Condition assessment and characterization of materials and structures by means of nondestructive testing (NDT) methods is a priority need around the world to meet the challenges associated with the durability, maintenance, rehabilitation, retrofitting, renewal and health monitoring of new and existing infrastructures including historic monuments. Numerous NDT methods that make use of certain components of the electromagnetic and acoustic spectrum are currently in use to this effect with various levels of success and there is an intensive worldwide research effort aimed at improving the existing methods and developing new ones. The knowledge and information compiled in this book captures the current state of the art in NDT methods and their application to civil and other engineering materials and structures. Critical reviews and advanced interdisciplinary discussions by world-renowned researchers point to the capabilities and limitations of the currently used NDT methods and shed light on current and future research directions to overcome the challenges in their development and practical use. In this respect, the contents of this book will equally benefit practicing engineers and researchers who take part in characterization, assessment and health monitoring of materials and structures.

This updated Second Edition covers current state-of-the-art technology and instrumentation The Second Edition of this well-respected publication provides updated coverage of basic nondestructive testing (NDT) principles for currently recognized NDT methods. The book provides information to help students and NDT personnel qualify for Levels I, II, and III certification in the NDT methods of their choice. It is organized in accordance with the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (2001 Edition). Following the author's logical organization and clear presentation, readers learn both the basic principles and applications for the latest techniques as they apply to a wide range of disciplines that employ NDT, including space shuttle engineering, digital technology, and process control systems. All chapters have been updated and expanded to reflect the development of more advanced NDT instruments and systems with improved monitors, sensors, and software analysis for instant viewing and real-time imaging. Keeping pace with the latest developments and innovations in the field, five new chapters have been added: * Vibration Analysis * Laser Testing Methods * Thermal/Infrared Testing * Holography and Shearography * Overview of Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A, 2001 Each chapter covers recommended practice topics such as basic principles or theory of operation, method advantages and disadvantages, instrument description and use, brief operating and calibrating procedures, and typical examples of flaw detection and interpretation, where applicable.

Ultrasonic methods have been very popular in nondestructive testing and characterization of materials. This book deals with both industrial ultrasound and medical ultrasound. The advantages of ultrasound include flexibility, low cost, in-line operation, and providing data in both signal and image formats for further analysis. The book devotes 11 chapters to ultrasonic methods. However, ultrasonic methods can be much less effective with some applications. So the book also has 14 chapters catering to other or advanced methods for nondestructive testing or material characterization. Topics like structural health monitoring, Terahertz methods, X-ray and thermography methods are presented. Besides different sensors for nondestructive testing, the book places much emphasis on signal/image processing and pattern recognition of the signals acquired.

Materials Characterization Using Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Methods discusses NDT methods and how they are highly desirable for both long-term monitoring and short-term assessment of materials, providing crucial early warning that the fatigue life of a material has elapsed, thus helping to prevent service failures. Materials Characterization Using Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Methods gives an overview of established and new NDT techniques for the characterization of materials, with a focus on materials used in the automotive, aerospace, power plants, and infrastructure construction industries. Each chapter focuses on a different NDT technique and indicates the potential of the method by selected examples of applications. Methods covered include scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography and diffraction, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, microwave, and hybrid techniques. The authors review both the determination of microstructure properties, including phase content and grain size, and the determination of mechanical properties, such as hardness, toughness, yield strength, texture, and residual stress. - Gives an overview of established and new NDT techniques, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography and diffraction, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, microwave, and hybrid techniques - Reviews the determination of microstructural and mechanical properties - Focuses on materials used in the automotive, aerospace, power plants, and infrastructure construction industries - Serves as a highly desirable resource for both long-term monitoring and short-term assessment of materials

