Tips for Choosing Affordable Non-Destructive Testing Methods

Industry is familiar with many methods of Non-Destructive Testing, including methods that involve testing structural materials. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is used to determine whether the item under examination is satisfactory. There are many methods of NDT from Radiography (x-ray or gamma ray) to Magnetic Particle Testing and Liquid Dye Penetration testing.

In addition to NDT for structural integrity, other materials are subject to other, more sophisticated, methods. NDT is used in medicine and in art.

Structural welding for buildings, airplanes and machines is often radio graphed. In this type of NDT a gamma ray or x-ray camera, also called a source, is used to expose film on the back side of a weld being examined. The x-rays pass through the welded material and expose the film. If there are light spots on the film, it is an indication of a weld weakness and the weld is marked, the poor materials are ground out and re-welded.

In liquid penetrant inspection testing, a special dye is sprayed onto the metal. If there is a crack, the liquid fills the crack and it can be seen with the naked eye. This type of weld imperfection is not visible without the use of the dye. In magnetic particle testing, iron filings are placed on the metal and subjected to a magnetic field. If there is an imperfection in the metal, the particles will not line up smoothly and this indicates an imperfection. The imperfections are then ground out and replaced.

The advantage of NDT is that it does not destroy or damage the item when tested. Many elements of non-destructive testing are quite sophisticated. For example, in x-ray radiography of welds, a technician will use the camera and expose the film, but, in many cases, this technician is not qualified to read the results. A higher level of technical person examines the exposed film and, based upon his training, determines whether the little imperfections on the film are the result of poor welding, or some other matter. Usually the imperfections are ground out, re-welded, and x-rayed a second time. The new x-ray films are read and the technician determines if the weld passes or fails.

Similar quality control techniques are used in the other NDT methods, Magnetic Particle or Dye Penetrant testing. The processes of approval are quite sophisticated. Engineers can spend their entire career in one area of NDT alone. Training is required to perform the tests, and training and certifications are required to read and evaluate the results. Non-Destructive Testing is a complex and interesting field of study and is used by industry to assure that materials are adequate for the job that is intended.

Author Bio:

The author of this article has in-depth knowledge about Non-Destructive evaluation applications. In this article, she has discussed some of the application in which this inspection procedure is used.

The author of this article suggests that greens drainage system could be the best possible option to make the golf course durable and healthy.