Non Destructive Examination

(NDE)
 Non Destructive Examination
(NDE)

• Non Destructive Examination is the act of

evaluating a welded component (or material to
be welded) without affecting the serviceability
of the part or material.
 NDE

• All Welds have flaws.

• Another name for a flaw is a discontinuity
• Discontinuities are interruptions in the
normal crystalline structure (or grain) of
the metal.
• Discontinuities are NOT always defects
 NDE

• The purpose of welding inspections is to

locate and determine the size of any
discontinuities
• Discontinuities that are to large or repeat
too often within the weld become defects
• Defects will compromise the welds overall
strength
 What are some common defects?
• Porosity
• Undercutting
• Rollover or “Cold Lap”
• Slag inclusion
• Poor penetration
• Voids
• Hydrogen Embrittlement
Typical faults in a finished weld.
How would you find these faults ?

Non Destructive Examination

NDE
Common methods used in NDE

• Visual Inspection (VT)

• Magnetic Particle Inspection (MT)
• Liquid (Dye) Penetrant Inspection (PT)
• X-Ray inspection (RT)
• Ultrasonic testing (UT)
• Air or water pressure testing (LT)
 Visual Inspection (VT)
• Visual is the most common inspection
method
• VT reveals spatter, excessive buildup,
incomplete slag removal, cracks, heat
distortion, undercutting, & poor penetration
• Typical tools for VT consist of Fillet gauges
Magnifying glasses, Flashlights, & Tape
measures or calipers.
Visual Inspection (VT)
• Fillet gauges measure
– The “Legs”of the weld
– Convexity
• (weld rounded outward)
– Concavity
• (weld rounded inward)
– Flatness
 Magnetic Particle Inspection
(MT)
• Magnetic Particle Inspection (commonly referred to
as Magnaflux testing) is only effective at checking
for flaws located at or near the surface.
• MT uses a metallic power or liquid along with
strong magnetic field probes to locate flaws.
(Particles will align along voids)
• MT can only be used on materials that can be
magnetized
 Liquid (Dye) Penetrant
Inspection (PT)
• Liquid penetrant inspection uses colored or
fluorescent dye to check for surface flaws.
• PT will not show sub-surface flaws.
• PT can be used on both metallic and non
metallic surfaces such as ceramic, glass,
plastic, and metal.
• PT dose not require the part to be Magnetized.
 X-Ray inspection (RT)
• Welds may be checked for internal discontinuities
my means of X- Rays
• An X-Ray is a wave of energy that will pass through
most materials and develop the negative image of
what it passes through on film.
• A Radiograph ( X-Ray picture) is a permanent
record of a weld used for quality inspection purposes
• RT inspections can reveal flaws deep within a
component
 Ultrasonic testing (UT)
• Ultrasonic testing (UT) is a method of determining
the size and location of discontinuities within a
component using high frequency sound waves.
• Sound waves are sent through a transducer into the
material and the shift in time require for their
return or echo is plotted.
• Ultrasonic waves will not travel through air
therefore flaws will alter the echo pattern.
 Air or water pressure testing
(LT)
• Pressure testing or leak testing can be
performed with either gasses or liquids.
• Voids that allow gasses or liquids to escape
from the component can be classified as
gross (large) or fine leaks.
• Extremely small gas leaks measured in PPM
(parts per million) require a “Mass Spectrometer”
to Sniff for tracer gases
 Quiz time

• True or False ?

• Dye penetrate inspections can only be used

on non magnetic material.

• Answer: False
 Quiz time

• True or False ?

• X-Rays can only be used to locate flaws at

or near the surface of a weld.

• Answer: False
 Quiz time

• True or False ?

• Virtually all welds have flaws.

• Answer: True
 Quiz time

• True or False ?

• Magnetic particle testing can only detect

flaws at or near the surface.

• Answer: True
 Quiz time

• True or False ?

• Magnet particle testing can only be done on

materials that can be magnetized.
• Answer: True
 Quiz time

• The letters NDE Mean ___________ ?

A: nondestructive inspection
B: nondestructive evaluation
C: nondisruptive evaluation
D: nondestructive examination
 Quiz time
• The method most often used to check for leaks as
small as one part per million (PPM) from a gas
line or cylinder is the _________ Method ?
A: hydrostatic
B: mass spectrometer
C: soap suds bubble
D: scleroscope
 Modern Welding
York County School of Technology