NDTnet 1998 Aug, Vol.3 No.8

Abstract

Non Destructive testing is from day to day more widely used in all industrial environments, for certification of state both for parts of systems working and for elements produced in manufacturing stages. Quality assurance thus involves characterization of integrity of element under test, normally both for volume and surface, and must be considered just as a certification of its integrity for correct behaviour. Different specialized systems for each different technique (Ultrasonic, eddy current, visual, X-ray,...) are available at market, but trends nowadays is to obtain not only a "partial" view of a technique but a full integration and correlation between different ones, normally supporting for final evaluation.

This situation is quite clear in reactor pressure vessel inspection, where requirements both for time of inspection and for security are very strict. In this case, a lot of information incoming from different techniques must be combined to obtain final determination of integrity of the components under test. Visual, ultrasonic and eddy current techniques gives only a partial view, and results obtained from separate evaluation must be compared normally by means of plots or images, generated with different acquisition and evaluation systems.

In this article we will present results obtained with MIDAS, a data acquisition and evaluation system headed for nuclear market developed with the goal to obtain an easy integration of data incoming from different techniques, not only from software point of view but also from hardware implementation. A modular approach with possibility to include hardware for every technique desired offers the chance to obtain all data from the same equipment, using an unique acquisition and evaluation system, with specific tools for each technique, and also capabilities to obtain results with integration of the different techniques used, not only by means of images but with raw data acquired for each one.

Benefiß obtained are evident. Less equipment, because all hardware is embedded in an unique system; full integration of all steps, from planning to hardware setup, acquisition and overall control, thus saving time and reducing error possibilities; and the most important: a better comprehension of results obtained, with a general overview of data obtained from different techniques that assures a better quality of NDT results, and so a better confidence of the system where elements being tested are included.

Abstract Source:
Book of Abstracts, 7th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, 26-29 May 1998, ISBN: 87-986898-0-00

Full-Text Source:
Proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, 26-29 May 1998, ISBN:

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