German developments in the ultrasonic examination of pressure vessels

Abstract The scene in non-destructive evaluation in the nuclear industry is characterized by the following keywords: basic safety due to optimized layout, design and fabrication; improved reliability of fracture mechanics; steadily increasing experience in in-service inspection; international round robins to demonstrate and compare already used and new testing techniques; significant improvements in testing techniques; new quantitative testing procedures and systems in ultrasonics, eddy current and radiography. Progress to date in ultrasonic developments will be described in terms of detectability of defects, quantitative reconstruction, and localization and classification (imaging) of defects. In addition the common background behind these methods will be explained.