NDT Method Summary

No single NDT method will work for all flaw detection or measurement applications. Each of
the methods has advantages and disadvantages when compared to other methods. The table
below summarizes the scientific principles, common uses and the advantages and disadvantages
for some of the most often used NDT methods.
Penetrant
Testing

Magnetic Particle
Testing

Ultrasonic
Testing

Eddy Current
Testing

Radiographic
Testing

Scientific
Principles
A magnetic field is
Penetrant solution is established in a
applied to the
component made
surface of a
from ferromagnetic
precleaned
material. The
component. The
magnetic lines of
liquid is pulled into force travel through
surface-breaking
the material, and
defects by capillary exit and reenter the
action. Excess
material at the
penetrant material is poles. Defects such
carefully cleaned
as crack or voids
from the surface. A cannot support as
developer is applied much flux, and
to pull the trapped force some of the
penetrant back to flux outside of the
the surface where it part. Magnetic
is spread out and
particles distributed
forms an indication. over the component
The indication is
will be attracted to
much easier to see areas of flux
than the actual
leakage and
defect.
produce a visible
indication.

Alternating
X-rays are used to
High frequency
electrical current is
produce images of
sound waves are
passed through a
objects using film or
sent into a material coil producing a
other detector that is
by use of a
magnetic field.
sensitive to
transducer. The
When the coil is
radiation. The test
sound waves travel placed near a
object is placed
through the material conductive material,
between the
and are received by the changing
radiation source and
the same transducer magnetic field
detector. The
or a second
induces current
thickness and the
transducer. The
flow in the material.
density of the
amount of energy These currents
material that X-rays
transmitted or
travel in closed
must penetrate
received and the
loops and are called
affects the amount
time the energy is eddy currents. Eddy
of radiation
received are
currents produce
reaching the
analyzed to
their own magnetic
detector. This
determine the
field that can be
variation in
presence of flaws. measured and used
radiation produces
Changes in material to find flaws and
an image on the
thickness, and
characterize
detector that often
changes in material conductivity,
shows internal
properties can also permeability, and
features of the test
be measured.
dimensional
object.
features.

Main Uses
Used to locate
Used to inspect
Used to locate
cracks, porosity, and ferromagnetic
surface and
other defects that materials (those that subsurface defects
break the surface of can be magnetized) in many materials
a material and have for defects that
including metals,
enough volume to result in a transition plastics, and wood.
trap and hold the
in the magnetic
Ultrasonic
penetrant material. permeability of a inspection is also
Liquid penetrant
material. Magnetic used to measure the
testing is used to
particle inspection thickness of
inspect large areas can detect surface materials and
very efficiently and and near surface
otherwise
will work on most defects.
characterize
nonporous
properties of
materials.
material based on
sound velocity and
attenuation
measurements.
Main Advantages
Large surface areas
or large volumes of
parts/materials can
be inspected rapidly
and at low cost.

Large surface areas

of complex parts
can be inspected
rapidly.

Used to detect
Used to inspect
surface and near- almost any material
surface flaws in
for surface and
conductive
subsurface defects.
materials, such as X-rays can also be
the metals. Eddy
used to locates and
current inspection is measures internal
also used to sort
features, confirm
materials based on the location of
electrical
hidden parts in an
conductivity and
assembly, and to
magnetic
measure thickness
permeability, and of materials.
measures the
thickness of thin
sheets of metal and
nonconductive
coatings such as
paint.

Depth of
Detects surface and Can be used to
penetration for flaw near surface defects. inspect virtually all
detection or
materials.
Test probe does not
measurement is
need to contact the Detects surface and
superior to other
Can detect surface methods.
part.
subsurface defects.
Parts with complex and subsurface
geometry are
flaws.
Only single sided Method can be used Ability to inspect
routinely inspected.
access is required. for more than flaw complex shapes and
Surface preparation
detection.
multi-layered
Indications are
is less critical than Provides distance
structures without
Minimum
part
produced directly it is in penetrant
information.
disassembly.
preparation is
on surface of the
inspection.
Minimum part
required.
Minimum part
part providing a
preparation is
visual image of the Magnetic particle preparation is
indications
are
required.
required.
discontinuity.
produced directly
Equipment
on the surface of the Method can be used
for much more than
investment is
part and form an
just flaw detection.
minimal.
image of the
discontinuity.
Equipment costs are
relatively low.

Disadvantages
Detects only surface Only ferromagnetic
breaking defects.
materials can be
inspected.
Surface preparation
is critical as
Proper alignment of
contaminants can magnetic field and
mask defects.
defect is critical.

Surface must be
Only conductive
accessible to probe materials can be
and couplant.
inspected.

Extensive operator
training and skill
required.

Skill and training Ferromagnetic

Access to both sides
required is more
materials require
of the structure is
extensive than other special treatment to usually required.
technique.
address magnetic
Requires a
Large currents are
Orientation of the
permeability.
relatively smooth needed for very
Surface finish and
radiation beam to
and nonporous
large parts.
roughness can
Depth of
non-volumetric
surface.
interfere with
penetration is
defects is critical.
Requires relatively inspection.
limited.
Post cleaning is
smooth surface.
Field inspection of
necessary to remove
Thin parts may be Flaws that lie
thick section can be
Paint or other
chemicals.
difficult to inspect. parallel to the
time consuming.
nonmagnetic
inspection probe
Requires multiple coverings adversely Linear defects
Relatively
coil winding
operations under
affect sensitivity. oriented parallel to direction can go
expensive
controlled
the sound beam can undetected.
equipment
Demagnetization go undetected.
conditions.
investment is
and post cleaning is
Skill and training required.
Chemical handling usually necessary. Reference standards required is more
precautions are
are often needed. extensive than other Possible radiation
necessary (toxicity,
hazard for
techniques.
fire, waste).
personnel.
Surface finish and
roughness may
interfere.

Penetrant
Testing

Magnetic Particle
Testing

Ultrasonic
Testing

Reference standards
are needed for
setup.
Eddy Current
Testing

Radiographic
Testing