Non-destructive Testing at TWI

The integrity of engineered structures is important to us all. Failure is rare - but it can be catastrophic. Non-destructive testing (NDT) allows the detection and assessment of flaws, an inevitable consequence of fabrication.

NDT has been at the heart of TWI research and services for more than 40 years. Many methods have been developed and assessed for application by TWI's team of experts. The NDT department has a very large research programme, much of it part of a £30m suite of collaborative projects utilising skills from a number of academic and industrial partners to augment the TWI effort.

Training and certification in NDT methods was developed by TWI under the Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel ( CSWIP) in the 1970s. It continues to be a major part of programme.

TWI has opened a regional centre in Wales that has NDT as its main technical focus. This is equipped with the latest advanced processes and will concentrate on developing automated and computer-based techniques that will give more accurate and reliable detection of defects.

There are five main areas of work on NDT at TWI:

NDT Technology Group - mainly concerned with research, development and consultancy with premises in Abington and Wales.

Long Range Ultrasonic Technologies - carrying out specific research and development on Long Range Ultrasonic inspection techniques.

Plant Integrity Ltd - a wholly-owned subsidiary offering low frequency, guided-wave ultrasonic systems and service (Teletest ^®)

Training and Examination Services - providing training and certification of NDT personnel in Cambridge, North East, Yorkshire and Wales in the UK, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and throughout the world.

The Test House Ltd - a subsidiary that offers routine NDT services.

Contact: ndt@twi.co.uk