15. Nondestructive Testing (NDT)

Nondestructive testing (NDT) refers to the science and technology of non-invasive methods of testing, evaluation, and characterization of materials, components, or systems without impairing their performance and serviceability. It provides techniques to detect and characterize flaws in materials and structures and plays an important role in the prevention of failure. The terms nondestructive examination (NDE), nondestructive inspection (NDI), and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) are also commonly used to describe this technology. NDT is important for the in-service inspection of load-bearing structures whose failure could have catastrophic consequences. In most NDT methods some form of energy, such as optical, electromagnetic, radiation, acoustic, etc. is sent through the material and the response of the material is analyzed by sensors. Sensor development played an important role and led to increased sensitivity and reliability of NDT methods.