ISO 10893-11:2011

Overview

ISO 10893-11:2011 specifies requirements for automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) of the weld seam of welded steel tubes to detect longitudinal and/or transverse imperfections. It covers shear-wave techniques (conventional or phased array) for submerged arc-welded (SAW) and electric resistance/induction-welded (EW) tubes, and permits Lamb wave testing for longitudinal defects where agreed. The standard is also applicable to circular hollow sections and supports inline or post-process inspection of tube welds.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: AUT of SAW and EW tube weld seams for longitudinal/transverse imperfections; full peripheral UT possible for EW tubes.
• Inspection techniques: Shear-wave ultrasonic (1–15 MHz) and Lamb wave (0.3–1 MHz) where permitted. Supports conventional and phased array transducers.
• Probe and aperture limits: Maximum individual transducer width 25 mm for longitudinal or transverse detection; phased array / Lamb active aperture limited to 35 mm.
• Scan directions & coverage: Testing normally in two opposite directions (clockwise/anticlockwise for longitudinal; forward/backward for transverse). Test movement speed must not vary by more than ±10%. Complete weld coverage required; short untested tube ends handled per product standard or Annex A.
• Calibration & reference: Use reference tubes with notches or reference holes (internal/external) placed close to the weld to set sensitivity and trigger levels. Reference tube must match nominal diameter, thickness, surface finish and acoustic properties of production tubes.
• Equipment performance: Automated trigger/alarm classification combined with marking or sorting. Calibration checks and periodic recalibration required.
• Personnel: Operators must be qualified per ISO 9712, ISO 11484 or equivalent; NDT authorization and level 3 oversight required.

Applications and users

ISO 10893-11 is used by:

• Tube manufacturers (SAW, EW) integrating automated weld seam inspection into production lines
• Quality/control engineers and NDT technicians performing routine acceptance testing
• Third‑party inspectors and regulatory bodies verifying weld seam integrity
• Industries using welded steel tubes (petrochemical, structural, mechanical, pipeline, automotive) requiring reliable detection of longitudinal and transverse weld defects

Practical benefits include improved defect detection, traceable calibration and acceptance procedures, automated sorting/marking, and compatibility with inline production workflows.

Related standards

• ISO 10893-10 (full peripheral ultrasonic testing)
• ISO 10893-6 / ISO 10893-7 (radiographic and digital radiographic testing of weld seams)
• ISO 5577 (ultrasonic NDT vocabulary)
• ISO 9712 / ISO 11484 (personnel qualification)

Keywords: ISO 10893-11, ultrasonic testing, weld seam, steel tubes, SAW, EW, phased array, Lamb wave, non-destructive testing, AUT, NDT calibration.