia merupakan pengukur darjat keimanan seseorang. Allah sentiasa memberi pertolongan kepada orang yang sentiasa sabar dan benar dalam bertindak.

2. Islam mengajar umatnya supaya jangan membalas keburukan orang sebaliknya menambahkan lagi kebaikan terhadap mereka. Mudah-mudahan dengan itu, hati mereka menjadi lembut dan baik.
3.Setiap umat Islam wajib menghubungkan silaturrahim dan haram memutuskannya.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ada orang datang ke pejabat dengan perasaan penuh gembira dan ceria, ada datang dengan perasaan 'biasa' dan ada datang dengan perasaan serba tak kena. Ingatlah! sesiapa yang datang hanya dengan perasaan 'biasa' saja, hasilnya adalah 'biasa' saja. Sesiapa datang dengan ceria, hasilnya akan lebih daripada biasa ataupun luar biasa. Bekerjalah dengan ceria agar menghasilkan produktiviti yang luar biasa yang akan menggembirakan orang di sekeliling kita. Semoga hasil itu akan mendapat keberkatan, InsyaAllah.

Jadi renugilah…
1. Ada antara kita datang ke pejabat hanya memenuhi tanggungjawab DATANG KERJA tapi hampeh, hasilnya macam kita tak datang kerja.
2. Ada kala kita rasa kita BUSY gila, rupanya kita 'kelam kabut'.
3. Adakala kita rasa PRIHATIN, tapi rupanya kita 'busy body'.
4. Adakalanya kita rasa kita OPEN MINDED dan OUTSPOKEN tapi rupanya kita 'kurang pengajaran'.
5. Adakala kita rasa kita berpemikiran KRITIS rupanya kita hanya lebih kepada 'kritik ' yang mencipta 'krisis'.
6. Adakala kita rasa kita ingin menjadi LEBIH MESRA tapi rupanya kita di lihat lebih 'mengada'.
7. Adakala kita suka bertanya "KENAPA DIA NIE MACAM TAK ADA KERJA?", adalah lebi baik kita tanya "Apa lagi kerja yang boleh aku buat?"
8. Adakala kita rasa kita ni pekerja yang SEMPURNA,BAIK DAN BERDEDIKASI tapi cuba tengok dalam-dalam,selagi hati kita berdengki, jatuhkan reputasi sesama rakan sekerja (report kat bos kawan kita tak bagus dari kita) dan tak amanah (mencuri dan tak siapkan kerja),kita sebenarnya patut terima hakikat betapa kita lebih teruk dari anggapan kita itu sendiri.

Pejam mata dan renunglah diri, kalau kita perlu melakukkan anjakan paradigma maka lakukanlah SEGERA. Tetapi manusia tetap manusia, sukar untuk berubah kerana kita selalu beranggapan kita lebih baik. Adakah dengan merasakan itu kita sememangnya terbaik?

Maka untuk itu, mari kita mula senyum, ceria, mesra sesama kita dan tingkat kerjasama dalam kerja, tak rugi kita semai rasa 'kekeluargaan' dalam tugasan kita. Kalau kita kurang kerja, cari la kerja dengan membantu teman-teman lain.

Tak dapat gaji lebih pun tak apa sebab pahala dapat. Kita dapat di akhirat nanti. Kerja adalah satu ibadah. Tapi kalau kita asyik dengki mendengki bukan pahala yang kita dapat, tapi dosa. Jadi, kejarlah pahala free ini.

“Mengkritik tidak bererti menentang. Menyetujui tidak semestinya menyokong. Menegur tidak bermakna membenci dan berbeza pendapat adalah kawan berfikir yang baik.”

Renungilah, berapa orang kawan kita dan berapa orang lawan kita?.

Kawan Makan Kawan

2009-07-30T19:18:00.003+08:00

Sudah lama kumengenalinya .Dan aku menganggap dialah saudara kerja.
Walaupun apa saja yang aku mampu .Aku membantunya apa yang perlu .Sehingga aku tersisih. Berbalah dengan boss. Kau kata teman sejati.
Lebih sukar dicari. Memang benar orng berkata, Harus awas dan waspada. Pada yang manis dibibir .Aku tersingkir.
Kawan yang ku benar harap-harapkan. Bukan jujur seperti yang kusangkakan. Kawan kini makan kawan .Ku dalam keadaan teraniaya. Kawan makan kawan.
Kini hilang segala yang ku ada. Ku hilang kerja, maruah dan muka.Kau racunkan fikiranku dan nya. Kau ambil kesempatan merapatinya boss.
Aku dah terkena dengan hasutannya. Dan rupa-rupanya ada agendanya. Kerja ku pergi kerna batu api, Kawan ku sendiri membakar ku ini.Setelah ku berikan kepercayaan .Tak terlintas di fikiran kau buat bukan-bukan. Semua tipu helah tak akan terjadi lagi .Tanyalah diri apa yang sudah jadi. Kini kau tahu bagaimana kurasa ,Menahan peritnya bisa.
Semua ini tidak kuduga. Kawan makan kawan.

2009-07-30T13:25:00.003+08:00

"Kawan"! - Sebuah Puisi... " - Oleh burung ciok umoh!

Untuk apa ertinya berkawan... kalau kawan tak boleh nak tolong kawan! Kita kawan-kawan tak mau lawan! Terus kerja sampai ajal!

Kalau ada kawan yg suka makan kawan... Tak perlulah adanya kawan! Kawan-kawan bukan haiwan! So jangan ikut perasaan ok!

Ada kawan suka melihat kegembiraan kawan yg lain... Ada kawan yg suka melihat tangisan kawan yg lain! Kalau begitu maknanya kawan... Memang sukar menilai ertinya kawan!

Ada kawan hanya bersama ketika senang... Ada kawan hanya melihat saja kawan yg sedang kesusahan! Ada pula kawan ygsuka melihat kejatuhan kawan-kawan! Malah ada juga kawan yg sentiasa berusaha menikam kawan dari belakang!

Untuk apa ertinya berkawan kalau bukan sebagai kawan! Untuk apa ertinya berkawan kalau tak mampu menjadi kawan! Untuk apa ertinya berkawan kalau masing-masing suka berlawan! Untuk apa ertinya berkawan kalau kawan suka makan kawan!

Kawan yg baik adalah kawan yg mahu berada bersama kawan ketika susah dan senang! Kawan yg baik adalah kawan yg sentiasa sporting! "

Berkawan dengan prinsip hasad dengki lama-kelamaan membawa mati!

Kawan tanpa kawalan memang menyeronokan! Namun awas akan kebatilan seorang kawan yg mungkin akan membahayakan!

Apa gunanya erti berkawan kalau kawan tak mahu memahami hati seorang kawan! Apa gunanya erti berkawan kalau kawan hanya mementingkan diri sendiri sehingga melupakan kawan!

Apa gunanya erti berkawan kalau ada kawan yg tak sanggup menangis kerana kawan! Kawan adalah kawan!

Tanpa kawan akan kosonglah ertinya berkawan!

Untuk berkawan memanglah mudah! Namun utk menjaga hubungan antara kawan adaah sesuatu yg maha sukar! Berkawan memerlukan pengorbanan! Berkawan memerlukan kesefahaman! Berkawan memerlukan kesesuaian!

Tanpa kawan dalam kehidupan... akan suramlah perjalanan! Untuk apa ertinya berkawan kalau bukan sebagai sebuah sandaran!

Untuk apa ertinya berkawan kalau bukan sebagai sebuah platform utk meluahkan perasaan! Untuk itu...

sama-samalah menjaga kawan! Jangan sampai kawan makan hati kerana bengang dengan sikap kawan! Jangan sampai kawan jadi serba-salah apabila terpaksa berhadapan dengan karenah seorang kawan!

Hormati kawan umpama menghormati diri sendiri! Nescaya akan terbitlah makna sebenar "Untuk Apa Ertinya Berkawan"

KIta kawan-kawan tak mahu lawan! aku caya sama lu! nie puisi khas untuk kau... bernama kawan!!

Mangsa tikam belakang dan kaki ampu..... burung ciok umoh

SARAWAK SHELL BINTULU PLANT (SSBP)

2009-07-29T11:53:00.002+08:00

Bintulu Crude Oil Terminal

Sarawak Shell Bintulu Plant (SSBP) formerly known as Bintulu Crude Oil Terminal (BCOT) was the first major industrial project to go off the ground Tg. Kidurong in 1979.

The Project comprises three crude oil storage tanks, each with a capacity of 410,000 barrels. Located on the western boundary of the MLNG site, the plant coprises 3 areas of operations namely:

1.Crude Oil Operations (BCOT)
2.Condensate Stabilisation (BSTAB)
3.Gas Sales Facilities (BAGSF)

Daily Crude Production nett is 60,000 barrels per day. Daily Condemate Production is about 80,000 barrerls per day. Daily Gas Sales to downstream customers such as SMDS, ABF, SESCO and Petronas Gas Berhad is about 190 MMSCF per day. The Crude Oil and Condenate from the plant is either exported locally or to outside customers.

SHELL MIDDLE DISTILLATE SYNTHESIS (SMDS) PLANT

2009-07-29T11:47:00.003+08:00

SMDS Plant

Shell MDS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. a joint-venture company between Shell Gas, Petronas, Mitsubishi Corporation and the Sarawak State Government was formed in 1986. The company owns and operates the Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis (SMDS) plant, the world's first commercial gas to liquid plant, in Bintulu Sarawak.

