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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Testing and Quality

Non-destructive testing

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

nounCommon term

In mechanical engineering, non-destructive testing means: Methods of checking materials, welds and parts for cracks and other defects without damaging them, such as ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle or dye penetrant tests.

In Turkish: tahribatsız muayene, tahribatsız test, hasarsız muayene

How it is used

Used for welds, castings, pressure equipment, aircraft parts and in maintenance. Usually shortened to NDT (also NDE or NDI). Each method has a code: UT, RT, MT, PT, VT. NDT personnel are certified to levels 1, 2 and 3 under standards such as ISO 9712.

Example sentences

  1. All butt welds on the pressure vessel need 100% non-destructive testing.

  2. Non-destructive testing found a small crack under the paint.

Common collocations

  • NDT inspection
  • ultrasonic testing
  • dye penetrant testing
  • magnetic particle testing
  • radiographic testing
  • inspectionChecking a part, product or machine against a drawing, specification or standard by looking at it, measuring it or testing it.
  • weldingJoining metal parts permanently by melting them at the joint, often with a filler metal, so that they become one piece when they cool.
  • castingMaking a part by pouring molten metal into a mold and letting it harden. The word also means a part made in this way.
  • failureThe state in which a part or machine can no longer do its job, for example because it has cracked, worn out, leaked or stopped working.
  • tensile testA test in which a standard sample is pulled until it breaks, to measure properties such as yield strength, tensile strength and elongation.

More terms: Testing and Quality

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