Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a procedure which is a combination of analysis techniques that is used to find out more about the properties of a number of materials, parts, products, welds, or systems without causing any harm to the integrity of the unit while undergoing the test.
NDT laboratories are a great help for a number of industries that includes civil, forensic, mechanical, electrical, systems, aerospace and aeronautical engineering, and even various medical applications.
The two terms namely NDI, non-destructive inspection and NDE or Non-destructive evaluation can help describe the various testing methodology of non-destructive testing.
The Different Kind of NDT Techniques or Inspection
There are various conventional methods of training techniques that have over the year have changed and developed a lot and have become well-documented with different codes, standards, and best practices. The setup of a conventional technique is rather simple in comparison to advanced methods. Some of the testing methods are as follows,
The Conventional Techniques
Advanced methods are slightly more difficult to understand as they are emerging technologies and may have certain limitations as they lack technician qualification criteria and no industry codification.
As far as advanced techniques are concerned, only an expert technician can interpret the data, understand the setup and hence cater to such advanced NDT techniques.
Also, there are some methods, which can be further broken down into both conventional and advanced techniques. Like if you consider two forms of ultrasonic testing, for example, straight beam ultrasonic testing (UT) which is a conventional technique used in simple applications and then there is phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) which can be regarded as an advanced UT technique.
Advantages of Non-destructive Training over Destructive Training
There is no doubt that NDT boasts of a myriad of advantages over destructive testing. We must first focus on the testing equipment of NDT testing which is often portable and can be performed more than once on a single component.
The component can then be evaluated minutely both externally and internally for any kind of flaws which may prove to be detrimental to the component.
The only disadvantage of NDT is that the results are more qualitative and can be repeated and interpreted differently with varying results by various inspectors.
The Various Industry Applications of NDT
NDT inspections are a part of a number of industries and that includes the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, along with other industries such as automotive, chemicals, aerospace, and defense. So, the only way to detect and reduce flaws is by including NDT tests.
Some Considerations before Undergoing an NDT Testing
When you plan an NDT inspection, there are four considerations that you must keep in mind,
NDT laboratories are a great help for a number of industries that includes civil, forensic, mechanical, electrical, systems, aerospace and aeronautical engineering, and even various medical applications.
The two terms namely NDI, non-destructive inspection and NDE or Non-destructive evaluation can help describe the various testing methodology of non-destructive testing.
The Different Kind of NDT Techniques or Inspection
There are various conventional methods of training techniques that have over the year have changed and developed a lot and have become well-documented with different codes, standards, and best practices. The setup of a conventional technique is rather simple in comparison to advanced methods. Some of the testing methods are as follows,
The Conventional Techniques
- Acoustic Emission Testing or AET
- Leak testing or LT
- Infrared Testing or IR
- Electromagnetic testing or ET
- Liquid Penetrant Testing or LPT
- Magnetic Particle Testing or MPT
- Radiographic Testing or RT
- Ultrasonic Testing or UT
- Film Radiography or FR
- Vibration Analysis or VA
- Visual Inspection or VI
- Straight Beam
Advanced methods are slightly more difficult to understand as they are emerging technologies and may have certain limitations as they lack technician qualification criteria and no industry codification.
As far as advanced techniques are concerned, only an expert technician can interpret the data, understand the setup and hence cater to such advanced NDT techniques.
Also, there are some methods, which can be further broken down into both conventional and advanced techniques. Like if you consider two forms of ultrasonic testing, for example, straight beam ultrasonic testing (UT) which is a conventional technique used in simple applications and then there is phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) which can be regarded as an advanced UT technique.
Advantages of Non-destructive Training over Destructive Training
There is no doubt that NDT boasts of a myriad of advantages over destructive testing. We must first focus on the testing equipment of NDT testing which is often portable and can be performed more than once on a single component.
The component can then be evaluated minutely both externally and internally for any kind of flaws which may prove to be detrimental to the component.
The only disadvantage of NDT is that the results are more qualitative and can be repeated and interpreted differently with varying results by various inspectors.
The Various Industry Applications of NDT
NDT inspections are a part of a number of industries and that includes the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, along with other industries such as automotive, chemicals, aerospace, and defense. So, the only way to detect and reduce flaws is by including NDT tests.
Some Considerations before Undergoing an NDT Testing
When you plan an NDT inspection, there are four considerations that you must keep in mind,
- The different types of damage mechanism which has to be inspected for.
- The orientation of the defect along with the shape and size of the flaw.
- The location of the defect and whether it is external or internal.
- The various limitations of the NDT method