1. Non-destructive testing: applications and trends

1.1 Current scope of application

This objective shows that non-destructive testing is essential to the smooth running of industries that manufacture, implement or use materials, products and structures of all kinds. At a time when quality has become an imperative that is difficult to circumvent, the field of application of NDT is constantly expanding beyond its traditional field of use, which is the metallurgical industry and activities where safety is paramount, such as nuclear and aeronautical engineering. After the inspection of capital goods, comes the inspection of consumer goods. At the same time, the nature of the defects we seek to detect is diversifying: we are looking for serious one-off technological faults, such as those inherent in the manufacture and use of metals (fatigue...