Non-destructive testing

The latest publications in this offer are:

• May 14, 2026

  R4070 Reviewed

  Acoustic microscope for irradiated nuclear fuel study

  Summary:Knowing the mechanical properties of irradiated fuel is a key factor in optimizing the management of nuclear power plants. Given the small size of fuel pellets, only local characterization techniques such as high-frequency acoustic microscopy or micro-indentation are feasible. Thanks to the installation of a dedicated acoustic microscope in a high-activity cell at the ITU European research center in Karlsruhe, it is now possible to extract data on the elastic behavior of fuels up to more than 10 years of reactor operation. Giving access to Young's modulus, a good estimate of density and high-resolution subsurface images, this tool constitutes a standard characterization system for irradiated fuels and materials.

• December 10, 2025

  R7001

  Non-destructive inspection of metals

  Non-destructive inspections are widely used to check the integrity of components (metallic or non- metallic), during their manufacturing or in service. The most active sectors are civil and industrial infrastructures (including energy) and the aerospace industry.This article details recent developments of metal inspection with ultrasonics, infrared thermography, eddy-currents, and other electromagnetic techniques. Specificities will be highlighted, linked to the physical properties of metals: acoustic, thermal, electric, and magnetic.

• December 10, 2024

  R6723

  Optical Coherence Tomography; applications to retinal and biofilm imaging

  Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is a label-free optical microscopy technique that allows the reconstruction of the 3D architecture of a sample using the properties of light interferences. OCT is used as a reference diagnostic tool in ophthalmology, especially because it allows imaging of the retina over large fields of view while maintaining high axial resolution.The use of OCT is progressively extending in many fields, such as biophotonics or metrology. This article first presents the principle of OCT and compares its different configurations. The article then focuses on a particular configuration, the full field OCT, offering a higher spatial resolution.

• January 12, 2023

  P950 Reviewed

  X-Ray Tomography

  Tomography is a technique for the control of parts and materials by radiation-matter interaction and 3D reconstruction via data collection following multiple orientations. In Non-Destructive Testing, its domain is extended to all types of parts and materials (light or heavy), from the infinitely small (nanotomography) to large objects (industrial tomography of large objects). This article describes the history, physical principles, equipment, evolution, as well as pitfalls to be avoided and provides many real examples of applications.

• August 10, 2022

  E4063

  Detectors of terahertz electromagnetic radiations

  This article presents a review of the detectors of terahertz electromagnetic waves. It follows and completes an article dedicaced to THz sources, in which an introduction to science and applications of THz waves is given. This introduction may be useful to read the present article.This later starts with a historical review of the terahertz detectors. It is followed by a comprehensive list of the main detectors (bolometers, optoelectronics...) together with their performance and an explanation of their operation principles. The article concludes by a comparative summary of the most common detectors and their performance, as well as their domains of application.

• July 10, 2022

  E4062

  Sources of terahertz electromagnétic radiations

  This article presents a review of the sources of terahertz electromagnetic waves. First, the science related to the terahertz domain, as well as the main applications, are introduced. Then a short historical description of the technology of terahertz sources is given. It is followed by a comprehensive list of the main sources (electronics, optoelectronics, large instruments...) together with their performance and an explanation of their operation principles. It is concluded by a comparative short description of the performance of the main sources, and the applications for which each source is useful.

• June 10, 2022

  R6203

  Magnetic particle testing - Practical aspects

  Theoretical and statutory aspects were covered in a previous paper entitled "Magnétoscopie - Aspects théoriques et réglementaires". This paper describes the means for generating a magnetic field, materials for magnetic particle testing, operating techniques, the sequence of operations, implementation of the equipment, checking, the limits of use of magnetic particle testing, the main industrial uses, future prospects and possible technological developments.

• June 10, 2022

  R6202

  Magnetic particle testing – Theoretical and regulatory aspects

  Magnetic particle testing is one of the oldest non-destructive testing (NDT) methods used to detect and localize surface and near-to-surface/subsurface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials. It is based on the behavior of these materials when subjected to an external magnetic field. This paper deals with its theoretical aspects, relevant health, safety and environmental regulations, and training, qualification and personnel certification.

• March 24, 2022

  RE172 Reviewed

  Terahertz T-ray tomography

  Terahertz tomography is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique allowing for analyzing and visualizing the internal structure of a 3D object. Its principle consists in recording on a detector adapted to this radiation, 2D images obtained from various angles and reconstructing with algorithms the cross-sections of the object. Due to its properties, this technique offers new perspectives in the NDT, in particular for the analysis of low-density industrial material, works of art and cultural inheritage materials.

• March 24, 2022

  R2745 Reviewed

  Infrared thermography and experimental analysis in mechanical engineering

  In a sustainable development context, mechanical engineering is increasingly faced with practical problems related to irreversible and dissipative processes, inducing aging, damage, degradation, fatigue and failure of materials and structures subjected to loading. The proposed infrared thermography used in experimental analysis offers a non-destructive, non-contact, real-time, easy-to-use technique to test design ideas. The results obtained highlight the advantages of differential infrared thermography, and demonstrate that a realistic understanding of the thermomechanical phenomena detected leads on to innovative and varied applications in the study of the mechanical performance of materials and structures in their environments.

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