The NDT Validation Centre exists to  provide  independent  assessment  and
verification  of   both  established  and   new  non-destructive  testing  and
inspection techniques. The development of new technology and  procedures
is part of the service available from TWI Technology Centre (Wales).

If a current NDT inspection procedure is to be  "validated,"  we  review  the
current  techniques,  including  a  review  of the technical justification (TJ).
The purpose of reviewing the TJ is to assess  whether  the  original  TJ  was
clearly  written,  whether it is technically correct and whether it contains all
the required information (appropriate to the validation  level)  to  justify  the
capability  of  the  inspection  procedure.   This  validation  procedure  can
recognize  all  aspects  of  the  NDT  process,  involving  the  improved  TJ,
reporting  and   approval  techniques  and   then  re-reviewing  the  new
procedure. Within this study, the requirements of staff will also be  taken
on  board,  creating  a  new  and  improved  NDT  inspection  procedure.

A validation process that includes practical trials will usually  require  the
design and manufacture of specific test pieces for open trials (relating to
procedures)  and/or   blind   trials  (relating  to  personnel).  Following  the
completion of these trials, the inspection results  are  evaluated  against  the
as-made data for the test  pieces/flaws  (calibration samples) and  the  pass/fail
criteria where applicable.

The NDT Validation Centre is relevant to all aspects of the NDT working environment, from techniques and equipment to procedures and personnel. Using our full spectrum of specialists from both academic and industrial practitioners, we can use our multidisciplinary approach to develop solutions to your inspection problems.

We house a wide variety of state-of-the-art equipment at The NDT Validation Centre and are well placed to provide expertise in advanced inspection techniques, including:

• Digital radiography
• Laser shearography
• Eddy current array inspection
• Time of flight diffraction
• Phased array ultrasonics
• Immersion ultrasonics
• Thermography
• Tomography
• Long range guided wave ultrasonics

We upgrade our equipment all the time, including software enhancements on the equipment and personnel knowledge, to ensure that we are always at the leading edge of the technology.

We also have experience in NDT modelling techniques allowing theoretical scans etc. to be developed before putting the theory into practice, thus permitting our technicians and customers to validate the correct procedures, helping to reduce set-up time and cost.

The techniques available permit the inspection of all engineering and construction materials (metals, composites, plastics and ceramics), and are acceptable to the majority of governing bodies from a vast selection of industrial sectors, including aerospace and transport, oil, gas and chemicals, construction, medical devices and micro technology.