ASTM E213 Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of Metal Pipe and Tubing

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ASTM E213 testing applies to manufacturers, suppliers, inspectors, engineers, nondestructive testing personnel, and quality-control professionals who want to assess the condition of metal pipe and metal tubing interiors and near surfaces. A qualified technician uses proper search units, reference standards, instrumentation, coupling arrangements, and scanning equipment to carry out the ultrasonic examination. The technician sets up the system to standard by using a reference pipe or tube typical of the material being investigated and analyzes ultrasonic indications under controlled examination conditions. Testing to ASTM E213 can help detect discontinuities that might impact the intended end use of tubular products. It also includes documented examination data that can support manufacturing quality control, product acceptance, material evaluation, and applicable specification requirements.

• Material Type: Metal pipe and tubing subjected to volumetric ultrasonic examination.
• Ultrasonic Methods: Pulse-echo contact and non-contact techniques and angle-beam immersion techniques, including conventional and phased-array approaches.
• Product Size: Primarily tubular products with outside diameters approximately 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) and larger, with smaller sizes possible by agreement when examination parameters are suitable.
• Discontinuity Detection: Detection and location of significant pits, voids, inclusions, cracks, splits, and similar discontinuities.
• Reference Standardization: Use longitudinal reference notches and, when specified, transverse reference notches to standardize the ultrasonic system.
• Examination Coverage: The procedure is designed to provide appropriate beam coverage through the pipe or tube wall and accommodate different diameter-to-wall-thickness conditions.
• Acceptance Criteria: ASTM E213 does not establish acceptance limits; the using parties, product specification, or applicable contractual requirements establish reportable and rejectable indications.
• Special Applications: Annex A1 addresses pipe and tubing used in nuclear and other special or safety-related applications.

What are the uses of ASTM E213 testing?

ASTM E213 ultrasonic testing is used to examine tubular products for discontinuities that may not be visible from the external surface. The method provides a nondestructive approach for examining a substantial volume of pipe or tubing without sectioning the product. It can be incorporated into manufacturing inspection, quality-control programs, and product acceptance procedures. Common uses include:

• Manufacturing Quality Control: Detect discontinuities introduced during manufacturing and processing.
• Pipe and Tube Inspection: Examine tubular products for internal and near-surface discontinuities.
• Material Acceptance: Provide ultrasonic examination results for comparison with applicable acceptance criteria.
• Production Inspection: Support automated or mechanized scanning of pipe and tubing.
• Discontinuity Evaluation: Locate and characterize ultrasonic indications associated with pits, cracks, inclusions, voids, splits, and similar conditions.
• Process Monitoring: Help identify manufacturing conditions that may produce recurring discontinuities.
• Special and Safety Applications: Support examination programs for critical pipe and tubing where additional ultrasonic controls are required.
• Product Qualification: Provide examination data for applicable specifications, contracts, or customer requirements.

Which Materials Can Be Tested According to ASTM E213?

ASTM E213 applies to metal pipe and tubing that can be examined volumetrically using suitable ultrasonic techniques. The reference standard is prepared from pipe or tube having characteristics representative of the material being examined, including nominal diameter, wall thickness, material, surface finish, and acoustic properties. The practice can be applied to:

• Steel pipe and tubing
• Stainless steel pipe and tubing
• Alloy steel tubular products
• Carbon and low-alloy metal tubing
• Other metallic tubular products suitable for the specified ultrasonic examination
• Small-diameter tubing when the examination parameters provide adequate coverage
• Heavy-wall or large-diameter pipe when appropriate search-unit and beam parameters are selected
• Pipe and tubing intended for nuclear and other special or safety applications when the applicable annex requirements are used.

Why is ASTM E213 Testing Important?

ASTM E213 provides a standardized ultrasonic approach for detecting discontinuities within metal pipe and tubing without destroying the product. Proper equipment standardization and reference reflectors allow the technician to establish examination sensitivity before inspecting production material. The practice also emphasizes examination coverage, appropriate beam orientation, surface preparation, coupling, and dynamic standardization. These controls help reduce false indications and improve the consistency of ultrasonic examination results. Because ASTM E213 does not define acceptance criteria, the ultrasonic indications must be evaluated against the applicable product specification, purchase agreement, or other requirements established by the responsible parties.

ASTM E213 Testing Process and Data Collection

Technicians first identify the metal pipe or tubing and then verify the dimensional, material, and surface characteristics. They prepare the surface for examination so scale, dirt, grease, paint, excessive roughness, or scratches do not interfere with the ultrasonic test. The ultrasonic system is standardized using a representative reference pipe or tube containing the specified artificial reflectors. The technician establishes suitable responses from the reference notches and verifies the equipment under dynamic conditions. During examination, the pipe or tubing and search-unit assembly move relative to one another to provide the required scanning coverage. The technician records specimen identification, material information, dimensions, equipment identification, search-unit characteristics, reference-standard information, scanning conditions, coupling conditions, and relevant ultrasonic responses. The analyst or qualified examiner evaluates detected indications and compares them with the applicable reporting or acceptance requirements.

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

One common challenge is inadequate surface preparation. Scale, dirt, grease, paint, roughness, or scratches can generate unwanted signals or interfere with interpretation. Technicians should prepare the examination surface without damaging the base metal or creating a condition that affects ultrasonic transmission. For piezoelectric contact systems, suitable couplants such as water, oil, or glycerin may be used, provided they provide adequate coupling and do not damage the pipe surface. Scanning instability can occur when the pipe or tubing is not adequately supported or when rotation and translation are inconsistent. 

• The technician records specimen identification, material description, outside diameter, wall thickness, relevant dimensions in mm, search-unit information, ultrasonic frequency, beam angle, scanning conditions, reference-standard information, and examination conditions.
• The analyst or qualified examiner documents ultrasonic indications, signal responses, indication locations, examination direction, reference-notch responses, and other required observations. Where applicable, the report identifies whether an indication meets the specified reportable or rejectable criteria.
• The report contains the pipe or tubing identification, material information, dimensions, examination method, equipment details, reference-standard information, scanning parameters, coupling conditions, detected indications, evaluation criteria, examination results, and applicable limitations.
• Ultrasonic indication amplitude is generally interpreted relative to the standardized reference responses rather than as a universal material-property value. Where dimensions or locations are reported, they may be recorded in mm, while instrument-specific parameters such as frequency may be recorded in MHz and scan or timing information in the applicable units.
• Technicians and analysts ensure consistent, reliable, and comparable ASTM E213 results by using standardized surface preparation, reference standard calibration, ultrasonic equipment verification, search-unit selection, coupling control, scanning, examination coverage, and qualified indication evaluation.

Link to ASTM E213