An Assessment of Visual Testing (NUREG/CR-6860)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: November 2004
Date Published: November 2004

Prepared by:
S.E. Cumblidge, M.T. Anderson, S.R. Doctor
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
902 Battelle Boulevard
Richland, Washington 99352

D.A. Jackson and W.E. Norris, NRC Project Managers

Prepared for:
Division of Engineering Technology
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

NRC Job Code Y6604

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Abstract

In response to increasing interest from nuclear utilities in replacing some volumetric examinations of nuclear reactor components with remote visual testing, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has examined the capabilities of remote visual testing for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This report describes visual testing and explores the visual acuities of the camera systems used to examine nuclear reactor components. The types and sizes of cracks typically found in nuclear reactor components are reviewed. The current standards in visual testing are examined critically, and several suggestions for improving these standards are proposed. Also proposed for future work is a round robin test to determine the effectiveness of visual tests and experimental studies to determine the values for magnification and resolution needed to reliably image very tight cracks.