Metallurgical Terms

U

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

U
Chemical symbol for uranium

Ultimate Tensile Stress
(See Tensile Strength)

Ultrasonic Inspection
A method of non-destructive testing which detects internal discontinuities in metals. Owing to the piezo-electric effect certain crystals can be made to vibrate when influenced by an oscillating electric current. For ultrasonic inspection the crystal is made to vibrate at frequencies between 3 and 10 megacycles per second and when held against a piece of steel causes the vibrations to travel through the steel and be reflected back from the opposite side or from any intervening defects. The echoes are made visible on a cathode ray tube.

Unkilled Steel
Steel which has been insufficiently deoxidized and evolves gas during solidification, with the formation of blow-holes. (See Rising Steel).

Upending
(See Upsetting)

Upsetting
Working a piece of stock in such a way that its length is shortened and its cross sectional area is increased. It has the effect of increasing ductility in the radial and tangential directions.