The plant converts natural gas into high quality synthetic oil products and specialty chemicals which are paraffnic and colourless. Some 100 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas are converted into 470,000 tonnes per annum of middle distillates (gasoil, kerosene, naphtha) and specialty products (detergent feedstocks, solvent feedstocks, various grades of waxes). The plant started operations in May 1993 and its products are sold globally. For more information, please contact 086-252211 / 292405. Email: shellmds@tm.net.my

SapuraCrest awarded RM3B Shell Gumusut-Kakap Offshore Field Contract

2009-07-27T23:09:00.003+08:00

Kuala Lumpur, March 17, 2009 - Charting another milestone in its involvement in deepwater technology, leading regional oil and gas services provider SapuraCrest Petroleum Berhad will be undertaking a contract worth RM3 billion for offshore installation works at the Gumusut-Kakap Field, operated by Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited (Shell). This follows the recent award of a lump sum contract to SapuraCrest’s wholly owned subsidiary, TL Offshore Sdn Bhd. The contract is expected to be executed over a three year period beginning this year.

SapuraCrest will deliver the contract through its joint venture company Sapura Acergy Sdn Bhd (SASB) where a major part of the work will be executed using the Sapura 3000, its state-of-the-art dynamically positioned heavy lift and deepwater pipelay vessel. Engineering and procurement work will commence with immediate effect and offshore installation will begin in 2010. The Gumusut-Kakap field is located about 200 km offshore Sabah with a water depth of 1,200 meters.

The field is the first deepwater development for Shell in Malaysia. However, it presents SapuraCrest its second and most advanced deepwater construction work to date, having earlier completed the Kikeh gas pipeline in Sarawak at a water depth of 1,400 meters. This project will involve more Malaysian engineers and managers, giving them opportunities to further develop in this highly-specialised field.

"The award reflects Shell’s and Petronas’ confidence in our capability and reaffirms the position of SapuraCrest as a leading provider of technologically superior and high quality services in the region. We have invested heavily in strategic assets and resources to the tune of RM1 billion over the last 5 years, and this has helped us position SapuraCrest to undertake projects of this magnitude and complexity. It is an honour to be selected by Shell, one of the biggest players in the global oil and gas industry today," said Datuk Shahril Shamsuddin, Executive Vice-Chairman of SapuraCrest Petroleum.

"This contract award is a tribute to the extensive experience and expertise of our engineers as it involves advanced and complex engineering design in the execution of deepwater works and highlights the capabilities of our latest advanced vessel, the Sapura 3000. The project will give us the opportunity to develop Malaysian engineers and managers in this new frontier and will allow Malaysians to undertake future deepwater engineering, construction and installation in Malaysia and across the region. This will move Malaysia higher up in the value chain in the ability to execute jobs with increasing complexities," Datuk Shahril added.

The contract entails project management, procurement, engineering, transportation and installation services, and works for an oil export pipeline and catenary riser, including the shore approach. It will also involve the installation of flowlines, jumpers, Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs), Pipeline End Terminations (PLET) and flowline inline structures. SASB will also be required to supply and install mooring wires, chains and piles for a semi-submersible Floating Production System (FPS) including towing and installation of the FPS at offshore location. More than 50 percent of the project will be carried out by local manpower and resources.

“We are delighted to be part of Malaysia’s long term growth plans and are pleased to be building solid relationships, creating additional localised support for all our clients in the region. This project will also help promote growth in the oil and gas industry by fostering technology transfer and local talent development, creating new employment opportunities and maximizing local procurement in Malaysia. We also hope that this project will in some small way assist local industries during these trying economic times," said Datuk Shahril.
The Gumusut-Kakap contract will propel SapuraCrest to the next stage of its expansion plans into higher technology services for the oil and gas industry. The contract is also expected to significantly boost current and future revenues.

* Exchange rate of USD1 = RM3.6 used

About SapuraCrest Petroleum Berhad

SapuraCrest Petroleum Berhad, a public-listed subsidiary of the Sapura Group of Companies, is one of the largest local oil and gas integrated service providers in Malaysia.

Through its subsidiaries, SapuraCrest Petroleum is involved in marine installation and construction, offshore drilling and marine services in Malaysia, Asia Pacific and South Asian regions. In particular, SapuraCrest Petroleum services cover the provision of accommodation and support vessels and tender assisted drilling rigs, installation of offshore pipelines and structures, provision of offshore hook-up, commissioning and topside maintenance services, provision of underwater services and provision of offshore geotechnical and geophysical services.

For more information, please visit http://www.sapuracrest.com.my/

For Media Enquiries, please contact:

Norliza Kamaruddin, Sapura Group Corporate Communications

Tel: +603 8949 7727

Email: norliza.k@sapura.com.my

FPSO Kikeh

2009-07-27T20:44:00.003+08:00

Malaysia has completed the FPSO Kikeh, its first deepwater floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, a significant event in the nation's endeavour to develop world class deepwater engineering and construction capability.

FPSO Kikeh, completed in 26 months, is also notable in that it is the largest such facility to be constructed in Malaysia. Built by Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering (MMHE), a subsidiary of MISC, at its yard in Pasir Gudang, Johor, peninsular Malaysia, the floating production unit was converted from the 337m long 279,000dwt VLCC SS Atlas. FPSO Kikeh, owned and operated by Malaysia Deepwater Terminal, a joint venture between MISC and SBM Offshore, is now on location in block K offshore Sabah, East Malaysia. Leased to Murphy Sabah Oil, the production sharing partner of Petronas Carigali, the FPSO is contracted for an initial period of eight years with options for five three-year follow-on extensions.

Moored in a water depth of 1320m about 120km northwest of Labuan Island, the FPSO will unload its cargo of oil to shuttle tankers every ten days, produced from Malaysia's first deepwater discovery using subsea wells connected to the FPSO by pipelines on the seabed and flexible risers.

Murphy Oil estimates the Kikeh field had proved reserves of 47.5mmbo and 74.6bcf of gas as at year-end 2006. Initial oil production, scheduled for startup in the second half of this year, is expected to be 40,000b/d of oil with a one-year ramp up to a plateau of 120,000b/d.

The turret

FPSO Kikeh's external turret, at around 2300t, is the heaviest ever designed by SBM. It affords permanent mooring, achieved with 10 anchor legs in a 4-3-3 configuration consisting of 127mm studless chain and 98mm wire rope, and acts as a support for the production, injection and utilities lines.

Product, water, power and communication data will be transferred between FPSO Kikeh and the anchored Kikeh DTU (dry tree unit) truss spar by way of fluid transfer lines (FTL) that utilise SBM's Gravity Actuated Pipe (GAP) system.

The turret provides fluid transfer and control functions to and from the vessel to the seabed and the DTU. Flexible subsea risers suspended from the turret feed commingled production fluids from the wells into the turret manifold. Jumpers connected to the GAP take care of fluid transfer to and from the DTU.

Produced fluids, a mixture of oil, gas, water and solid particles, flow to the topsides process modules via the turret swivels.

Treated water will pass through the turret into injection wells and produced gas not used for power generation on board will be initially injected, then exported by pipeline to Labuan Island, about a year after field production starts up.

Wellheads and DTU are controlled from the FPSO through the turret swivels and umbilicals to the seabed and DTU.

Malaysia rising

Through the transfer of technology resulting from the joint effort between MISC and SBM, the FPSO Kikeh project team from MISC and MMHE were able to develop expertise in deepwater construction. This collaboration also supported the growth and development of local vendors by providing business opportunities to more than 80 Malaysian subcontractors and service suppliers.

Marking this achievement the FPSO Kikeh naming ceremony was held at the MMHE yard on 29 March in the presence of Mohd Hassan Marican, MISC chairman and Petronas president and CEO, Claiborne Deming, Murphy Oil president and CEO, Didier Keller, SBM president, and Shamsul Azhar Abbas, MISC president and CEO.

Basic Principles of Ultrasonic Testing

2009-07-25T22:44:00.002+08:00

Basic Principles of Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic Testing (UT) uses high frequency sound energy to conduct examinations and make measurements. Ultrasonic inspection can be used for flaw detection/evaluation, dimensional measurements, material characterization, and more. To illustrate the general inspection principle, a typical pulse/echo inspection configuration as illustrated below will be used.

A typical UT inspection system consists of several functional units, such as the pulser/receiver, transducer, and display devices. A pulser/receiver is an electronic device that can produce high voltage electrical pulses. Driven by the pulser, the transducer generates high frequency ultrasonic energy. The sound energy is introduced and propagates through the materials in the form of waves. When there is a discontinuity (such as a crack) in the wave path, part of the energy will be reflected back from the flaw surface. The reflected wave signal is transformed into an electrical signal by the transducer and is displayed on a screen. In the applet below, the reflected signal strength is displayed versus the time from signal generation to when a echo was received. Signal travel time can be directly related to the distance that the signal traveled. From the signal, information about the reflector location, size, orientation and other features can sometimes be gained.

Ultrasonic Inspection is a very useful and versatile NDT method. Some of the advantages of ultrasonic inspection that are often cited include:

* It is sensitive to both surface and subsurface discontinuities.
* The depth of penetration for flaw detection or measurement is superior to other NDT methods.
* Only single-sided access is needed when the pulse-echo technique is used.
* It is highly accurate in determining reflector position and estimating size and shape.
* Minimal part preparation is required.
* Electronic equipment provides instantaneous results.
* Detailed images can be produced with automated systems.
* It has other uses, such as thickness measurement, in addition to flaw detection.

As with all NDT methods, ultrasonic inspection also has its limitations, which include:

* Surface must be accessible to transmit ultrasound.
* Skill and training is more extensive than with some other methods.
* It normally requires a coupling medium to promote the transfer of sound energy into the test specimen.
* Materials that are rough, irregular in shape, very small, exceptionally thin or not homogeneous are difficult to inspect.
* Cast iron and other coarse grained materials are difficult to inspect due to low sound transmission and high signal noise.
* Linear defects oriented parallel to the sound beam may go undetected.
* Reference standards are required for both equipment calibration and the characterization of flaws.

