What is non-destructive testing (NDT)? What are the common NDT methods?

NDT is the abbreviation of Non-destructive Testing.

NDT refers to a test method that does not damage or affect the future performance or use of materials or workpieces.

By using NDT, defects in the interior and surface of materials or workpieces can be found, geometric characteristics and dimensions of workpieces can be measured, and internal composition, structure, physical properties and conditions of materials or workpieces can be determined. NDT can be applied to product design, material selection, manufacturing, finished product inspection, in-service inspection etc., and PZT material piezo ring can play an optimal role between quality control and cost reduction. NDT application also helps to ensure the safe operation or effective use of products. NDT contains many methods that can be effectively applied. The most commonly used NDT methods are radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, magnetic particle testing, penetration testing, visual testing, leak testing, acoustic emission testing, radiographic testing, etc .Because various NDT methods have their own scope and limitations, new NDT methods have been continuously developed and applied. Generally, physical, chemical, or other possible technical means may be developed into an NDT method as long as it meets the basic definition of NDT. In China, the term NDT was first called flaw detection or NDT, and its different methods are also called flaw detection, such as ray flaw detection, ultrasonic flaw detection, magnetic particle flaw detection, penetration flaw detection and so on. This terminology or writing method is widely circulated and has been used to this day, and its usage rate is no less than that of non-destructive testing. In foreign countries, which is corresponding to the term NDT, except that the first half of the word, that is, the non-destructive wording is mostly the same, the second half of the piezo ceramic disc is different. For example, Japan is used to writing inspection, many European countries have written flaw detection in the past, and now use testing uniformly. In addition to testing, the United States seems to prefer writing examination and evaluation. After these words are combined with the first half, the abbreviations formed are NDI, NDT and NDE. When it is translated into Chinese, there are different term forms such as non-destructive testing, non-destructive inspection (non-destructive inspection), non-destructive inspection, non-destructive inspection, non-destructive evaluation and writing. In fact, these different English and their corresponding terms have the same meaning and are all synonyms. To this end, the international organization for standardization Nondestructive Testing Technical Committee (ISO / TC 135) has developed and released a new international standard (ISO / TS 18173: 2005), which aims to unify the terminology of these different forms and wordings and clarify them .There is a term with the same definition, which is synonymous, that is, it is equivalent to non-destryctive testing. The different ways of writing are just due to different language habits.

Therefore, as a standardized term, it is recommended to use the word "non-destructive testing", and the corresponding word is recommended to use "Non-destructive testing". The names of various nondestructive testing methods are also recommended to use the piezo ceramic crystal "testing", such as radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, penetration testing, eddy current testing, etc. such as inspection, examination, evaluation, etc. used in conjunction with Non-destructive are recommended to be translated into the word "non-destructive testing", and try to avoid writing "non-destructive inspection", "non-destructive inspection", "non-destructive inspection", "Non-destructive evaluation" and so on. This translation method is also applicable to the translation of the names of various non-destructive testing methods. The terms inspection, examination, evaluation, etc., which are recommended to be translated into the word "test" only when translating the names of non-destructive testing and methods. 

Commonly used NDT methods in English and their abbreviations:
Ultrasonic testing — UT
Magnetic particle testing — MT
Computed tomographic testing — CT
Visual testing — VT
Radiographic testing — RT
Penetrant testing — PT
Acoustic emission testing — AT, AE
Eddy current testing eddy current testing — ET
Leak testing — LT