New NDT techniques for new materials and applications

The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the techniques used for the non‐destructive testing (NDT) of non‐metallic structural materials, notably polymer and ceramic composites.

Following a short introduction, this paper first considers methods for testing carbon fibre‐ and glass fibre‐reinforced polymer composites. It then discusses the role of NDT in wind and wave power systems and some of the techniques used to test ceramics and ceramic composites. Brief conclusions are drawn.

This shows that the growing use of non‐metallic engineering materials in critical applications has highlighted the need for a range of advanced NDT methods. While some traditional techniques can be adapted to test these materials, in several instances novel methods are required. These include a range of thermal, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, radiographic and laser‐based technologies.

The paper provides a review of the techniques used and being developed for the non‐destructive testing of non‐metallic engineering materials.