The above introduction provides a simplified introduction to the NDT method of ultrasonic testing. However, to effectively perform an inspection using ultrasonics, much more about the method needs to be known. The following pages present information on the science involved in ultrasonic inspection, the equipment that is commonly used, some of the measurement techniques used, as well as other information.

Physics of Ultrasound

2009-07-25T22:16:00.005+08:00

Refraction and Snell's Law

When an ultrasounic wave passes through an interface between two materials at an oblique angle, and the materials have different indices of refraction, both reflected and refracted waves are produced. This also occurs with light, which is why objects seen across an interface appear to be shifted relative to where they really are. For example, if you look straight down at an object at the bottom of a glass of water, it looks closer than it really is. A good way to visualize how light and sound refract is to shine a flashlight into a bowl of slightly cloudy water noting the refraction angle with respect to the incident angle.

Refraction takes place at an interface due to the different velocities of the acoustic waves within the two materials. The velocity of sound in each material is determined by the material properties (elastic modulus and density) for that material. In the animation below, a series of plane waves are shown traveling in one material and entering a second material that has a higher acoustic velocity. Therefore, when the wave encounters the interface between these two materials, the portion of the wave in the second material is moving faster than the portion of the wave in the first material. It can be seen that this causes the wave to bend.

Snell's Law describes the relationship between the angles and the velocities of the waves. Snell's law equates the ratio of material velocities V1 and V2 to the ratio of the sine's of incident (Q1) and refracted (Q2) angles, as shown in the following equation.

Where:
VL1 is the longitudinal wave velocity in material 1.
VL2 is the longitudinal wave velocity in material 2.

Note that in the diagram, there is a reflected longitudinal wave (VL1' ) shown. This wave is reflected at the same angle as the incident wave because the two waves are traveling in the same material, and hence have the same velocities. This reflected wave is unimportant in our explanation of Snell's Law, but it should be remembered that some of the wave energy is reflected at the interface. In the applet below, only the incident and refracted longitudinal waves are shown. The angle of either wave can be adjusted by clicking and dragging the mouse in the region of the arrows. Values for the angles or acoustic velocities can also be entered in the dialog boxes so the that applet can be used as a Snell's Law calculator.
When a longitudinal wave moves from a slower to a faster material, there is an incident angle that makes the angle of refraction for the wave 90o. This is know as the first critical angle. The first critical angle can be found from Snell's law by putting in an angle of 90° for the angle of the refracted ray. At the critical angle of incidence, much of the acoustic energy is in the form of an inhomogeneous compression wave, which travels along the interface and decays exponentially with depth from the interface. This wave is sometimes referred to as a "creep wave." Because of their inhomogeneous nature and the fact that they decay rapidly, creep waves are not used as extensively as Rayleigh surface waves in NDT. However, creep waves are sometimes more useful than Rayleigh waves because they suffer less from surface irregularities and coarse material microstructure due to their longer wavelengths.

Wave Propagation

Ultrasonic testing is based on time-varying deformations or vibrations in materials, which is generally referred to as acoustics. All material substances are comprised of atoms, which may be forced into vibrational motion about their equilibrium positions. Many different patterns of vibrational motion exist at the atomic level, however, most are irrelevant to acoustics and ultrasonic testing. Acoustics is focused on particles that contain many atoms that move in unison to produce a mechanical wave. When a material is not stressed in tension or compression beyond its elastic limit, its individual particles perform elastic oscillations. When the particles of a medium are displaced from their equilibrium positions, internal (electrostatic) restoration forces arise. It is these elastic restoring forces between particles, combined with inertia of the particles, that leads to the oscillatory motions of the medium.
In solids, sound waves can propagate in four principle modes that are based on the way the particles oscillate. Sound can propagate as longitudinal waves, shear waves, surface waves, and in thin materials as plate waves. Longitudinal and shear waves are the two modes of propagation most widely used in ultrasonic testing. The particle movement responsible for the propagation of longitudinal and shear waves is illustrated below.

In longitudinal waves, the oscillations occur in the longitudinal direction or the direction of wave propagation. Since compressional and dilational forces are active in these waves, they are also called pressure or compressional waves. They are also sometimes called density waves because their particle density fluctuates as they move. Compression waves can be generated in liquids, as well as solids because the energy travels through the atomic structure by a series of comparison and expansion (rarefaction) movements.

In the transverse or shear wave, the particles oscillate at a right angle or transverse to the direction of propagation. Shear waves require an acoustically solid material for effective propagation, and therefore, are not effectively propagated in materials such as liquids or gasses. Shear waves are relatively weak when compared to longitudinal waves. In fact, shear waves are usually generated in materials using some of the energy from longitudinal waves.

Precision Velocity Measurements

Changes in ultrasonic wave propagation speed, along with energy losses, from interactions with a materials microstructures are often used to nondestructively gain information about a material's properties. Measurements of sound velocity and ultrasonic wave attenuation can be related to the elastic properties that can be used to characterize the texture of polycrystalline metals. These measurements enable industry to replace destructive microscopic inspections with nondestructive methods.

Of interest in velocity measurements are longitudinal wave, which propagate in gases, liquids, and solids. In solids, also of interest are transverse (shear) waves. The longitudinal velocity is independent of sample geometry when the dimensions at right angles to the beam are large compared to the beam area and wavelength. The transverse velocity is affected little by the physical dimensions of the sample.

Pulse-Echo and Pulse-Echo-Overlap Methods

Rough ultrasonic velocity measurements are as simple as measuring the time it takes for a pulse of ultrasound to travel from one transducer to another (pitch-catch) or return to the same transducer (pulse-echo). Another method is to compare the phase of the detected sound wave with a reference signal: slight changes in the transducer separation are seen as slight phase changes, from which the sound velocity can be calculated. These methods are suitable for estimating acoustic velocity to about 1 part in 100. Standard practice for measuring velocity in materials is detailed in ASTM E494.

Precision Velocity Measurements (using EMATs)

Electromagnetic-acoustic transducers (EMAT) generate ultrasound in the material being investigated. When a wire or coil is placed near to the surface of an electrically conducting object and is driven by a current at the desired ultrasonic frequency, eddy currents will be induced in a near surface region. If a static magnetic field is also present, these currents will experience Lorentz forces of the form

F = J x B

where F is a body force per unit volume, J is the induced dynamic current density, and B is the static magnetic induction.

The most important application of EMATs has been in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) applications such as flaw detection or material property characterization. Couplant free transduction allows operation without contact at elevated temperatures and in remote locations. The coil and magnet structure can also be designed to excite complex wave patterns and polarizations that would be difficult to realize with fluid coupled piezoelectric probes. In the inference of material properties from precise velocity or attenuation measurements, use of EMATs can eliminate errors associated with couplant variation, particularly in contact measurements.

Differential velocity is measured using a T1-T2---R fixed array of EMAT transducers at 0, 45°, 90° or 0°, 90° relative rotational directions depending on device configuration:

EMAT Driver Frequency: 450-600 KHz (nominal)

Sampling Period: 100 ns

Time Measurement Accuracy:

Resolution 0.1 ns

Accuracy required for less than 2 KSI Stress Measurements: Variance 2.47 ns

Accuracy required for texture: Variance 10.0 Ns

W440

W420

W400

Time Measurement Technique

Fourier Transform-Phase-Slope determination of delta time between received RF bursts (T2-R) - (T1-R), where T2 and T1 EMATs are driven in series to eliminate differential phase shift due to probe liftoff.

Slope of the phase is determined by linear regression of weighted data points within the signal bandwidth and a weighted y-intercept. The accuracy obtained with this method can exceed one part in one hundred thousand (1:100,000).

Ultrasonic welding

2009-07-25T16:05:00.003+08:00

http://www.techsonicultrasonic.com/index.php
http://www.twi.co.uk/content/pjkultrason.html
http://www.sonicsandmaterials.com/sonics-videos/v_PlasticsProcessing.html
http://www.sonicsandmaterials.com/Ultrasonic-Metal-Welding.pdf

NDT - Non Destructive Testing

2009-07-25T12:38:00.006+08:00

NDT – Non Destructive Testing is noninvasive techniques to determine the integrity of a material, component or structure or quantitatively measure some characteristic of an object. In contrast to destructive testing, NDT is an assessment without doing harm, stress or destroying the test object. The destruction of the test object usually makes destructive testing more costly and it also inappropriate in many circumstances.

NDT plays a crucial role in ensuring cost effective operation, safety and reliability of plant, with resultant benefit to the community. NDT is used in a wide range of industrial areas and is used at almost any stage in the production or life cycle of many components. The mainstream applications are in aerospace, power generation, automotive, railway, petrochemical and pipeline markets. NDT of welds is one of the most used applications. Is very difficult to weld or mould a solid object that has no risk of breaking in service, so testing at manufacture and during use is often essential.

NDT is vital for constructing and maintaining all types of components and structures. To detect different discontinuities or defects such as cracking and corrosion, there are different methods of testing or inspection available. The common NDT products and methods are like Ultrasonic Testing, (UT), Radiographic Testing (RT) using X-Ray or Gamma-Ray, Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Eddy Current Testing (ET), Dye Penetrant (DP), Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) etc.

Sample of applications:

MSNT member

2009-07-25T12:31:00.003+08:00

Message From MSNT President
http://www.msnt.org.my
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) has played vital role in the progress of Malaysian industries. Application of both conventional and advance NDT methods and various plants and system have allowed our industrial plants to operate safely and productively. I must congratulate all members of NDT community, particularly members of Malaysian Society for NDT (MSNT) for your finest contribution in making NDT technology beneficial for the betterment of our society.
Today MSNT make another significant progress when we joined hundreds of other NDT societies throughout the world to launch our own website. Although we are a little bit late, but I really believe that the launching of this website will provide a very wide platform for us to link members of our Society with members of world community.
I must congratulate members of MSNT Publication Committee and other individual that involved for their effort in making our dream to have our own website becomes true. It is just a beginning and I am sure from time to time the webmaster will include more and more materials to make this website more informative and more attractive.
Thank you.

