Nondestructive evaluation and energy technology: a workshop summary

Abstract

The findings of a recent Workshop on Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) are summarized. One purpose of the Workshop was to recommend basic research programs to develop the scientific base for improvements in NDE capabilities. The research programs recommended span such disciplines as physics, mathematics, materials science, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering and include research with such objectives as developing quantitative relationships for the interaction of various types of penetrating radiation (elastic and electromagnetic waves, X-rays, gamma rays, neutron etc.) with important material structures (flaws, welds, cladding, grain structure etc.) and for the influence of these structures on material performance (fracture, fatigue etc.). Additional research recommendations include examining the inverse problem in general and acoustic emission in particular, promoting advanced instrumentation development for improved signal detection and discrimination, for in situ and real-time operation and for generation of more easily interpretable data forms (e.g. imaging and tomographic methods), and consciously promoting research on relevant promising new phenomena and methods. An important facet of the research recommendations is the affirmation of the interdisciplinary character of NDE and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to the research.