NDT Codes and Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ASME code section specifically governs inspection of in-service pressure vessels?
- ASME Section V
- ASME Section VIII
- ASME Section XI
- API 510 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: API 510
API 510 is the pressure vessel inspection code governing in-service inspection, rating, repair, and alteration.
Question 2: Under ASNT SNT-TC-1A, who is responsible for establishing and administering the employer's written practice?
- The Level III NDT technician
- The quality assurance manager
- The employer (Correct answer)
- ASNT headquarters
Correct answer: The employer
SNT-TC-1A places ultimate responsibility on the employer to establish, document, and administer the written practice.
Question 3: What does the term 'discontinuity' mean in NDT standards compared to 'defect'?
- Discontinuity and defect are synonymous terms
- A discontinuity is any interruption in the structure; a defect is a discontinuity that exceeds acceptance criteria (Correct answer)
- A defect is always smaller than a discontinuity
- Discontinuity applies only to welds while defect applies to base metal
Correct answer: A discontinuity is any interruption in the structure; a defect is a discontinuity that exceeds acceptance criteria
A discontinuity is simply an interruption in material homogeneity; it only becomes a defect when it exceeds the acceptance criteria defined in the applicable code.
Question 4: AWS D1.1 is the structural welding code for which base material?
- Aluminum
- Stainless steel
- Steel (Correct answer)
- Titanium
Correct answer: Steel
AWS D1.1 is the Structural Welding Code—Steel, covering welding requirements for structural steel applications.
Question 5: Which organization publishes the NAVSEA Technical Publication T9074-AS-GIB-010/271 used for military NDT?
- American Welding Society
- U.S. Navy Naval Sea Systems Command (Correct answer)
- Department of Defense
- American Society for Nondestructive Testing
Correct answer: U.S. Navy Naval Sea Systems Command
NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) publishes this military specification governing NDT requirements for naval shipbuilding.
Question 6: In ASME Section V, Article 1, what is the primary purpose of a mandatory appendix?
- To provide optional supplementary guidance
- To list approved equipment manufacturers
- To define requirements that must be followed when invoked by the referencing code (Correct answer)
- To document historical revisions
Correct answer: To define requirements that must be followed when invoked by the referencing code
Mandatory appendices in ASME Section V contain requirements that become binding when the referencing construction code invokes them.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'calibration block' as described in most UT standards?
- To measure the chemical composition of the test material
- To establish sensitivity, linearity, and reference responses for the testing system (Correct answer)
- To clean the transducer face before use
- To document the inspector's certification level
Correct answer: To establish sensitivity, linearity, and reference responses for the testing system
Calibration blocks are used to set instrument sensitivity and establish reference echo responses before and during ultrasonic testing.
NDT Codes and Standards 2
Which ASME code section specifically governs inspection of in-service pressure vessels?