Dr. Abd Nassir Ibrahim
President of MSNT 2008 - 2010

Ustaz Azhar Idrus

2009-07-25T11:16:00.003+08:00

http://www.ustazazhar.com/v1/
Solatku,Ibadatku,Hidupku,Matiku Kerna Allah Taala

KULIYAH MINGGUAN

AHAD -Surau Al-Ikhwan - Flat Gelong Bilal

SELASA - Surau Hj Awang - Ladang

RABU - Surau Flat Bu-kit Kecil II

KHAMIS - Masjid Batu Buruk

JUMAAT - Surau Hj Awang - Ladang

SABTU - Surau Al-Hidayah - Belakang Stadium Negeri

KULIYAH (Minggu Pertama)

ISNIN - Masjid Pinang Merah - Paka

SELASA - Masjid @ Surau daerah Kemaman

RABU - Surau Bukit Bading - Ajil

KHAMIS - Surau Wan Esah - Seberang Baroh

JUMAAT - Surau Pak Tuyu - Gong Badak

SABTU - Surau Pulau Musang

KULIYAH (Minggu Ke 2)

ISNIN - Masjid Simpang 4 Chendering

JUMAAT - Surau Limbong - Kemaman (Kuliyah Muslimat jam 9.00 pagi)

KULIYAH (Minggu Ke 3)

SABTU - Masjid Titian Baru - Kedai Buloh

ISNIN - Masjid @ Surau daerah Kuantan

SELASA - Masjid Pengadang Baru

RABU - Masjid @ Surau daerah Dungun

KHAMIS - Masjid Taqwa Batu 6

KULIYAH (Minggu Ke 4)

ISNIN - Masjid Pulau Ketam

Sour Oil and Gas

2009-07-23T13:27:00.003+08:00

http://www.specialmetals.com/documents/High%20Performance%20Age-Hardenable%20Nickel%20Alloys%20Solve%20Problems%20in%20Sour%20Oil%20&%20Gas%20Service.pdf

High Performance Age-

Hardenable Nickel Alloys Solve Problems in Sour Oil and Gas Service
S. A. McCoy.
Special Metals Wiggin Ltd
Holmer Road
Hereford, UK

B. C. Puckett & E. L. Hibner
Special Metals Corporation
Huntington, WV
USA

INTRODUCTION

The new frontier of oil and gas exploration will be with deep wells, particularly in deepwater. Most
of the “easy-to-pick” fruit have been taken with shallow field development. Compared to shallow
wells, deep wells generally require more high-performance, nickel-base alloys. Wells are
categorized as being either “sweet” or “sour.” Sweet wells are only mildly corrosive, while sour
wells are very corrosive. Sour wells can contain hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, chlorides, and
free sulfur. There are different levels of corrosive conditions that are compounded by temperatures
up to 500F (260C) and pressures up to 25,000 psi (172 MPa). Deep wells generally have higher
temperatures and pressures. Material selection is especially critical for sour gas wells. The materials
of choice must be corrosion-resistant, cost-effective, reliable, and have the required strength for the
well conditions. As these conditions become more severe, material selection changes from carbon
steels for “sweet” wells, to duplex (austenitic-ferritic) stainless steel, to INCOLOY alloys 825 or
925™, to INCONEL alloys 725HS and 725™ for sour well service.

Materials have to meet criteria for corrosion resistance and mechanical properties in service
environments needing increased reliability for the lifetime of the exploited asset. Age-hardened
nickel-base alloys and cold-worked solid solution nickel-base alloys offer many advantages such as
high-strength, toughness, low magnetic permeability and excellent corrosion resistance. The choice
of material for a particular set of well conditions is based on a number of selection criteria
including:
*Mechanical properties
*General corrosion resistance
*Pitting & crevice corrosion resistance
*Chloride stress corrosion cracking resistance
*Sulfide stress corrosion cracking resistance
MATERIAL SELECTION PROPERTIES
Mechanical Properties
The strength levels of age-hardened materials are increasing in importance, particularly for offshore
applications exploiting high-pressure deep well reserves, where weight considerations can affect the
economic viability of a project. Material selection for down-hole and wellhead equipment such as
hangers, sub-surface safety valves, pumps and packers require age-hardenable alloys to obtain the
necessary strength in heavier cross-sections which cannot be strengthened by cold work. Nickel
alloys commonly used for these applications include INCOLOY alloy 925, MONEL alloy K-500,
and INCONEL alloys 718, X-750, 725, and 725HS. Typical mechanical properties of highperformance
nickel alloys used in oil country applications.

The age-hardened alloys are used at different strength levels depending on the application.
Generally INCOLOY alloy 925 is used at a 758 MPa (110 ksi) minimum yield strength level. The
minimum yield strength level for INCONEL alloys 718 and 725 is 827 MPa (120 ksi). INCONEL
alloy 725HS is used at a 965 MPa (140 ksi) minimum yield strength level. The enhanced strength
properties of INCONEL alloy 725HS have been achieved through optimized thermal and
mechanical processing.

Galvanic Compatibility

Galvanic corrosion can be a concern when dissimilar materials are in contact in a conductive fluid.
The INCOLOY and INCONEL alloys are generally noble and consideration is given towards the
system design when in contact with less noble materials. In galvanic compatibility tests performed
in ambient temperature seawater for 92 days at LaQue Center for Corrosion Technology, INCONEL
alloys 725 and 625 were determined to be galvanically compatible. Coupling a large surface of
INCONEL alloy 725 to MONEL alloy K-500 promoted corrosion of the alloy K-500 component.

General Pitting and Crevice Corrosion Resistance
Traditionally, corrosion-resistant alloys are screened first by their pitting resistance equivalent
number (PREN), and then by the equivalent cracking data generated in sour brine environments1.
Equation 1 shows a typical formula used to compare the pitting resistance of stainless steels and
nickel-base alloys.

PREN = %Cr + 1.5( %Mo + %W + %Nb) + (30 x %N) Equation 1

The critical pitting temperature (CPT) for an alloy is determined by exposing samples in acidified
6% ferric chloride solutions, according to ASTM Standard Test Method G48, Method C 2, and
raising the temperature by incremental amounts until the onset of pitting. New unexposed test
specimens and fresh ferric chloride solution are used at each test temperature. The tests are only
valid up to 85C because at higher temperatures the test solution becomes unstable. The minimum
accepted CPT for an alloy is 40C for many offshore applications (e.g., the North Sea).
Determining the critical crevice temperature (CCT) of an alloy involves exposing samples to the
same aggressive test solution but with a multiple crevice device (TFE-fluorocarbon washer)
attached to the surface of the test specimen. The temperatures shown in Table 3 indicate the onset of
crevice corrosion.

Resistance of Age Hardened Nickel-Base Alloys to Corrosion by Seawater.

Nickel alloys with a PREN greater than 40 are very resistant to crevice corrosion in natural seawater
service. Table 4 compares the crevice corrosion resistance of corrosion-resistant alloys in seawater.
Under both stagnant and flowing conditions, the weight losses are extremely low.

Resistance to General Corrosion in Sour Environments

In mineral acids3, INCONEL alloy 725 in the age-hardened condition has comparable corrosion resistance to INCONEL alloy 625. Good general corrosion resistance can be important in resisting the various chemicals injected as inhibitors and dispersants.
Environmental Cracking
Wellhead and downhole components must resist stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The potential for
SCC becomes greater with higher temperature and higher concentration of H2S and the presence of
chloride ions and elemental sulfur. Lower temperature hydrogen embrittlement and sulfide stress
cracking (SSC) are also potential failure mechanisms which may be promoted by galvanic
corrosion, acidic conditions, and dissolved H2S.
Resistance to Sulfide Stress Cracking and Hydrogen Embrittlement

In general, resistance to SCC, SSC, and hydrogen embrittlement increases with increasing content
of nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and niobium in an alloy.
Stress Corrosion Cracking
Alloy strength is a factor in environmental cracking susceptibility. Materials become more prone to
environmental cracking as their strength increases. In order to obtain the optimum level of strength,
ductility and toughness, and cracking resistance, maximum hardness levels are specified for each
alloy in NACE International’s Materials Requirement MR0175'5.

H. R. Copson 6 originally reported the beneficial effect of alloy nickel content on chloride SCC
resistance of austenitic type alloys in 1959. Alloys 825, 925, 718, 625 and 725 all contain 42% or
greater nickel and, as a result, are all very resistant to stress corrosion cracking in water containing
chlorides.

