Evaluation of component integrity by non-destructive testing

Non–destructive methods achieve an ever–increasing role in the inspection of structural components. However, restricting NDT to its classical domain, the detection of flaws, one takes only limited advantage of its possibilities. Non–destructive testing pro– vides the ability to differentiate different structures of materials or to measure internal and induced stresses, thus providing data for the calculation of reliability and potential lifetime. To reach this goal, NDT data must be combined with results of destructive testing. Here, a closer monitoring of fast processes like crack propagation, especially under an impact load, may provide a better understanding of materials behaviour. Again, inertia–free NDT methods with high time–resolution are especially suited to the task. The potentials of NDT are further increased by the development of automatic data acquisition and processing. Computerization provides highly discriminative evaluation methods, as cross–correlation or cluster analysis. To demonstrate the potentials of NDT, a variety of examples will be presented, including fast sensitive tests which allow a more accurate localization and appropriate description of flaws, structures and stresses by different optical, electromagnetic, radiographic and acoustic methods.