NONDESTRUCTIVE

EVALUATION
• VISUAL INSPECTION
• LIQUID PENETRANT INSPECTION
• MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION
• ULTRASONIC INSPECTION
• EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION
• RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION
• THERMOGRAPHIC INSPECTION
VISUAL INSPECTION
PRINCIPLES
• VISUAL INSPECTION DEFINED
AS THE PROCESS OF USING
THE EYE, ALONE OR IN
CONJUNCTION WITH
VARIOUS AIDS (i,e., LIGHTS,
MIRRORS, AND MAGNIFYING
GLASSES) AS THE SENSING
MECHANISM FROM WHICH
JUDGMENTS MAY BE MADE
ABOUT THE CONDITION OF A
UNIT BEING INSPECTED.

• OTHER SENSES, SUCH AS

TOUCH AND SMELL, MAY BE
USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH
VISUAL INSPECTION.
APPLICATION

• PROVIDES AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT

OF THE CONDITION OF A STRUCTURE,
COMPONENT, OR SYSTEM.

• PROVIDES EARLY DETECTION OF

DEFECTS BEFORE THEY REACH
CRITICAL SIZE.

• OBTAINS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT

THE CONDITION OF THE COMPONENT
SHOWING EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT.
KEY ELEMENTS

• INSPECTOR MUST BE
TRAINED AND POSSESS
BINOCULAR VISION WITH
GOOD ACUITY.

• A PROCEDURE MUST BE
USED WHICH DEFINES
DETAILS OF THE
INSPECTION.

• ILLUMINATION AND
LIGHTING ARE CRUCIAL
TO ALL FORMS OF
VISUAL INSPECTION AND
CAN VASTLY AFFECT
THE INSPECTION
OUTCOME.
ADVANTAGES
 
• INSPECTION PERFORMED RAPIDLY AND AT
LOW COST.

• ABILITY TO INSPECT COMPLEX SIZES AND

SHAPES OF ALL MATERIAL TYPES.

• MINIMUM PART PREPARATION.

LIMITATIONS
 
• INSPECTION PERFORMED RAPIDLY AND AT
LOW COST.

• ABILITY TO INSPECT COMPLEX SIZES AND

SHAPES OF ALL MATERIAL TYPES.

• MINIMUM PART PREPARATION.

LIQUID PENETRANT INSPECTION
PRINCIPLES

• LIQUID PENETRANT IS
APPLIED TO PRE-
CLEANED SURFACE AND
IS DRAWN INTO DEFECT
BY CAPILLARY ACTION.

• PENETRANT IS REMOVED
FROM SURFACE, BUT
REMAINS IN DEFECT.

• DEVELOPER ACTS AS A
BLOTTER TO DRAW
PENETRANT OUT OF
FLAW AND PROVIDE
CONTRAST TO ENHANCE
DETECTION.
 APPLICATION

• USED TO REVEAL SURFACE BREAKING

CRACKS IN SOLID, NONPOROUS MATERIALS

• PROVIDES RELIABLE DETECTION OF FATIGUE

CRACKS WHICH OCCUR DURING THE SERVICE
LIFE OF A MATERIAL.
KEY ELEMENTS
• PRE-CLEANING IS CRITICAL.

• DEFECT MUST BE SURFACE BREAKING AND

VISIBLY ACCESSIBLE.

• CARE MUST BE TAKEN IN REMOVING EXCESS

PENETRANT.

• PROPER USE OF LIGHT TYPE AND INTENSITY IS

IMPORTANT.

• POST-CLEANING IS NECESSARY.
ADVANTAGES • SENSITIVE TO SMALL
CRACKS AND DEFECTS

• INSPECTIONS PERFORMED
RAPIDLY AND AT LOW COST.

• PORTABLE EQUIPMENT.

• INSPECTS COMPLEX SIZES

AND SHAPES OF MOST
MATERIALS.

