Ultrasonic Wave Propagation and Anisotropy in Austenitic Stainless Steel Weld Metal

Abstract

The propagation of ultrasonic waves in stainless steel weld metal, an anisotropic medium, is examined. Significant variations in ultrasonic velocity as well as in attenuation have been observed for dif- ferent propagation directions. Elastic-constant data have also been ac- quired from single crystals of stainless steel and used in a simple model to describe the weld metal. From this model, velocities of sound as well as beam deviations can be predicted. The effect of anisotropy on flaw detection in stainless steel welds is discussed and examples are given. The current work is compared with recent literature on this subject.