Coupling an ultrasonic propagation code with a model of the heterogeneity of multipass welds to simulate ultrasonic testing

After discussing the existing models of grains orientations for multipass welds, we show how the new MINA model allows to simulate the anisotropic heterogeneous structure in a more realistic manner. We introduce the simulated grains structure and the real one, obtained by macrographs, into the ATHENA propagation code. We obtain a very good correlation between the two simulated propagations. A first experimental application is also successful. We show in a quantitative and qualitative way that the modelling results are close to the experimental measurements on a thick austenitic weld.