Methods and techniques

NDT is divided into various methods of nondestructive testing, each based on a particular scientific principle. These methods may be further subdivided into various techniques. The various methods and techniques, due to their particular natures, may lend themselves especially well to certain applications and be of little or no value at all in other applications. Therefore choosing the right method and technique is an important part of the performance of NDT.

• Acoustic emission testing (AE or AT)
• Blue Etch Anodize (BEA)
• Dye penetrant inspection Liquid penetrant testing (PT or LPI)
• Electromagnetic testing (ET)
  • Alternating current field measurement (ACFM)
  • Alternating current potential drop measurement (ACPD)
  • Barkhausen testing
  • Direct current potential drop measurement (DCPD)
  • Eddy-current testing (ECT)
  • Magnetic flux leakage testing (MFL) for pipelines, tank floors, and wire rope
  • Magnetic-particle inspection (MT or MPI)
  • Remote field testing (RFT)
• Ellipsometry
• Guided wave testing (GWT)
• Hardness testing
• Impulse excitation technique (IET)
• Infrared and thermal testing (IR)
  • Thermographic inspection
• Laser testing
  • Electronic speckle pattern interferometry
  • Holographic interferometry
  • Low coherence interferometry
  • Profilometry
  • Shearography
• Leak testing (LT) or Leak detection
  • Absolute pressure leak testing (pressure change)
  • Bubble testing
  • Halogen diode leak testing
  • Hydrogen leak testing
  • Mass spectrometer leak testing
  • Tracer-gas leak testing method Helium, Hydrogen and refrigerant gases
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NMR spectroscopy
• Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)
• Optical microscopy
• Positive Material Identification (PMI)
• Radiographic testing (RT) (see also Industrial radiography and Radiography)
  • Computed radiography
  • Digital radiography (real-time)
  • Neutron radiographic testing (NR)
  • SCAR (Small Controlled Area Radiography)
  • X-ray computed tomography (CT)
• Scanning electron microscopy
• Surface Temper Etch (Nital Etch)
• Ultrasonic testing (UT)
  • ART (Acoustic Resonance Technology)
  • Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) (non-contact)
  • Laser ultrasonics (LUT)
  • Internal rotary inspection system (IRIS) ultrasonics for tubes
  • Phased array ultrasonics
  • Time of flight diffraction ultrasonics (TOFD)
  • Time of Flight Ultrasonic Determination of 3D Elastic Constants (TOF)
• Vibration Analysis
• Visual inspection (VT)
  • Pipeline video inspection
• Corroscan/C-scan
• IRIS – Internal Rotary Inspection System
• 3D Computed Tomography
  • Industrial CT Scanning
• Heat Exchanger Life Assessment System
• RTJ Flange Special Ultrasonic Testing