A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING (NDT)
25 - 26 NOVEMBER 2026
COURSE INTRODUCTION
This practical awareness programme introduces the principles, applications and limitations of non-destructive testing used to examine materials and welded components without damaging them. It covers conventional surface, sub-surface and internal examination methods, with a brief introduction to advanced techniques. Real-life scenarios and practical analogies help participants relate the choice of inspection method to the material, defect type, defect position and weld configuration.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Explain the basic principles of conventional NDT methods and their industrial applications.
- Compare the advantages and limitations of visual, penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic and radiographic inspection.
- Relate method selection to materials, defect types, positions and weld configurations.
- Understand inspection equipment, process sequences, procedures and reporting requirements.
- Recognise the role of safety, certification schemes and advanced NDT technologies.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Entry-level technicians, fresh graduates, engineers, managers, surveyors and inspectors who need a general awareness of conventional NDT techniques and an understanding of their principles, applications and limitations.
COURSE CONTENT
- Session 1: Introduction to NDT: industrial applications, certification schemes, inspection safety and selection of methods for materials, defects and weld configurations.
- Session 2: Visual inspection: inspection roles and requirements, methods, equipment and tools.
- Session 3: Penetrant testing: the six basic steps, colour-contrast and fluorescent penetrants, process sequences, procedures, reporting, advantages and limitations.
- Session 4: Magnetic particle inspection: magnetic fields and lines of force, testing principles, equipment, process sequences, flux indicators, procedures and reporting.
- Session 5: Ultrasonic testing: waveforms, test methods, probes and techniques, calibration, sensitivity, procedures, reporting and limitations.
- Session 6: Radiographic testing: gamma and X-ray sources, films, intensifying screens, film processing, examination techniques and image quality indicators.
- Session 7: Overview of eddy current testing and advanced methods: phased-array ultrasonic testing, time-of-flight diffraction and digital radiography.
- Session 8: Practical application and discussion: comparing inspection capabilities and limitations using real-life scenarios, with questions and answers.
