ACFM for Chloride Cracking 1

[honeywellinspector]

Does anyone have a good feel for the ACFM technique for detecting Chloride Cracking in 316L S/S grade material, 3/8th thick. The cracking is external on a pressure vessel. Failure Analysis of a sample piece concluded that the cracking is only about 0.030" - 0.040" in depth, scattered at attachment welds (i.e. lifting lugs, stiffener rings, re-pads).

 

[unclesyd]

I haven't heard of ACFM being used for this purpose in the field. As ACFM was developed for detecting fatigue cracks (single) it would be worth a test to see how it response to the normal multiple cracks associated with SCC. The ability to test through nonconductive coatings or crude certainly would speed things up.

I just called a supervisor for a large inspection company about your approach. He stated that he hasn't been directly involved with the introduction of ACFM to his company and hasn't heard of any explicit applications in detecting SCC. They do a lot of work offshore and that is where their interest is. He also stated that it would be a good application to qualify.

 

[EdStainless]

It sounds like it might work. You would be doing the development. A lot of people would thank you.

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