When you have any construction projects going on that require welding and fabrications, you need to have a welding inspector on-site. Our NDT and certified welding inspectors are AWS QC1 and ASNT SNT-TC-1A certified and have the relevant training to verify the work is in conformance to the applicable code.
Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) is a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that, as the name implies, employs a magnetic field to detect surface and subsurface irregularities in ferromagnetic materials.
When a magnetic field is applied to the target sample, the piece can then be magnetized and any resultant irregularities in the material can be detected by the application of ferrous particles or ferrofluid and checking for areas where larger concentrations of the ferrous materials have gathered, thus indicating a deformity in the material.
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is another form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that employs ultrasonic waves which are transmitted into materials and samples to detect flaws such as cracks and tears and to measure thickness – an important measurement for welds, seams, and corrosion prevention in pipelines.
Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) refers to the use of UT technologies where the transducers and receivers are driven by a mechanical system that ensures consistent measurements as well as the ability to repeat the test over and over. One popular application of AUT is in pipeline inspection, where a system can be clamped around the outside of a pipe and then walked or piloted down the length of the pipe collecting data along the way for analysis.
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is a UT solution that employs a series of phased array probes that allow for the beam to be focused and swept without physically moving the probe – which allows for scanning in tighter locations where traditional single-element systems may not fit, or where motion is otherwise limited, thus resulting in a smaller scan size. PAUT is one of the best solutions for defect detection where time is of the essence, and scanner mobility is impaired or impossible while simultaneously increasing your Probability of Detection (POD).
Liquid Penetrant Testing (LPT) also known as Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) is another form of non-destructive testing that is used to detect surface defects in non-porous materials requires the application of a penetrating liquid, usually an emulsifier, which is then exposed to a developer which pulls the penetrating liquid out from any surface defect thus amplifying the presence of a defect through a concentration in the appearance of the penetrating liquid on the surface of the sample.
While inexpensive and relatively simple to deploy, LPT requires a clean surface, protective clothing, and proper ventilation, and results in a detection level only slightly higher than visual, with proper LPT training of the technician. One should also consider what methods are used in the cleaning of your target materials prior to LPT as some surface prep methods can interfere with the test thus skewing your results.
Visual Inspection, the first and oldest form of non-destructive testing (NDT), is that which is done with the naked eye as the primary scanning “tool” if you will. Modern visual inspection solutions augment the technician’s natural abilities by allowing them to inspect hard to reach or hard to see locations thanks to video borescopes, rigid and flexible borescopes, and even remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Many of these modern solutions also offer enhanced lighting, contrast, and other image transforms that aid in the detection of flaws, thus enhancing the technician’s vision while still relying on their expertise to make the determination of what is flawed and what is not.
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