Supervisory Development Programme-I

(SDP-I)
Topic : Non Destructive Testing (NDT)
Faculty : Naveen Seth

L&T Heavy Engineering Divison

Hazira

Outline

What is NDT ?

Where is NDT used ?

When is NDT used ?

Types of Discontinuities.

Common NDT methods.

NDT in L&T

Questions & Answers

What is NDT ?
NDT- Non Destructive Testing
The use of noninvasive
techniques to determine
the integrity of a material,
component or structure or
quantitatively measure
some characteristic of
an object.i.e. Inspect or
measure without doing harm.

What is NDT ?

Contd..

The field of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) is a very

broad, interdisciplinary field that plays a critical role
in assuring that structural components and systems
perform their function in a reliable and cost effective
fashion. NDT technicians and engineers define and
implement tests that locate and characterize
material conditions and flaws that might otherwise
cause planes to crash, reactors to fail, trains to
derail, pipelines to burst, and a variety of less visible,
but equally troubling events.

What is NDT ?

Contd..

Because NDT allows inspection without interfering

with a product's final use, it provides an excellent
balance between quality control and costeffectiveness. Technology that is used in NDT is
similar to those used in the medical industry; yet,
typically nonliving objects are the subjects of the
inspections.

Where is NDT used ?

NDT is used where we need to ensure the
serviceability of a specimen. That may be the use of a
raw material such as a casting, the use of fabrication
such as welding, or the use of a finished part or
completed system. We apply NDT where we cannot
afford the cost of a failure of the specimen because
failure would be financially unacceptable or cause
harm to us.

When is NDT used ?

NDT is used both before and after production of raw
materials such as ingots and castings, before and
after fabrication, and before and after assembly of
parts into a completed system. Using NDT "before"
prevents a substandard material or part from
wasting time and increasing scrap production. The
"when" is right if profit, quality, and safety are the
result of using NDT.

Discontinuities
Definition : The change in the geometry or
composition of an object, it may be intentional or
unintentional.
Such changes inherently affect the physical
properties of the object and may in turn have an
effect on the objects ability to fulfill its intended use
or service life.
Every discontinuity is not a defect but every
defect is a discontinuity.

Discontinuities

Contd

The definition of defects changes with the type of

component, its construction, its materials and the
specifications or codes in force.
It is possible that discontinuity in one object may be
defect in another.Detection of discontinuities is
largely dependent on the discontinuitys physical
characteristics.

Discontinuities

Contd

While performing NDT it is also important to consider

how the material is produced, what manufacturing
process are used to form the finished product and
what discontinuities are typically initiated by the
process operations. Discontinuity is categorized by
the stage of manufacturing or use in which it
initiates.

Discontinuities

Contd

Discontinuity is categorized in four stages

Inherent discontinuities.

Primary processing discontinuities.

Secondary processing discontinuities.

Service induced discontinuities.

Discontinuities

Contd

Inherent discontinuities :
When ferromagnetic materials are produced, molten
metal solidifies into ingot form producing what is
known as inherent discontinuities.
Such discontinuities then can be rolled, forged and
section along with the material in its subsequent
processing operations.

Inherent Discontinuities

Cold shut
Location : Surface or Subsurface
Cause : The meeting of two streams of liquid metal
that do not fuse together.

Inherent Discontinuities

Porosity
Location : Surface or Subsurface
Cause : Entrapped gases during solidification of
metals

Inherent Discontinuities

Inclusions
Location : Surface or Subsurface
Cause : Contaminant introduced during the casting
process

Inherent Discontinuities

Hot tears
Location : Surface
Cause : Restraints from the core or mold during the
cooling process.

Segregation
Location : Surface or subsurface
Cause : Localized differences in material
composition.

Discontinuities

Contd

Primary Processing discontinuities :

Discontinuities those originate during hot or cold
forming are said to be primary processing
discontinuities. The processing of a wrought product
by rolling, forging, casting or drawing may introduce
specific discontinuities into the product and inherent
discontinuity that were at one time undetectable or
insignificant may propagate and become detrimental

Primary Processing Discontinuities (Weld)

Porosity
Location : Surface or Subsurface
Cause : Vaporized constituents in the molten weld
metal are entrapped during solidification.

Primary Processing Discontinuities (Weld)

Cluster Porosity
Location : Surface or Subsurface
Cause : Vaporized constituents in the molten weld
metal are entrapped during solidification.

Primary Processing Discontinuities (Weld)

Slag Inclusion
Location : Subsurface
Cause : Improper cleaning of previous weld pass
and mixing of oxides on the base metal surface into
the weld pool