A more severe test in ranking materials performance is the slow strain rate (SSR) test.
Common pass/fail criteria for SSR testing is a ratio of time to failure (TTF), %
reduction of area (%RA) and % elongation (%El) measured in a simulated oil patch
environment relative to the same parameter in an inert environment (gases such as
air or nitrogen). These are referred to as "critical ratios". TTF, %RA and %El ratios of
0.80 typically represent passing behavior in SSR tests. If the ratios are below 0.90,
the specimen is examined under a scanning electron microscope for evidence of ductile
or brittle fracture on the primary fracture surface. Tests exhibiting ductile behavior
are acceptable while those with brittle fracture are not. All specimens are examined
for secondary cracking in the gage length away from the primary fracture. The absence
of secondary cracking is indicative of good SCC or SSR resistance and passes. The
presence of secondary cracks is cause for rejection. One or more inert (air) SSR tests
are conducted along with two or more environmental SSR tests for each test lot of
material 7. The decision to use the critical ratio of 0.80 as the acceptance criterion in
SSR tests was based upon results obtained earlier for cold worked solid solution
nickel-base alloys 8,9. Studies 10 have shown that INCOLOY alloy 925 is consistently more
crack resistant in severe Mobile Bay type sour brine environments than alloy 718, based on SSR
stress corrosion cracking data.
SUMMARY
Ultimately, it is the user's responsibility to establish the acceptability of an alloy for a specific
oilfield environment. The data presented here should be helpful in selecting materials for the
corrosive environments of sour oilfields. A group of alloys that represents a range of alternatives
can be selected for testing in an environment simulating the oilfield environment under study. A
final material selection for a specific application should be made based on test results and an
economic analysis of cost-effective alternatives.
INCONEL alloy 725 offers resistance to corrosion in extremely sour brine environments and in the
presence of elemental sulfur at temperatures up to 242C. The maximum permitted hardness under
NACE MR0175 requirements is 40 HRc. The stress corrosion cracking resistance of age-hardened
INCONEL alloy 725 is superior to that of INCONEL alloy 718 in sour environments.
A high-strength grade of alloy 725, INCONEL alloy 725HS, has been assigned a NACE MR0175
maximum hardness level of 43 HRc and can be used for high-strength applications in sour service
up to NACE test level VI at 175C.
The corrosion resistance of age-hardened nickel-base alloys in sour brine environments is as
follows11:
INCONEL alloy 725> INCONEL alloy 725HS > INCOLOY alloy 925 > INCONEL alloy 718 >
MONEL alloy K-500 and INCONEL alloy X-750
INCOLOY, INCONEL®, MONEL®, 925™ and 725™ are trademarks of the Special Metals
Corporation group of companies.
REFERENCES

1. E. L. Hibner and C. S. Tassen, “Corrosion Resistant Oil Country Tubular Goods and Completion
Alloys for Moderately Sour Service,” EUROCORR 2000, paper no. C014/18, London, UK,
September 2000.

2. ASTM G48 ASTM Standard Test Method G48, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, vol. 03.02 (West
Conshohocken, PA: ASTM, 1995)
3. E. L. Hibner, et. al., Effect of Alloy Content vs. PREN on the Selection of Austenitic Oil Country
Tubular Goods for Sour Gas Service,” CORROSIOIN/98, paper no. 98106, NACE International,
Houston, TX, USA, 1998.
4. Standard TM-01-77. “ Testing of Metals for Resistance to Sulfide Stress Cracking at Ambient
Temperatures”. NACE, Houston, TX 1986 revision.
5. NACE Standard Test Method MR0175-2000, “Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistance Metallic Materials
for Oilfield Equipment”.
6. H. R. Copson, T. Rhodin (ed.), Effect of Composition on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Some Alloys
Containing Nickel, “Physical Metallurgy of Stress Corrosion Fracture,” Interscience Publishers, Inc.,
New York, 1959.
7. E.L.Hibner, "Improved SSR Test for Lot Acceptance Criterion," Slow Strain Rate Testing for the
Evaluation of Environmentally Induced Cracking: Research and Engineering Applications, ASTM
STP1210, R.D.Kane, Ed., p.290, American Society for Testing Materials, West Conshohocken, PA,
USA, 1993.
8. H.E.Chaung, M.Watkins and G.A.Vaughn, "Stress-Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Stainless Alloys
in Sour Environments," Corrosion/85, Paper no. 277, NACE International, Houston, TX, USA, 1985.
9. M.Watkins, H.E.Chaung and G.A.Vaughn, "Laboratory Testing of SCC Resistance of Stainless
Alloys," Corrosion/87, Paper no. 0283, NACE International, Houston, TX, USA, 1987.
10. R. B. Bhavsar and E. L. Hibner, “Evaluation of Testing Techniques for Selection of Corrosion
Resistant Alloys for Sour Gas Service,” CORROSION/96, paper no. 59, NACE International,
Houston, TX, USA, 1996.

1. E. L. Hibner and C. S. Tassen, “Corrosion Resistant OCTG’s and Matching Bar Products for a range
of sour gas service conditions,” CORROSION/2001, paper no. 01102, NACE International,
Houston, TX, USA, 2001.

RED WING SHOES

2009-07-22T23:00:00.021+08:00

Pipeline Field Joint Thermal Insulation

2009-07-22T21:51:00.004+08:00

The Deep Sea Sleeve®(DSS) field joint insulation system is comprised of either a polypropylene or polyethylene geomembrane expendable outer cladding (the DSS®) and a solid polyurethane filler (Densiflex®) which provides thermal insulation. The DSS® forms the annulus for injection of the Densiflex® and is circumferentially welded onto the parent PP coating. This unique feature serves to seal the interface between the parent PP coating and Densiflex®. Other systems applied by reusable molds depend solely on the adhesion of the insulation material to the PP to prevent water intrusion and loss of thermal properties. While Densiflex® has excellent adhesion properties with PP, the Deep Sea Sleeve® provides additional assurance that water ingress/egress will be eliminated.
Prior to installing the Deep Sea Sleeve® system, it is recommended a suitable corrosion protection coating be applied to the girth weld. Several "off the shelf" heat shrink sleeves have proved to exhibit excellent adhesion to polypropylene, polyethylene, as well as to Densiflex®. FBE coating is also perfectly suitable.

Pipeline Field Joint Corrosion Coating

2009-07-22T20:58:00.004+08:00

Applies an anti-corrosion coating system using a three step process of Blast/Cleaning, Induction Heating and Application of Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) and multilayer powders to field joints, line pipe, pipe bends, and structural steel work.

Pipeline Field Joint Infill

2009-07-22T20:03:00.004+08:00

Field Joint Infill system consists of a polyethylene sleeve outer cladding called Sea Sleeve® and a High Density Polyurethane Foam (HDPFTM). The polyurethane foam is the core of the infill, which fills the annular gap over the girth weld between concrete coated pipe ends and the Sea Sleeve provides further protection for the foam core.

TAG Heuer Formula 1

2009-07-22T10:51:00.002+08:00

CAH1014.BA0854
Movement: displaying hours, minutes, small second, date and the following chronograph functions:
1/10th of a second
Seconds
Minutes
Water resistance: 200 m
Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
Case: Ø 44mm in fine-brushed steel – Case back with special "checker flag" decoration
Bezel: Scratch-resistant titanium carbide coated unidirectional turning

Antara Kehendak Kerohanian Dan Tarekat

2009-07-20T09:41:00.002+08:00

Antara Kehendak Kerohanian Dan Tarekat
Oleh Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

Apabila masyarakat manusia menjadi berselerak, kelam kabut, porak peranda, kekontangan jiwa, keruntuhan nilai akhlak dan budi, sedangkan penyelesaian yang memuaskan tidak dapat ditemui, ketika seperti itu kita akan melihat bagaimana sebahagian manusia akan mula mencari agama sebagai jalan keluar. Jika pun tidak untuk merongkaikan masalah itu secara keseluruhan, sekurang-kurangnya untuk menyelesaikan keresahan atau keserabutan yang ada dalam jiwa seseorang.
Tidak mustahil di peringkat yang seperti ini, ajaran-ajaran kerohanian yang menawarkan ‘kempen-kempen ajaib’ akan mendapat perhatian sesetengah golongan. Tarekat-tarekat yang mempunyai cerita-cerita ajaib dan pelik akan mula diminati oleh sesetengah pihak sebagai satu penyelesaian ‘ekstrim’ yang kononnya dapat membuka kehidupan baru penuh cerita-cerita sakti.

Kita akan melihat banyak pihak akan mengambil kesempatan atas ‘kehausan rohani’ masyarakat. Ada yang bertujuan menyebarkan ajaran sesatnya, ada juga pula yang bertujuan untuk mengumpulkan kekayaan atau kuasa. Hal seperti ini sering berlaku ketika kemelut sosial melanda masyarakat Islam termasuk semasa zaman ‘Abbasiah. Ia juga akan berlaku dalam negara kita. Saya ingin menyentuh tajuk ini kerana banyak pihak mula bertanya tentang banyak cerita-cerita tarekat yang mula muncul dalam masyarakat kita.

Saya ingin mengingatkan pembaca tentang satu hakikat yang penting bahawa Islam itu ditegakkan atas prinsip-prinsip akidah yang jelas. Paksi akidah Islam terkandung dalam al-Quran dan al-Sunnah. Apa-apa pengalaman kerohanian yang tidak berasas akidah Islam adalah tertolak. Siapa pun syeikh, besar mana pun serbannya, sepetah mana pun dia, apa pun tafsirannya tentang kerohanian, namun jika ia bercanggah dengan nas-nas al-Quran dan al-Sunnah, maka ia tertolak.
Agama-agama lain juga ada pengalaman kerohanian mereka, namun itu semua tidak dijadikan sukatan dalam ajaran Islam untuk menentukan ketepatan ajaran. Pengalaman kerohanian itu diterima jika tidak bercanggah dengan wahyu yang diturunkan. Rasulullah s.a.w ialah guru kerohanian yang agung dan utama, mengatasi segala tokoh dan syeikh tarekat. Jika ajaran kerohanian itu tidak sama dengan ajaran Rasulullah s.a.w maka itu bukan jalan hidayah yang diimani oleh seorang muslim.

Ya, kita akur persoalan kerohanian dan penyucian jiwa adalah perkara yang penting dan ada dalam ajaran Islam yang bersumberkan al-Quran dan al-Sunnah yang sahih. Usaha untuk membersihkan diri itu mestilah dengan panduan kedua sumber tersebut secara tepat. Tanpa tarekat tertentu, apa yang ada dalam al-Kitab dan al-Sunnah sudah memadai bagi setiap muslim. Bukanlah bererti bahawa seseorang jika tidak menyertai tarekat bererti dia tidak akan dapat membersihkan diri.
Sebaliknya, sekiranya seseorang berpegang dengan ajaran Nabi s.a.w dia akan menemui semua penawar untuk jiwa. Nas-nas al-Quran dan al-Sunnah begitu banyak berhubung dengan tazkiah al-Nafs (penyucian jiwa). Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah berpegang bahawa jalan untuk membersih telah pun ditunjukkan dengan jelas oleh baginda s.a.w. Itulah tonggak kerohanian. Bahkan mana-mana jalan (tarekat) kerohanian yang bercanggah dengan jalan Rasul s.a.w adalah ditolak, seperti yang dinyatakan sebelum ini.

