Abstract
This paper reviews developments in the UK of ultrasonic inspection methods for both in-service inspection of existing, older plant and also for the proposed PWR at Sizewell. In the case of existing plant there are problems which stem from the fact that ultrasonics was not in widespread use at the time the reactors were designed and constructed. Consequently weld geometries, surface finishes and access pose difficulties which must be overcome by developments in the way ultrasonics is applied. For the PWR, the reactor has been designed from the outset with inspection in mind. The safety case requires a demonstration that certain parts, including the reactor pressure vessel, cannot fail and this, in turn, involves a demonstration of high inspection reliability. Such a demonstration has necessitated a range of developments to understand and quantify the way sound reflects from a variety of metallurgical defects. The ultrasonic inspections carried out for Sizewell B involve extensive use of automated techniques during fabrication. These have also been the subject of intensive development in the UK.
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