Non-destructive Testing in Engineering

The lecture covers current NDT methods for quality control and inspection of components, equipment and structures as well as their typical applications. Examples of applications and claims in mechanical engineering are presented, including methods for quality assurance of metal materials, composites and composite materials e.g. CFRP and GFRP. Moreover, the essential aspects of traditional and advanced NDT methods and measuring devices (including ultrasonic, eddy current, infrared thermography, radiography, vibration and acoustic emission analysis), the accuracy, limits of application and the corresponding evaluation methods are introduced. In exercises, students are introduced in to various NDT devices and have the opportunity to perform measurements including their interpretation independently.
Individual topics are:
1. Introduction: background, history, motivation for inspection tasks in mechanical engineering, testing concepts (signals, systems, filters, time series)
2. Fundamentals of vibrations and waves, wave propagation
3. Instrumentation, sensors, signal recording and analysis
4. Ultrasound
5. Eddy current
6. Infrared thermography for damage analysis
7. Radiographic methods
8. Testing of fiber reinforced composites and inspection of rotor blades of wind turbines
9. Vibration analysis for continuous monitoring
10. Acoustic emission analysis
11. Continuous monitoring of plant and facilities: Introduction and concepts (visual inspection, fiber optics, wireless monitoring procedures)

After participating in the course of this module the students know the current NDT methods of quality assurance and inspection of components, equipment and structures. They are able to evaluate the range of applications and limitations and are familiar with important exemplary applications and damage cases in mechanical engineering. Furthermore, they know the methods for quality control of metallic materials and composites in the manufacture and the basics of evaluation methods in terms of their inspection or repair. The students know also the relevant standards and guidelines, the essential aspects of the handling of conventional NDT methods (visual inspection, endoscopy, penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing) and have advanced knowledge in the methods of ultrasonic, eddy current, IR thermography, radiography, vibration and acoustic emission analysis including their accuracy and limitations. The students can apply most of the basic NDT methods and are able to perform measurements and evaluate them on their own.

Engineering sciences, or geophysically-oriented bachelor degree or bachelor degree in engineering physics

The essential teaching content is generally imparted in form of a classical lecture supported by a powerpoint presentation to enable students to understand NDT-techniques and assess application areas and limits of these methods. In addition the lecture content is intensified in laboratory tutorials that match the lecture topic. In these laboratory tutorials students apply NDT-techniques on their own and assess measurement results.
- Interactive lecture with media support
- Interaction between lecturers and students
- Students will be given the opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge in practical experiments
- self-study of technical terms and basics
- independent solving of problems / exercises about the content of the lecture; analysis and discussion of results and answers
- supplementation of the subject matter by reading the recommended literature
- description of phenomena by formulas are derived in the lecture, the results will be discussed and analyzed
- practical application of the subject matter by example measurements during the laboratory tutorial. The students are asked to perform and partly evaluate these measurements on their own

Media used in the lecture are presentations, videos and black board notes. Additionally, also Moodle documentation is used. A script is handed out in the beginning of the semester.

Erhard, Anton: Verfahren der Zerstörungsfreien Materialprüfung, Grundlagen, DVS Media GmbH, Düsseldorf 2014, 392 S., ISBN: 387-1-556-130

Schiebold, K.: Zerstörungsfreie Werkstoffprüfung. Springer-Verlag, 2015 (verschiedene Titel: Ultraschallprüfung, Durchstrahlungsprüfung, Sichtprüfung, Eindringprüfung, Magnetpulverprüfung, etc.)

An oral exam is conducted to examine the comprehension of fundamentals, various NDT-techniques and their application. The examination (duration 30 minutes) is held at the end of the semester. Therefore the in-depth knowledge of fundamentals as well as various NDT methods and their applications are tested on the basis of the script. In this context the examinee has to deal with prepared charts.