Seorang tokoh ilmuwan Islam terkenal Dr. `Abd al-Karim Zaidan dalam buku yang masyhur Usul al-Da’wah menyebut:
“Amalan soleh adalah apa yang sahih dan ikhlas kepada Allah. Apa yang sahih itu adalah yang menepati syarak, maka membuat bid`ah dalam agama dengan menambah atau mengurangkannya adalah sesuatu yang tidak dibolehkan dan tiada pahala bagi pengamalnya sekalipun dengan niat beribadah kepada Allah. Bid`ah itu lebih buruk daripada maksiat. Ini kerana bid`ah itu mengubah agama serta menghukum dan mentohmah syarak sebagai cacat, berhajatkan kepada penyempurnaan, pengurangan dan mengubahan. Ini adalah perkara yang sangat besar yang tidak boleh kita beriktikad atau beramal dengannya. Untuk itu al-Rasul S.A.W memberi amaran mengenai bid`ah, sabdanya:“Jauhilah kamu perkara-perkara yang diada-adakan dalam agama, kerana setiap yang diada-adakan itu bid`ah, dan setiap yang bid`ah di dalam neraka” (sahih: riwayat Abu Daud). Maka segala kebaikan apa yang bawa oleh syarak dan berpada dengannya. (m.s. 41, Beirut : Muassasah al-Risalah)

Perkara kedua yang patut kita sedar, bahawa sebahagian ajaran tasawwuf dan tarikat dipengaruhi oleh anasir-anasir luar daripada Islam, seperti unsur-unsur ajaran Kristian, Hindu, Parsi, Yunan dan lain-lain. Kata Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi:
“ Para pengkaji tidak boleh membantah bahawa tasawwuf telah terpengaruh –pada tahap tertentu- unsur-unsur asing, samada anasir Kristian, Hindu, Parsi atau Yunan, juga unsur-unsur Islam. Dalam tempoh masa sekian lama, telah masuk ke dalam tasawwuf pemikiran yang pelik daripada sumber-sumber yang disebutkan tadi atau selainnya. Sehinggakan sebahagian tasawwuf sampai ke peringkat percaya kepada al-hulul, atau al-ittihad, atau wahdatul wujud. Sebahagian mereka pula bercakap mengenai qidam nur Muhammad atau yang mereka namakan al-hakikat al-Muhammadiyyah (hakikat Muhammad). Juga mereka bercakap mengenai kewalian, para wali, kasyaf, mawajid, zauq dan berhukum dengan perkara-perkara tersebut dalam nas-nas agama. Mereka memisahkan hakikat dan syariat, berpegang bahawa dalam mendidik murid tasawwuf hendaklah dia di hadapan gurunya bagaikan mayat di hadapan orang yang memandikannya. Mereka melampaui batas dalam zuhud dan apa yang berkaitan dengannya sehingga ke peringkat terkeluar dari kesederhanaan Islam kepada kerahiban Kristian”. (Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Thaqafah al-Da`iyah, m.s. 94-95, Beirut : Muassasah al-Risalah)

Saya menimbulkan hal ini, bukan bertujuan mematahkan semangat mereka yang ingin membersihkan diri. Saya menimbulkannya untuk kita berhati-hati. Jangan sampai ada pihak yang tersangkut dengan ajaran yang memisahkan antara hakikat dan syariat, atau dalam erti kata lain menganggap kerohanian yang mereka pelajari tidak lagi bergantung kepada al-Quran dan al-Sunnah.

Dalam kehendak ingin mendekati Allah, janganlah kita tersasul sehingga terjun ke lembah falsafah kerohanian yang mengeluarkan pemikiran dan cerita-cerita yang pelik, yang akhirnya bukan membawa insan mendekatkan diri kepada al-Quran dan al-Sunnah, sebaliknya ‘seronok sendiri’ dengan bahasa dan istilah yang dia anggap orang lain tidak tahu. Bak kata tokoh ilmuwan besar al-Syeikh Munna’ al-Qattan ketika memperkatakan tentang tafsir golongan sufi:
“Tasawwuf telah bertukar menjadi falsafah andaian semata-mata, yang tiada lagi hubungan dengan warak, taqwa dan kezuhudan. Falsafah ini mengandungi pemikiran-pemikiran yang bercanggah dengan Islam dan akidahnya”.( Manna’ al-Qattan, Mabahith Fi `Ulum al-Quran, m.s. 356, Riyadh : Maktabah al-Ma`arif).

Dalam dunia umat Islam berbagai ajaran kerohanian atau tarekat wujud. Hingga ada yang salah faham, sehingga menganggap tarekat sufi yang memakai ‘skirt’ berpusing berjam-jam tanpa henti dalam keadaan khayal seperti di Turki, itulah kerohanian Islam. Sama sekali tidak. Kita berpegang apa yang al-Imam al-Syatibi (w. 790H) kata:
“Golongan sufi juga sama seperti orang lain yang tidak maksum (terpelihara dariapada dosa). Adalah mungkin untuk mereka silap, lupa dan bermaksiat samada dosa kecil atau besar. Justeru itu para ulama menyatakan: setiap percakapan boleh diambil atau ditinggalkan, kecuali percakapan Nabi s.a.w…sepertimana kemungkinan untuk selain golongan sufi melakukan maksiat dan bid`ah, demikian mereka (ahli sufi). Maka wajib bagi kita untuk mengikut orang yang terhalang dari silap (maksudnya RasululuLah s.a.w) dan berhenti daripada mengikut sesiapa yang tidak terhalang daripada silap apabila melihat pada ikutan tersebut kekeliruan. Bahkan kita bentangkan apa yang datang daripada para imam kepada al-Kitab dan al-Sunnah. Apa yang keduanya (al-Quran dan al-Sunnah) terima, maka kita terima, dan apa yang kedua tidak terima kita tinggalkannya. Kita hanya diwajibkan mengikut syarak dan kita tidak pula diwajibkan mengikut perkataan dan perbuatan golongan sufi, melainkan setelah dibentangkannya” (kepada al-Quran dan al-Sunnah).( Al-Syatibi, Al-`Itisam m.s 165, Beirut Dar al-Kitab al-`Arabi, Beirut )

Positive Thinking

2009-07-19T13:38:00.002+08:00

Positive thinking: Reduce stress, enjoy life more
Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health. Overcome negative self-talk by recognizing it and practicing with some examples provided.

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you're optimistic or pessimistic.

In fact, some studies show that these personality traits — optimism and pessimism — can affect many areas of your health and well-being. Positive thinking also is a key part of effective stress management. Positive thinking doesn't mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life's less pleasant situations. It just means that you approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way.

With all this in mind, take a refresher course in positive thinking. Learn how to put positive thinking into action in your own life, and reap the benefits.

Understanding positive thinking and self-talk
Self-talk is the endless stream of thoughts that run through your head every day. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you're likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.

The health benefits of positive thinking
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

*Increased life span

*Lower rates of depression

*Lower levels of distress

*Greater resistance to the common cold

*Better psychological and physical well-being

*Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease

*Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

Identifying negative thinking
Some common forms of negative self-talk include:
Filtering. You magnify the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all of the positive ones. For example, say you had a great day at work. You completed your tasks ahead of time and were complimented for doing a speedy and thorough job. But you forgot one minor step. That evening, you focus only on your oversight and forget about the compliments you received.
Personalizing. When something bad occurs, you automatically blame yourself. For example, you hear that an evening out with friends is canceled, and you assume that the change in plans is because no one wanted to be around you.
Catastrophizing. You automatically anticipate the worst. You refuse to go out with friends for fear that you'll make a fool of yourself. Or one change in your daily routine leads you to think the entire day will be a disaster.
Polarizing. You see things only as either good or bad, black or white. There is no middle ground. You feel that you have to be perfect or that you're a total failure.
Focusing on positive thinking
Because your self-talk is mainly negative doesn't mean you're doomed to an unhappy or unhealthy life. You can learn to turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The process is simple, but it takes time and practice — you're creating a new habit, after all. Here are some ways to think and behave in a more positive way:
Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.
Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you can laugh at life, you feel less stressed.
Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise at least three times a week to positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. And learn to manage stress.
Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people, those who believe they have no power over their lives, may increase your stress level and may make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways.
Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about yourself.
Examples of typical negative self-talk and how you might apply a positive twist include:
Negative self-talk
Positive spin
I've never done it before.
It's an opportunity to learn something new.
It's too complicated.
I'll tackle it from a different angle.
I don't have the resources.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
I'm too lazy to get this done.
I wasn't able to fit it into my schedule but can re-examine some priorities.
There's no way it will work.
I can try to make it work.
It's too radical a change.
Let's take a chance.
No one bothers to communicate with me.
I'll see if I can open the channels of communication.
I'm not going to get any better at this.
I'll give it another try.
Practicing positive thinking every day
If you tend to have a negative outlook, don't expect to become an optimist overnight. But with practice, eventually your self-talk will contain less self-criticism and more self-acceptance. You may also become less critical of the world around you. Plus, when you share your positive mood and positive experience, both you and those around you enjoy an emotional boost.
Practicing positive self-talk will improve your outlook. When your state of mind is generally optimistic, you're able to handle everyday stress in a more constructive way. That ability may contribute to the widely observed health benefits of positive thinking.