This book was proposed and organized as a means to present recent developments in the field of nondestructive testing of materials in civil engineering. For this reason, the articles highlighted in this editorial relate to different aspects of nondestructive testing of different materials in civil engineering—from building materials to building structures. The current trend in the development of nondestructive testing of materials in civil engineering is mainly concerned with the detection of flaws and defects in concrete elements and structures, and acoustic methods predominate in this field. As in medicine, the trend is towards designing test equipment that allows one to obtain a picture of the inside of the tested element and materials. From this point of view, interesting results with significance for building practices have been obtained

This book features a comprehensive discussion of the mathematical foundations of ultrasonic nondestructive testing of materials. The authors include a brief description of the theory of acoustic and electromagnetic fields to underline the similarities and differences with respect to elastodynamics. They also cover vector, elastic plane, and Rayleigh surface waves as well as ultrasonic beams, inverse scattering, and ultrasonic nondestructive imaging. A coordinate-free notation system is used that is easier to understand and navigate than standard index notation.

The non-destructive evaluation of civil engineering structures in reinforced concrete is becoming an increasingly important issue in this field of engineering. This book proposes innovative ways to deal with this problem, through the characterization of concrete durability indicators by the use of non-destructive techniques. It presents the description of the various non-destructive techniques and their combination for the evaluation of indicators. The processing of data issued from the combination of NDE methods is also illustrated through examples of data fusion methods. The identification of conversion models linking observables, obtained from non-destructive measurements, to concrete durability indicators, as well as the consideration of different sources of variability in the assessment process, are also described. An analysis of in situ applications is carried out in order to highlight the practical aspects of the methodology. At the end of the book the authors provide a methodological guide detailing the proposed non-destructive evaluation methodology of concrete indicators. - Presents the latest developments performed in the community of NDT on different aspects - Provides a methodology developed in laboratory and transferred onsite for the evaluation of concrete properties which are not usually addressed by NDT methods - Includes the use of data fusion for merging the measurements provided by several NDT methods - Includes examples of current and potential applications

Residual stresses are a common phenomenon in composite materials. They can either add to or significantly reduce material strength. Because of the increasing demand for high-strength, light-weight materials such as composites and their wide range of applications in the aerospace and automotive industries, in civil infrastructure and in sporting applications, it is critical that the residual stresses of composite materials are understood and measured correctly.The first part of this important book reviews destructive and non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for measuring residual stresses. Various mathematical (analytical and numerical) methods for calculation of residual stresses in composite materials are also presented. Chapters in the first section of the book discuss the simulated hole drilling method, the slitting/crack compliance method, measuring residual stresses in homogeneous and composite glass materials using photoelastic techniques, and modeling residual stresses in composite materials. The second part of the book discusses residual stresses in polymer matrix, metal-matrix and a range of other types of composites. Moreover, the addition of nanoparticles to the matrix of polymeric composites as a new technique for reduction of residual stresses is discussed.Residual stresses in composite materials provides a comprehensive overview of this important topic, and is an invaluable reference text for both academics and professionals working in the mechanical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace, automotive, marine and sporting industries. - Reviews destructive and non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for measuring residual stresses - Discusses residual stresses in polymer matrix, metal-matrix and other types of composite - Considers the addition of nanoparticles to the matrix of polymeric composites as a new technique for reduction of residual stresses

With national trade barriers falling, causing the expansion of the com petitive global market, the question of quality control has become an essential issue for the 1990s. The time where the promise was to replace a product if it does not work seems to have passed; what is more impor tant now is not so much a reduction in what is going wrong but an increase of what is going right the first time (Feigenbaum 1990). This new trend is sometimes referred to as total quality. Among the many advantages ofthis zero-defect manufacturing policy, we can enumerate (Laurin 1990): superior marketability of wholly de pendable products, enormous gain in productivity, elimination of waste ful cost in replacing poor quality work and retrofitting rejected products from the field. Although total quality is a relatively new and attractive concept for mass products such as cars, consumer electronics and per sonal computers, in many fields, mainly aerospace and military, it has been the rule for years because of security reasons.