Practice Test Geeks(API 510) Certified Pressure Vessel Inspector Practice Test
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Inspection Methods & Nondestructive Testing Flashcards

7 cards from real API 510 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. When performing wet fluorescent magnetic particle testing (WFMT) on a pressure vessel weld, what is the primary advantage over dry magnetic particle testing?

    Answer: Higher sensitivity for detecting fine, shallow surface cracks

    WFMT uses fluorescent particles suspended in liquid, providing higher sensitivity for fine cracks compared to dry MT methods.

  2. During radiographic testing of a pressure vessel shell, which IQI (image quality indicator) placement is preferred per ASME Section V?

    Answer: Source side of the weld, adjacent to the area of interest

    ASME Section V requires IQIs to be placed on the source side to demonstrate the minimum detectable flaw size at the most critical location.

  3. An API 510 inspector uses time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) ultrasonics on a thick-walled vessel. What is a known limitation of TOFD near the scanning surface?

    Answer: Dead zone near the surface due to lateral wave interference

    TOFD has a near-surface dead zone caused by the lateral wave masking reflections from shallow defects.

  4. Which eddy current technique is most effective for detecting corrosion and pitting on the inner surface of non-ferromagnetic heat exchanger tubes from the outside?

    Answer: Remote field eddy current (RFEC)

    Remote field eddy current (RFEC) penetrates the full wall of ferromagnetic tubes; for non-ferromagnetic tubes, conventional ET from inside or RFEC from inside is used, but pulsed eddy current from the outside detects wall loss through insulation.

  5. When applying liquid penetrant testing (PT) to an austenitic stainless steel pressure vessel nozzle, which post-emulsifier type requires the most careful control of emulsification time?

    Answer: Lipophilic (oil-based) emulsifier

    Lipophilic emulsifiers work by diffusion, so over-emulsification can remove penetrant from true defects if contact time is not carefully controlled.

  6. Per API 510, what is the primary purpose of performing a hydrostatic test after repairs to a pressure vessel?

    Answer: To verify structural integrity and leak-tightness after repair

    A hydrostatic test after repair confirms the vessel can safely contain pressure and is leak-tight under test conditions.

  7. Which NDE method is most suitable for detecting hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) in the base metal of a pressure vessel operating in a sour service environment?

    Answer: Straight-beam ultrasonic testing (UT)

    HIC creates internal planar defects parallel to the surface, which are best detected by straight-beam UT that can identify laminar-type reflectors within the wall.