ABSTRACT
Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) generally includes a family of instruments, procedures, and methods that can be applied to evaluate the in situ condition of a material or structure. These NDE technologies can range from the most obvious and simple, such as visual inspection, to extremely complex methods of using electromagnetic and acoustic waves to infer the physical properties of a material in situ. A list of common NDE technologies is included in Table 37.1, along with their primary applications. The technologies listed in this table are each a part of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) standard methods. These methods are traditional NDE technologies that have been developed primarily for application to metals. Many of these technologies are utilized in heavy manufacturing, aerospace, and the power generation industry. As shown in Table 37.1, the technologies and science related to NDE technologies have a broad range, and as a result, it is frequently difficult to differentiate between technologies and identify the most suitable
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 573 FRP Applications for Civil Structures ........................................................................................... 575
Retrofitting ................................................................................................................................ 575 All-Composite Systems ............................................................................................................. 575
Deterioration and Damage in Composite Materials ....................................................................... 575 Moisture .................................................................................................................................... 576 UV Exposure ............................................................................................................................. 576 Corners ...................................................................................................................................... 577 Delamination, Debonding, and Spalling ................................................................................... 577 Unraveling ................................................................................................................................. 578
Visual Inspection ............................................................................................................................ 578 Sounding ................................................................................................................................... 579
Microwave Methods ....................................................................................................................... 580 References ...................................................................................................................................... 582
technologies for a particular application. There are literally dozens of additional techniques, methods, and technologies for the NDE of structures that have been developed in recent years, but have not gained widespread use such that ASNT has provided certification. These include microwave and radar technologies, advanced acoustic wave techniques, and many others.
