Inspection techniques and procedures
Inspection techniques and procedures
This is the main portal of the Nondestructive Test (NDT) Online Community. The site is well organised and divided in different subsections without the use of frames. On the left side of the opening page the site contents are listed,together with the links to affiliated communities. The central part of the Web page puts more emphasis on the NDT Community features, such as newsletters,mailing lists, discussion boards and advertisements. The right part of the Web page deals with URL links to the single discussion boards (acoustic emission,resonance, electromagnetic testing etc.) and to new software available for NDT applications. The lower part of the page is filled with URL to jobs, vendors,advertisements, news and further links to NDT Associations or R&D Centres. Being a Community site, the visitor can add information clicking an "Add an item" button on the left side of the page. Not all the discussion boards are posted, but useful information about some current state-of-the-art of the NDT landscape can be retrieved through the newsletters or mailing list. Through the market place it is also possible to put some request for a quotation for any non-destructive test project. Although non-exhaustive, the site can be a good start to seek information on inspection techniques and related activities.
This is a part of the Open Directory Project to build up a large directory of Web sites in different categories, based on volunteer aid of Net navigators. The page is simply a directory list, but quite comprehensive and exhaustive. A good portal to seek information about important companies and SMEs involved in inspection and evaluation activities.
A comprehensive review on NDT techniques used in aerospace structures. The paper by Hervé Tretout from Dassault Aviation illustrates different aspects of acoustical interferometry: laser based ultrasounds, acoustical microscopy, AU techniques and in situ measurements for process control. The paper is illustrated with several pictures. The Web page is hosted by Ndt.net, a remarkable source of information on the Internet from the NDT community.
This is a permitted reprint of the cover story from the May 1997 issue of Optics and Photonics News, written by Dr David M. Pepper, Senior Research Scientist at HRL. The article deals with in-process inspections of industrial components using laser ultrasonics with adaptive photodetectors, real time pattern recognition and classification, together with other laser techniques for material processing. The text of the Web page contains a historical introduction to laser techniques, non-linear optics and state-of-the-art applications on laser based ultrasound (LBU) techniques. The Web page containing the article is very simple, with several pictures illustrating experimental set-ups, results and equipment. Although published three years ago, the paper still gives a broad introduction to advanced laser techniques for inspection in aerospace applications, with an accessible language to technical people with general background.
This is the home page of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing(BINDT). The site Web page is partitioned in two frames with scroll bars. Information contained range from BINDT mission to incoming events and conferences. Very useful are the pages related to certification, standards in NDT practice and condition management for structural integrity. Technical details can be also downloaded in PDF files. Many links related to companies,research and educational organisations are provided. A very precious resource on the Net for people seeking information about inspection techniques.
Home of the National Assurance Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center. The centre is operated by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque with the participation of 14 US universities, and provides a focal point for the FAA's Ageing Aircraft Research Programme. The framed site gives information related to the Sample Defect Library (SDL) initiative, test facilities and list of references and publications, together with the names of the technical contacts.
The site contains the final report (DOT/FAA/AR-97/69) published by the Federal Aviation Administration and written by C.J. Alberts et al. The paper describes the development of a robotic system designed to assist inspectors by deploying in remote control non-destructive sensors and acquiring inspection data. A very interesting article for a cutting-edge topic. Being a.pdf file, Acrobat Reader is needed to read the paper.
Another Web page containing an important FAA report. It describes the technical details of the methodology used in the static and damage tolerance modules of the repair assessment procedure and integrated design (RAPID)program. The code is extremely useful in order to predict crack growth, residual strength and the calculation of inspection threshold and interval. The paper illustrates also methods developed in damage tolerance of common repairs, such as repairs near stiffeners, over splice joints etc. A highly recommended document for technical people and engineering students.
This is the page of the Flight Standards Service Aviation Safety Inspector's Handbooks and Bulletins of the FAA. It simply allows reading the.pdf files containing the FAA Airworthiness Inspector's Handbook and documents related to Aviation Safety Management. The page is a part of the large Web site of the FAA Flight Standards Service (http://www.faa.gov/avr/afshome.htm). The site provides many links to aviation safety information and many sites from the FAA and US Government aviation bodies. The navigation through this Web site is pretty straightforward, albeit a little slow.
This is the home page of the Non-destructive Evaluation Department within the Structures, Materials and Propulsion Laboratory of the Institute of Aerospace Research (IRA) of Canada. The site provides a list with pictures of available facilities and expertise of the IRA in the NDT domain. Quite interesting are the paragraph related to the air-coupled ultrasonics with pictures related to aluminium and composite panels, and the part related to the nanoprobe technique.
The Web site of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has a wide collection of technical reports and WebPages related to ISO and other standards for inspection on aerospace components, together with information on NDT techniques. In the left part of the home page there is a link over Aerospace in Topics Area zone. The Search facility button allows one also to find the documents using predefined or Boolean search.
The Center for Aerospace Safety Education (CASE), hosted by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, provides an extremely useful online library with accidents reports. Upcoming events and seminars related to aviation safety are broadcast. The site is well organised, with the possibility of loading a reduced graphic version for "slow" systems or when the Net is in congestion.
This is the English version of the homepage of the Fraunhofer Institute of Nondestructive Testing (IZFP). The Institute has an internationally recognised R&D activity in the NDT field. The Web page is graphically well designed, and the browsing is agile and clear. Apart from information on current research activities (tomography, acoustical diagnostics and radiography) there is an extensive list of publications from researchers of the Institute, together with news and upcoming events. Unfortunately, there are no papers downloadable.
Home page of the Canadian Society for Non-Destructive Testing. Another national gateway for an NDT non-profit organisation. The site contains links and information about membership, scholarships, surveys and job search (for members). Technical informations are distributed through the journal of the society.
The site of the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) has an attractive graphic design. It provides URL by buttons to the marketplace,certification, publications and membership, together with information on events and local sections. There is also a quick search button. Publications and reports can be purchased online through shopping baskets. Unfortunately, not many technical informations are available free at this site.
The site gives a really outstanding introduction to ultrasonic testing (UT). The Web site is managed by the Center of Nondestructive Evaluation of the Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The site contains a table of contents with several URL links to introduction concepts, basic physics of acoustic, equipment, piezo and EMAT transducers, testing techniques and an extremely useful table of material properties. The site offers an easy navigation, like a proper textbook. The topics are clearly explained and accessible to all technical people. The different chapters have also Java applets to illustrate the physics of waves and sensors. A reference list of additional introductory and seminal books and papers is also given. Definitely one of the best information sources in the Net for beginners and novices in NDT techniques.