NDT News

2009-07-19T11:33:00.000+08:00

NDT News

NDT News was re-launched in September 2003 in tabloid newspaper-style format. It now includes: • Industry news • Recruitment advertising and editorial on careers, the jobs market and recruitment issues • Information on BINDT Branch events and activities • PCN Network News and other certification news • Items of general interest to this readership • 'How to...' type articles and case studies, technical tips and FAQs • Letters to the Editor • 'Quiz corner' • Columnists and opinion articles • Media section – books, publications, CD-ROMs, websites, etc • IAQP Members' page The new publication incorporates the Branch bulletin of the British Institute of NDT, which was formerly a supplement known as NDT NEWS; and NewsLink, the newsletter of the International Association of Quality Practitioners (the IAQP). Each month it is circulated free to BINDT and IAQP members – approximately 2500 in total – and in the months of September, December, March and June it is, in addition, circulated to all PCN certificate holders – an additional 7000. Advertising in NDT News is available at very competitive rates.Click here to download a PDF version of the current NDT News Rate Card (808K).Click here to download Guidelines for submitting advertising material for NDT News (PDF format (44K)). Some of the features in NDT News are available on this website: Details of the job vacancies advertised in the current issue are available here.Some details of forthcoming Branch Meetings are available here.For a free sample copy of the new NDT News, contact the Institute or complete the enquiry form available here.And now NDT News has its own website: www.ndtnews.org

DM5E Ultrasonic Corrosion Monitoring Thickness Gauge

2009-07-18T11:55:00.000+08:00

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies

Improved Stability and Repeatability at Normal and Elevated Temperatures The DM5E family is the latest generation of portable, ultrasonic, corrosion monitoring thickness gauges from GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies. The DM5E series offers significant improvement in performance over previous corrosion thickness gauges in terms of thickness measurement and stability and repeatability at normal and elevated temperatures. It’s designed for operation in the harshest working environments, performing wall thickness measurements on pipelines, pressure vessels and storage tanks in the oil and gas industry, as well as the petrochemical and power generation sectors. “Our new DM5E family allows operators to choose the level of thickness measuring functionality to suit them, while its flexibility allows them to upgrade their instruments whenever they wish,” says Stefan Frank, product manager at GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies. “The instruments come with a new range of ultrasonic probes to ensure optimized performance even at high temperatures.” The new corrosion measurement solution is available in three versions; the DM5E Basic; the DM5E; and the DM5E DL. All versions weigh just 223g, including their AA batteries, which allow up to 60 hours operation. They feature an LCD data display, which is backlit to be visible in all lighting conditions, and operation is carried out with one hand using a user-friendly operator interface. The DM5E instrument additionally offers the DUAL MULTI operating mode, which allows metal thickness to be measured through coatings. Protective coatings, including paint, contribute significant error to thickness measurements of underlying metal walls when using conventional methods. In addition, the removal of coatings, and their subsequent reapplication, involves considerable cost and time. The DM5E DL version has a built-in datalogger, with a capacity to store up a massive 50,000 reading in grid and linear files. This makes the measurement data available for further processing. Using GE’s UltraMATE software, measurement data files can be transferred from the instrument to a PC, where they can be analyzed and stored. The Basic version can be simply up-graded into a DM5E instrument and both DM5E Basic and DM5E can be field-upgraded to become DL versions. Download a photo of the new DM5E here: http://www.geinspectiontechnologies.com/en/aboutus/press/press_photos.html About GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is Healthcare for Infrastructure. The business is part of GE Enterprise Solutions, a $5 billion business helping customers compete and win in a changing global environment by combining the power of GE’s unique expertise and intelligent technology to elevate customers’ productivity. GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions that deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to its customers. Its products are used in a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. The company has 4,700 employees at more than 40 facilities in 25 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gesensinginspection.com.

BARGE AND BOAT

2009-07-18T08:11:00.001+08:00

EPOCH 1000

2009-07-18T03:50:00.000+08:00

Advanced Ultrasonic with Phased Array Imaging
Ultrasound Products
EPOCH 1000 Series
The EPOCH 1000 Series Digital Ultrasonic Flaw Detectors combines the highest level of performance for conventional portable flaw detection with the power of phased array imaging. The EPOCH 1000, 1000iR and 1000i feature a new horizontal case style with full VGA display, knob and navigation arrows for parameter adjustment, and full EN12668‑1 compliance. The advanced conventional ultrasonic functionality of the EPOCH 1000 series is augmented in the EPOCH 1000i with phased array imaging capabilities.
Key Features
Available with Phased Array Imaging Package
EN12668-1 compliant
Over 30 digital receiver filter selections
6 kHz pulse repetition rate for high speed scanning
Automatic phased array probe recognition
Intuitive wedge delay and sensitivity calibration for all focal laws
Programmable analog/alarm outputs
IP66 environmental rating for harsh environments
Horizontal design with navigation panel and knob parameter adjustment
Digital high dynamic range receiver
Full VGA sunlight readable display
ClearWave™ Visual Enhancement Package for conventional A-scan interpretation
Reference and measurement cursors
Standard dynamic DAC/TVG
Standard onboard DGS/AVG

Three instrument configuration levels to suit many inspection needs.
EPOCH 1000 Advanced UT
The EPOCH 1000 is an advanced conventional ultrasonic flaw detector that can be upgraded with phased array imaging at an authorized Olympus service center.
EPOCH 1000iR Advanced UT + Phased Array Ready
The EPOCH 1000iR provides the same ultrasonic flaw detection capabilities as the EPOCH 1000 with the benefit of upgrading to phased array with simple field-remote activation.
EPOCH 1000i Advanced UT + Phased Array Built-in
The EPOCH 1000i comes standard with the same advanced ultrasonic flaw detection capabilities as the EPOCH 1000 as well as with the benefits of a built-in phased array imaging package.
Advanced Ultrasound, Upgradable to Phased Array
The EPOCH 1000, EPOCH 1000iR, and EPOCH 1000i provide advanced conventional ultrasound capabilities for both the standard and advanced level inspector. These portable instruments can also be integrated into small systems for high speed scanning and single channel imaging. They come standard with a host of high performance features, including a 6 kHz maximum Pulse Rate Frequency (PRF) with single-shot measurements for accurate high speed scanning applications, tunable square wave pulser with PerfectSquare™ technology, and comprehensive digital filter sets for exceptional signal-to-noise clarity.
Standard Features
Dynamic DAC/TVG, including ASME, ASME-III, JIS, 20-80%, Custom, and TVG Table
Adjustable Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF): 5 Hz to 6 kHz
Single-shot measurements in all standard modes
Tunable Square Wave Pulser with PerfectSquare™ technology
Programmable analog and alarm outputs
Over 30 digital filter sets
Digital high dynamic range receiver
Software Features
Interface Gate - This optional third measurement gate allows real-time tracking of a variable interface echo to maintain consistent digital measurements.
AWS Welding Rating - This weld rating calculator provides a live AWS D1.1/D1.5 code compliant "D" value weld rating for gated flaw indications.
Onboard DGS/AVG - The DGS/AVG flaw sizing technique uses calculated attenuation curves to aid operators in sizing potential defects. A vast onboard library of characterized probes allows the operator to quickly and easily setup a DGS/AVG curve and perform precise flaw sizing.

EPOCH 1000 Clearwave™ Visual Enhancements
The EPOCH 1000 features a new and exciting set of visual enhancement capabilities to improve the quality and ease of detection in advanced applications.
SureView™ - feature based on the functionality of analog CRT displays allowing the inspector to visualize peak indications from reflectors even when the instrument range compresses these indication peaks beyond visual perception.
Composite A-scan - This feature displays all A-scans acquired in between screen update rates (multiple A-scans when PRF > 60 Hz) and overlays them together on the screen.
Max Amplitude - displays only the A-scan with the highest gated amplitude reading.
Min Thickness - displays only A-scans representing the minimum thickness reading.
Averaged A-scan - New functionality allows the inspector to view an average of acquired A-scans.
Persistence Mode - retains previously acquired A-scans on the instrument display for a predetermined amount of time.
Baseline Break - displays "zero-cross" points as lines connecting individual A-scan lobes to the baseline in full wave rectified mode.
Advanced Ultrasound with Phased Array Imaging Package
The EPOCH 1000 i provides powerful conventional ultrasonic and phased array flaw detection in a portable, rugged instrument. It allows increased probability of detection of flaws, better visualization of areas of interest and increases inspection efficiency by allowing a single setup to view A-scans at multiple angles (focal laws), eliminating the need for multiple probes and wedges. Users can still rely on the exceptional conventional performance of the EPOCH 1000 while gaining all the benefits from the phased array capabilities of the EPOCH 1000 i. The EPOCH 1000 i allows operators to perform code-compliant inspections according to conventional standards with the advantages of phased array to increase accuracy and efficiency. Available with a standard 16:16 configuration, the EPOCH 1000 i also includes many sizing features to aid in flaw inspections. The instrument comes standard with A-scan and S-scan reference and sizing cursors for flaw size evaluation. The EPOCH 1000 i also provides DAC/TVG capabilities for every focal law, allowing flaw characterization of a selected A-scan based on an acquired DAC curve.
Standard DAC/TVG for All Focal Laws
The EPOCH 1000i comes standard with DAC/TVG for all focal laws. This allows the user to acquire a DAC curve or create a TVG setup from known reflectors for all defined angles/focal laws at once. After completing this setup, the operator uses the S-scan image to detect potential defects at various focal laws. AWS Weld Rating
The EPOCH 1000i comes with an AWS D1.1/D1.5 weld rating calculator. In conjunction with Olympus' AWS rated phased array transducer, this allows the operator to use imaging capabilities for flaw detection, while sizing flaws at 45°, 60° and 70° with conventional A-scan technique, and also view the D value for weld rating on screen for any selected A-scan (focal law).