• INDICATIONS ARE
PRODUCED DIRECTLY ON
THE SURFACE OF THE PART
AND CONSTITUTE A VISUAL
IMAGE OF THE
DISCONTINUITY.
 LIMITATION
S

• ONLY DEFECTS SURFACE BREAKING CRACKS

OR FLAWS.

• REQUIRES RELATIVELY SMOOTH SURFACE

AND NONPOROUS MATERIAL.

• THIN COATINGS OF PAINT OR OTHER

COATINGS ADVERSELY AFFECT SENSITIVITY.

• PRE AND POST CLEANING IS NECESSARY

• SENSITIVITY DEPENDS ON THE PROCESS

CHOSEN – POST-EMULSIFIABLE METHOD IS
THE MOST SENSITIVE.
MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION
PRINCIPLES

•A MAGNETIC FIELD IS INTRODUCED

INTO THE PART USING A CENTRAL
CONDUCTOR OR COIL.

•PARTICLES ARE SPRINKLED INTO OR

FLOW OVER THE SPECIMEN SURFACE.

•MAGNETIC PARTICLES ARE ATTRACTED

TO LEAKING MAGNETIC FLUX AT FLUX
LINES FORCES OUT OF THE PART BY
CRACKS OR NEAR SUBSURFACE FLAWS.

•GROUPS OF PARTICLES FORM

INDICATIONS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE
INSPECTOR.
 • USED TO FIND
SURFACE AND NEAR
APPLICATION SURFACE DEFECTS IN
FERROMAGNETIC
MATERIALS, i.e.,
MATERIALS THAT CAN
BE MAGNETIZED.

• DETECTS BOTH
PRODUCTION
DISCONTINUITIES
(SEAMS, LAPS, AND
QUENCHING AND
GRINDING CRACKS,
ETC.) AND IN SERVICE
FATIGUE CRACKS.
 KEY ELEMENTS

• COMPONENT MUST BE FERROMAGNETIC

STRENGTH OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD MUST
BE ADEQUATE FOR THE PART BEING
INSPECTED.

• PROPER USE OF LIGHT TYPE AND INTENSITY

IS NECESSARY.
ADVANTAGES

• SENSITIVE TO SMALL
CRACKS AND
DISCONTINUITIES.
• PERFORMED RAPIDLY
AND AT LOW COST
• INDICATIONS
PRODUCED DIRECTLY
ON THE SURFACE.
 LIMITATIONS

• INSPECTIONS ONLY FERROMAGNETIC

MATERIALS
• DEMAGNETIZATION GENERALLY
REQUIRED.
• ALIGNMENT OF MAGNETIC FIELD AND
DEFECT CRITICAL.
• RELATIVELY SMOOTH SURFACE REQUIRED
• COATINGS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT
SENSITIVITY.
• PRE AND POST CLEANING IS NECESSARY
ULTRASONIC INSPECTION
PRINCIPLES
• HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND WAVES
ARE TRANSMITTED INTO THE PART
TO INTERROGATE THE MATERIAL
USING TRANSDUCERS WHICH
CHANGE ELECTRICAL SIGNALS
INTO MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
AND VICE VERSA.
• COUPLANT IS REQUIRED FOR
TRANSMISSION FROM
TRANSDUCER INTO AND OUT OF
THE PART.
• SOUND WAVES TRAVEL THROUGH
MATERIAL AND ARE RECEIVED BY
THE SAME OR DIFFERENT
TRANSDUCER
• ULTRASONIC INSPECTION LOOKS
FOR INTERACTION BETWEEN
SOUND AND DISCRETE
REFLECTORS IN THE MATERIAL
THROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE INPUT
AND OUTPUT SIGNALS.
APPLICATION

LOCATES SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE

DEFECTS IN MOST MATERIALS.

DETECTS VOIDS, CRACKS, INCLUSIONS, AND

OTHER MATERIAL ANOMALIES INCLUDING
DEBONDS.

MEASURES THICKNESS.
KEY ELEMENTS

INVOLVES PULSE-ECHO AND PITCH-CATCH

TECHNIQUES IN EITHER CONTACT OR
IMMERSION.

