Ultrasonic Properties of IIW Type Reference Blocks, Part 1: Measurements of Primary Properties

A series of ultrasonic measurements was made on 18 ferromagnetic steel IIW type reference blocks to determine the amount of variation in the ultrasonic properties of the blocks. These measurements are described in a two part study. Part 1 focuses on the measurement of the primary ultrasonic properties: the longitudinal wave velocity, transverse wave velocity, and apparent material attenuation. Discussions of the different measurement methods and uncertainties affecting the measurements are included. Based on the estimated uncertainties associated with each of the measurements, we were able to detect significant variations in the elastic wave velocities of the sample of blocks studied. "Part 2: Variability of Angle Beam Response" investigates whether the magnitude of these variations significantly affects the primary standardization uses of these blocks, namely, measurements made with angle beam transducers.