About NDT
Non-destructive Testing (NDT) consists of a variety of non-invasive inspection techniques used to evaluate material properties, components, or entire process units. The techniques can also be utilized to detect, characterize, or measure the presence of damage mechanisms (e.g. corrosion or cracks). NDT is also commonly referred to as nondestructive examination (NDE), non-destructive evaluation (NDE), and non-destructive inspection (NDI).
Many NDT techniques are capable of locating defects and determining the features of the defects such as size, shape, and orientation. The purpose of NDT is to inspect a component in a safe, reliable, and cost-effective manner without causing damage to the equipment or shutting down plant operations. This is in contrast to destructive testing where the part being tested is damaged or destroyed during the inspection process.
Non-destructive Testing (NDT) can be performed during or after manufacture, or even on equipment that is in service. In manufacturing, NDT inspections determine if parts are fit for the desired function. In other words, parts are inspected to ensure they will last a certain amount of time or cycles before failure. During operation, NDT inspections can be used to assess the current damage state of equipment, monitor damage mechanisms, and make informed decisions for remaining equipment life evaluations.
Background
Non-destructive testing/inspection(NDT/NDI) is a wide group of testing and analysis techniques used by industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component, structure or system for characteristic differences or welding defects and discontinuities without causing damage to the original part.
Non-destructive testing methods are techniques that do not cause damage to the material being inspected, providing rapid delivery of robust results for preventive or corrective actions. For industrial plants, non-destructive testing methods are used for components in plant, vessel and pipeline construction, as well as cast and forged components, and pole and pipe systems.
Non-destructive testing is critical in ensuring plant reliability, safety and conformance to legislative requirements. It also helps to improve your plant’s operational availability by recognizing weaknesses before they result in unscheduled downtime. As non-destructive testing methods do not cause damage to components and systems, they offer advantages in terms of safety and cost effectiveness.
Applications
Our non-destructive testing (NDT) products, equipment and services are utilized across all industry sectors such as:
- Railroad and transportation
- Aerospace (MRO and MFG)
- Militarily and air-force
- Automotive (car safety part and component, electrical-car critical part and component)
- Heavy-motor
- Oil and gas
- Power-generation (wind-power)
- Medical
- 3D scanning and printing and imaging
- Marine
- Training and third party
It includes inspection of both metallic and non-metallic (polymer and composite) components and structures.