GENERATION OF VARIOUS WAVE TYPES

(e.g., LONGITUDINAL, SHEAR, REFRACTED)
REQUIRES CAREFUL INSPECTION DESIGN.

GENERATION OF VARIOUS WAVE TYPES

(e.g., LONGITUDINAL, SHEAR, REFRACTED)
REQUIRES CAREFUL INSPECTION DESIGN.
ADVANTAGES

• HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO SMALL

CRACKS AND DEFECTS.
• SUPERIOR PENETRATING POWER
FOR SUBSURFACE DEFECT
DETECTION.
• LOW COST, RAPID INSPECTION.
• PORTABLE EQUIPMENT THAT
PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RESULTS.
• INSPECTS COMPLEX SIZES AND
SHAPES
• ONLY SINGLE-SIDED ACCESS IS
REQUIRED.
• MINIMUM PART PREPARATION.
• INSPECTION IS EASILY
AUTOMATED
 LIMITATIONS

SURFACE MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO

TRANSDUCER.

COUPLANT IS REQUIRED

EXTENSIVE SKILL AND TRAINING REQUIRED

SURFACE FINISH AND SURFACE ROUGHNESS CAN

INTERFERE WITH INSPECTION

THIN PARTS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO INSPECT.

EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION
PRINCIPLES

•ALTERNATING ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS

PASSED THROUGH A COIL OF WIRE OR
PROBE PRODUCING A MAGNETIC FIELD
IN THE CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL BELOW.

•THE CHANGING MAGNETIC FIELD

INDUCES CURRENT FLOW IN THE PART
BEING INSPECTED PRODUCING
CURRENTS WHICH TRAVEL IN CLOSED
LOOPS AND ARE CALLED EDDY
CURRENTS.

•EDDY CURRENTS PRODUCE THEIR OWN

MAGNETIC FIELD WHICH CAN BE
MEASURED AND USED TO FIND FLAWS
AND CHARACTERIZE CONDUCTIVITY,
PERMEABILITY, AND DIMENSIONAL
FEATURES.
APPLICATION

• LOCATES SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE

DEFECTS IN CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS,
BOTH FERROMAGNETIC AND
NONFERROMAGNETIC.

• CORROSION AND THICKNESS

VERIFICATION.

• MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION.

• HEAT TREATMENT VERIFICATION.

KEY ELEMENTS

COIL DESIGN WHICH INCLUDES FREQUENCY

AND IMPEDANCE OF THE PROBE MUST BE
CONSIDERED.

LIFT-OFF CHANGES THE SIGNAL WITH SPACING

BETWEEN THE COIL AND THE PART.

EDGE EFFECT CAN DISTORT EDDY CURRENTS.

ADVANTAGES
• SENSITIVE TO SMALL
CRACKS AND DEFECTS.
• DETECTS SURFACE AND
NEAR SURFACE DEFECTS.
• PERFORMED RAPIDLY AND
AT LOW COST.
• PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
GIVES IMMEDIATE
RESULTS.
• INSPECTS COMPLEX SIZES
AND SHAPES OF
CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL.
• RECORDING DEVICES
ALLOW PERMANENT
RECORDS.
• MINIMUM PART
PREPARATION REQUIERD.
 LIMITATIONS
INSPECTS ONLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS THROUGH
ACCESSIBLE SURFACE.

MUCH SKILL AND TRAINING REQUIRED.

SURFACE FINISH AND ROUGHNESS MAY INTERFERE

WITH TEST.

REFERENCE STANDARDS NEEDED.

DEPTH OF PENETRATION IS LIMITED.

EDGE EFFECTS CAN LIMIT INSPECTION.

OFTEN INVOLVES TIME-CONSUMING, POINT-TO-POINT
MEASUREMENT.
RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION

PRINCIPLES
• AN X-RAY SOURCE IS USED
TO PENETRATE INSPECTION
OBJECT WITH A KNOWN
ENERGY LEVEL AND
INSPECTION TIME.
• FILM OR REAL TIME DIGITAL
DEVICES ARE USED TO
DETECT THE X-RAY ENERGY
THAT PENETRATES
THROUGH THE PART
REVEALING DIFFERENCES
IN MATERIAL DENSITY OR
THICKNESS CHANGES
APPLICATION

USED TO LOCATE SUBSURFACE DEFECTS IN MST

MATERIAL TYPES.