Dual A-scan and S-scan Views
The EPOCH 1000i features a familiar dual A-scan and S-scan view, showing the user an image representing A-scan data from all angles between two user-defined start and end values. Each individual angle, referred to in general as Focal Laws, can be selected to display a live A-scan. This allows an inspector to detect and characterize potential defects at multiple angles at a single time using phased array imaging.

EPOCH 1000i Multi-Angle
The EPOCH 1000i phased array mode includes a new feature called Multi-Angle. This feature allows the operator to designate any three angles, or focal laws, available in the sector scan as "visible" focal laws. The A-scans from each of the three designated angles are then overlaid on top of each other in the A-scan window, allowing the operator to view all three A-scans at the same time! Each individual angle is color coded for ease of use. This feature is perfect for inspectors using conventional sizing methods requiring evaluation at 45, 60 and 70 degrees!
Rugged. Portable. Meets the Demands of the Toughest Inspection Environments!
The EPOCH 1000 Series is designed to meet the IP66 environmental rating. Tested for shock, vibration, explosive atmosphere, and wide temperature range, these instruments can withstand operation in harsh inspection conditions. Some of the EPOCH 1000 Series' other key physical features include:
Large, full VGA (640x480) resolution color transflective display for optimum viewing in low or bright lighting conditions
Rugged rubber handle for easy carrying
Durable instrument-mounted D-rings for chest harness use
Front and rear stands for table-top or steep inclined viewing
USB Client and Host ports for PC communication, direct printing and communication with peripheral devices
VGA output for presentations, training, and remote instrument monitoring
Programmable analog outputs, alarm outputs, and RS-232 communication
Standard internal, rechargeable lithium ion battery
Data Management
GageView™ Pro - The EPOCH 1000 series is fully compatible with Olympus' standard portable instrument PC interface program, GageView Pro. Through the GageView Pro interface program, inspectors can download inspection data, review measurements on a PC, export measurements and calibration data to common spreadsheet programs, back up calibration and inspection data from the instrument, and perform basic operations such as instrument firmware upgrades and screen captures.
Accessories
The EPOCH 1000 series has many available accessories to allow full functionality of various features.
VGA output cable (P/N: EPXT-C-VGA-6)
USB client cable (P/N: EP4P/C-USB-6)
RS-232 communications cable (P/N: EP1000-C-RS232-6)
Hardware I/O cable (analog/alarm outputs, RS-232 communication) (P/N: EP1000-C-HWIO-6)
Chest harness (P/N: EP4/CH)
External battery charger (P/N: EPXT-EC)
Extra battery (lithium-ion) (P/N: EPXT-BAT-L)
Detailed Specifications

Latest Inspection Vacancies

2009-07-18T03:45:00.003+08:00

13 Aug
UT Inspectors - Holland
Meridian International
12 Aug
Rig Inspection Manager - Singapore
K2
12 Aug
NDT Technician - Isle of Wight
Matchtech
12 Aug
NDT Technicians - North West England
The Business Connection
10 Aug
UT Technicians - Holland
Shape Services
10 Aug
Inspection & NDT - Brunei
QAF Oilfields Services
NDT Technicians - Holland Closed
06 Aug
NDT Technicians - Heathrow
Turnkey
04 Aug
NDT Technicians - Europe
Flexibel Europe Netherlands
04 Aug
Operations Manager - UK
Innospection
04 Aug
Ultrasonic Technician - New Zealand
Business Immigration (NZ)
04 Aug
UT Technicians - Holland
Mactech Inspection
03 Aug
Eddy Current Technician - UK
NDT Services
03 Aug
Offshore Inspection Engineers - North Sea
BIS Inspection
31 Jul
Preventive Resources Personnel - Various
ZS Q-tec SECURITAS S.L
31 Jul
Vendor Inspectors Expeditors - Various
ZS Q-tec SECURITAS S.L
29 Jul
QC/Welding Inspector - Holland
Mactech Inspection
29 Jul
Snr Welding Inspector - Sheffield
Intec
27 Jul
Lead Plant Inspector - Teesside
Applus RTD
27 Jul
Radiographers - Southern Ireland
MTI
26 Jul
Trainers - Home Based (UK)
Matthews Engineering Training
24 Jul
NDT Inspectors - Holland
Structural & Weld Testing
24 Jul
Painting Inspector - Doncaster
Structural & Weld Testing
22 Jul
UT Technicians - Europe
Stork Cooperheat
22 Jul
Senior Inspector - Angola
Oceaneering
17 Jul
Tubular Inspection Supervisor - Canada
Acuren
17 Jul
NDT Inspector - Hemel Hempstead
Micro Precision Gear Technology
15 Jul
NDT Technicians etc - Kent
Probe Technical Recruitment
15 Jul
NDT Technicians - North Sea
BIS Inspection
Welding Inspector - Spain Closed
10 Jul
UT Operators - Holland
Mactech Inspection
09 Jul
Operations Manager - Falkirk
Applus RTD
09 Jul
NDT Supervisor - Medway Branch
Oceaneering
09 Jul
NDT Technician - Uxbridge
Martin-Baker
07 Jul
NDT Technicians - Onshore / Offshore
Can Offshore
02 Jul
Technical Support Manager - Aberdeen
Oceaneering
02 Jul
Advanced NDT Technicians - Singapore
Applus RTD (Netherlands)

OmniScan MX PA

2009-07-18T00:06:00.000+08:00

Company:
Olympus

Phased array technology enables the generation of an ultrasonic beam where parameters such as angle, focal distance, and focal point size are controlled through software. Furthermore, this beam can be multiplexed over a large array. These capabilities open a series of new possibilities. For instance, it is possible to quickly vary the angle of the beam to scan a part without moving the probe itself. Phased arrays also allow replacing multiple probes and mechanical components. Inspecting a part with a variable-angle beam also maximizes detection regardless of the defect orientation, while optimizing signal-to-noise ratio. Benefits of Phased Arrays Phased array technology offers the following benefits: •Software control of beam angle, focal distance, and spot size •Multiple-angle inspection with a single, small, electronically-controlled multielement probe •Greater flexibility for the inspection of complex geometry •High-speed scans with no moving parts Learn more about the Olympus Omniscan at http://www.olympus-ims.com.

NDT software

2009-07-17T23:59:00.000+08:00

To add your software to a category, click a category below then click 'Add an Item' on the left of the page.
Calculators and Conversion
Data Storage and Manipulation
Documentation and Audit
Training Software

Are You Ready for job?

2009-07-17T21:07:00.001+08:00

CHALLENGE Are you feeling a daily challenge, or has your job become mundane?

LOCATION Is your job geographically located close to your home? Are you paying too much for transportation or commute?

ENDURANCE Are you with a financially stable company? Does your company show signs of growth?

ATTITUDE Do you still have the right attitude toward your job? Does it still thrill you?

REVENUE Does your company compensate you with money, stock options, time off and other perks? Is the cost of living consistent with what you earn in your geographic location?

Industrial Rope Access Enables Record Shutdown Time for Refinery in Malaysia

2009-07-17T20:27:00.000+08:00

One major benefit of Industrial Rope Access is the minimization of shutdown time of industrial assets. With industrial rope access, scaffolding, cradles or mobile elevated work platforms are no longer necessary to be able to access high or remote locations. Compared to traditional approaches, inspection and testing can be performed faster, resulting in cost savings for clients. --- Time is money. Shutdown time is more money. However, production facilities, refineries, petrochemical and power plants must be regularly closed down or taken out of service to make way for scheduled maintenance operations. To be able to minimize the duration of the shutdown and allow operations to resume more quickly would be a laudable accomplishment. The leading integrated palm oil player in Malaysia usually schedules eight days of downtime for inspecting their splitter towers, which will be accessed by means of traditional scaffolding. However, no more than four days were available for the current assessment of the Splitter Tower 1. Having no experience with Industrial Rope Access, the company was interested in knowing the capabilities and limitations of the method. Industrial rope access is a form of work positioning developed from techniques used in caving. It is an internationally-recognized alternative to traditional means of access such as scaffoldings, ladders, gondolas, boson chairs, mechanical lifts and staging. With industrial rope access, a worker uses two ropes - a working rope and a back-up, safety rope - and is permanently attached to both to prevent falls. SGS carried out a pre-job site visit, free of charge. All necessary IRATA documentation including task-specific risk assessments, method statements and rescue plan were submitted in advance. To perform the Dye Penetrant Examination (PT) (also known as Liquefied Penetrant Examination) of all welded T-joints inside their splitter tower, a two-man SGS-IRATA certified Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) team was mobilized from Singapore. It took only two days to set up, carry out inspection, de-rig the ropes and prepare the inspection report -- a record downtime for the refinery. SGS Industrial Services SGS holds numerous accreditations from all over the world, and we can carry out periodical statutory and voluntary inspections of industrial utilities and all kinds of equipment. With the worldwide network of SGS Industrial Services, we can develop the best suitable conformity assessment procedure for your equipment and your target markets, as industrial inspection procedures directly affect safety. Contact information: SGS Testing and Control Services Singapore Pte Ltd Business Unit Operations Manager - Industrial Rope Access Andrew Johnston 26 Ayer Rajah Crescent #03-07 Singapore 139944 t: (65) 6379 0111 industrial.pr@sgs.com http://www.sgs.com/rope-access http://www.sgs.com/industrial The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With more than 55,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

Education

2009-07-17T20:21:00.000+08:00

CBI International
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DECIBEL NDE TRAINING INSTITUTE
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Infrared Training Center
Lavender NDT
Modsonic Nondestructive Testing Training (NDT)
Moraine Valley Community College
NDT Resource Center
NDTech NDT Newsletter
Nevada Traffic School
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PQT Services - Plumstead Quality and Training Services
Salt Lake City College Non-destructive Testing
Talon NDT Training
The Practical Guide To Ultrasonic Testing In The Real World