Efficient Methods of Non Destructive Testing

Non Destructive Testing (NDT) with its efficiency to detect flaws in the various materials used in industrial machinery has made it an essential part of all industries more particularly, manufacturing. Nowadays industrial organizations make use of various NDT methods to find out the defects and then take corrective action to minimize the cost that would otherwise be incurred if some machinery fails due to some fault in the material or component.

In order to know how NDT helps organizations let us first understand it.Non Destructive Testing is basically the techniques by means of which the operational conditions of materials, structural components or systems are made known. It is done to detect any flaw or defect which can hinder the operations in a plant or industrial set-up. The advantage of using NDT is that it does not cause any harm to the material or object being tested and this is the reason behind its rapid acceptance by industries. One can also find the use of word NDE instead of NDT. NDE or Non Destructive Evaluation is more quantitative than NDT and along with finding the defect; it also provides the measurements such as its size, shape, orientation and some other physical characteristics.

Some common NDT methods are:

Eddy Current- The technique is used to detect surface and sub-surface flaws, test thickness and conductivity in conductive materials.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) - GPR is an effective NDT method that uses electromagnetic radiation to provide an image of the sub- surface and thus helps find voids, cracks and material defects. GPR is extensively used to locate active electrical lines, utility lines, testing of pavements and in rebar location.

Liquid Penetrant Testing – This method is used to detect defects in non porous materials in which a Penetrant solution is applied to the surface of the component. It locates cracks, voids and other surface breaking defects. Liquid Penetrant Testing is highly useful for inspecting large surface areas at low cost.

Magnetic Particle Testing- This method works on the principle of creating a magnetic lines of force or Magnaflux around the test object. Any distortion in the Magnaflux indicates the presence of defect. Magnetic Particle Testing is used to find surface and sub-surface flaws in Ferro-magnetic materials.

Benefits of using Non Destructive Testing:

• Increases the efficiency of industrial plants

• Effective in monitoring and controlling industrial processes

• Is helpful in product development

• Ensure safety

Thus NDT is a highly useful tool for industries that allows them to conduct the multiple operations without any obstruction by finding the shortcomings before they take a serious form thus preventing wastage of time, money and effort.