USED TO CHECK ALIGNMENT IN BOTH AIRFRAME

AND ENGINES.

DETECT POROSITY AND INCLUSIONS IN CASTINGS

KEY ELEMENTS

• PROPER FILM HANDLING REQUIRED.

• PLACEMENT OF FILM AND DISTANCE BETWEEN

SOURCE AND FILM SHOULD BE CONTROLLED

• ORIENTATION OF SOURCE TO CRACK ANGLE IS

CRITICAL.

• PRESENTS RADIATION HAZARDS THAT

REQUIRE COMPLIANCE TO OTHER GUIDELINES.
 • DETECTS SURFACE AND
SUBSURFACE FLAWS
ADVANTAGES
• DETECTS CORROSION,
VOIDS, AND VARIATION IN
THICKNESS AND DENSITY.
• CAN BE USED TO INSPECT
MOST MATERIALS
• PERMANENT RECORD OF
RAW INSPECTION DATA.
• ABILITY TO INSPECT
MULTILAYERED STRUCTURE
WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING.
• MINIMUM PREPARATION
REQUIRED.
• INSPECTS COMPLEX
SHAPES.
 LIMITATIONS
• SIGNIFICANT OPERATOR TRAINING AND SKILL
REQUIRED.

• DEFUELING OF AIRCRAFT OR EVACUATION OF

INSPECTION AREA MAY BE REQUIRED.

• INSPECTION ORIENTATION IS CRITICAL LEADING TO

DIFFICULTY FOR SOME FLAW TYPES.

• ACCESS TO BOTH SIDES OF PART IS REQUIRED.

• INDICATION OF FLAW DEPTH REQUIRES MULTIPLE

EXPOSURES.

• INSPECTION OF THICK SECTIONS CAN BE TIME-

CONSUMING.
THERMOGRAPHIC INSPECTION
PRINCIPLES

• AN INFRARED CAMERA IS USED TO

MONITOR THE TEMPERATURE
BEHAVIOR OF THE PART SURFACE
(THE PART SURFACE IS OFTEN
HEATED USING FLASH LAMPS)

• ANOMALIES IN THE PART WILL

AFFECT HEAT FLOW AND THE
SURFACE TEMPERATURE, WHICH IS
CAPTURED BY THE INFRARED
CAMERA AND DIGITALLY RECORDED.

• THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE DATA

IS OFTEN VISUALIZED AS PSEUDO-
COLOR OR GRAYSCALE IMAGES
WHICH ASSIST WITH DATA
INTERPRETATION.
 APPLICATION

• OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE CONDITION OF

A STRUCTURE, COMPONENT, OR SYSTEM IN
PRODUCTION, FABRICATION, AND IN SERVICE
FOR METALLIC AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS.

• DETECTION OF DISBONDS, DELAMINATIONS,

IMPACT DAMAGE, CORROSION, MOISTURE
INCURSION.
KEY ELEMENTS

• REQUIRES ACCESS TO THE PART

SURFACE.

• REFLECTIVE SURFACES MAY REQUIRE

PAINT APPLICATION.
ADVANTAGES

• INSPECTION
PERFORMED RAPIDLY
OVER A LARGE AREA.

• INSPECTS COMPLEX
SIZES AND SHAPES.

• DIGITAL DATA ALLOWS

ANALYSIS AS A
FUNCTION OF DEPTH.
LIMITATIONS

SURFACE MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO INSPECTOR OR

EQUIPMENT.

SKILL AND TRAINING ARE NECESSARY AND

ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES SHOULD BE
FOLLOWED.

SURFACE FINISH AND SURFACE ROUGHNESS CAN

INTERFERE WITH TEST SENSITIVITY.
THANKS
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