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Non-Destructive Evaluation/Testing - NDE/NDT
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Thermoelastic
Stress Analysis (TSA)
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The process of nondestructive
testing determines the existence of flaws,
discontinuities, leaks, contamination, thermal
anomalies, or imperfections in materials,
components or assemblies without impairing
the integrity or function of the inspected
component. NDE is also utilized for real-time
monitoring during manufacturing, measurement
of physical properties such as hardness
and internal stress, inspection of assemblies
for tolerances, alignment, and periodic
in-service monitoring of flaw/damage growth
in order to determine the maintenance requirements
and to assure the reliability and continued
safe operation of the part.
Nondestructive
evaluation (NDE) is becoming increasingly
important to the design-through-manufacture
process. The cost of parts and components
is ever-increasing due to the corresponding
costs of material and labor. Consequently,
emphasis is being placed on use of NDE early
in the design
and fabrication process.
Often components are too costly to permit
the luxury of destructively testing a number
of them to demonstrate their design goals.
Environmental and liability concerns are
also resulting in increased use of NDE.
NDT is a
Quality Assurance management tool which
can give impressive results when used correctly.
It requires an understanding of the capabilities
and limitations of the various methods available
and knowledge of the relevant standards
and specifications for performing the tests.
Materials, products and equipment which
fail to achieve their design requirements
or projected life due to undetected defects
may require expensive repair or early replacement
Such defects may also be the cause of unsafe
conditions or catastrophic failure, as well
as loss of revenue due to unplanned plant
shutdown.
NDT technology
is constantly being improved and new methods
developed, particularly in an effort to
keep pace with the development of new materials
(i.e. composites) and applications. Advances
in the use of lasers and imaging technology
(including video, holography and thermography)
have made non contact NDT more viable in
many situations. Optical fibers and new
piezo-electric materials are allowing the
creation of intelligent materials and structures
which can not only monitor themselves but
may even respond to their environment. Computer
advances have allowed signal processing
techniques and expert systems to be used
which enhances the quality of the information
obtained using traditional and new NDT methods.
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