

We’ve already covered what NDT stands for and how the phrase is used in the field. What Is the Difference Between Destructive Testing and Non-Destructive Testing?.Here is a table of contents to help you navigate all the information related to NDT contained within this article: Regardless of the specific use case, the underlying commonality among all these examples is the collection of data in a non-intrusive manner. On the other hand, using a sophisticated tool like an ultrasonic sensor to look for defects in a certain material or asset would also be called NDT. While NDT methods are typically associated with industrial use cases, like inspecting weak points in a boiler at an oil refinery, uses in medicine are actually some of the most common.įor example, an expecting mother getting an ultrasound to check on the health of her baby would be considered an NDT use case, as would getting an X-ray or MRI to learn more about an injury.īut it’s important to note that NDT does not necessarily require the use of special tools, or any tools at all.įor instance, when inspectors in industrial settings review the outside of a pressure vessel with their naked eye, that would fall under the NDT designation, since they are collecting data on the status of the boiler without damaging it. In the field, NDT is often used as an umbrella term to refer to non-destructive inspection methods, inspection tools, or even the entire field of non-destructive inspections.įor commercial applications, the goal of NDT is to ensure that critical infrastructure is properly maintained in order to avoid catastrophic accidents. It refers to an array of inspection methods that allow inspectors to evaluate and collect data about a material, system, or component without permanently altering it.
