NDE refers to sensing, imaging and various other analytical techniques that can be used to assess the quality of materials, components and structures without damaging or destroying them, saving money and resources. These advanced material evaluation services encompass non-destructive testing (NDT), condition monitoring and some areas of quality control and process monitoring.
The terms NDE and NDT are often used interchangeably. However, NDE is a broader term than NDT, which typically focuses on the determination of mechanical properties only. NDE takes things a step further, evaluating the test results and their significance in combination with other data to provide a more comprehensive assessment of a material’s properties and structural health.
We offer a wide range of NDE services across NPL. These include both direct application of NDT methods to materials in industry and a diverse array of complementary NDE techniques.
We offer a broad choice of NDT techniques, including ultrasonic, optical, thermographic, X-ray and electrical and magnetic induction testing methods, as well as microwave imaging.
Find out more about non-destructive testing of advanced materials
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NPL has a suite of ultrasonic equipment to cover a range of part sizes, including contact probes, scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) and C-scan water tank immersion.
We offer a variety of optical methods, including laser shearography, digital image correlation and stereo line-scan measurement.
Scope/range: Measurement of external surface deformations of an object by capturing differences between ‘before’ and ‘after’ images. Can monitor objects ranging in size from micrometres (using scanning electron microscopy) to kilometres using panoramic image capture techniques with resolutions to 1/20 of a pixel.
Find out more about condition monitoring
This non-contact technique can be used to detect sub-surface features and some types of failures at temperatures close to ambient, without destructively cross-sectioning the objects under study.
X-ray analysis of an object – here with 2D images – allows measurement of the geometry of a material’s internal and external features without the need to disassemble a component.
Microwave imaging exploits the dielectric properties of materials to provide information on the internal structures of samples, as well as check for voids, delamination and water ingress.
Eddy current and magnetic induction testing techniques are frequently used to evaluate coating thicknesses and defects in different materials.
Additional NDE ultrasonic techniques are available to complement the NDT ultrasonic methods.
Light-based measurement methods can be used to provide high-resolution surface and sub-surface data, enabling detailed characterisation of geometry, texture and material properties without physical contact.
NPL offers both contact and non-contact thermometry services.
Includes radiation, phosphor, fibre optic and acoustic thermometry, plus quantitative thermal imaging.
Thermocouples and resistance thermometers.
Find out more about temperature measurement
NPL’s services for identification and measurement of subsurface defects include:
Find out more about X-ray computed tomography
These methods assess how materials conduct electricity, offering insights into composition, heat treatment state and the presence of defects or stresses.
Explore NPL’s wide range of microwave and terahertz imaging techniques for NDE characterisation of materials.
Find out more about terahertz consultancy
NPL is the UK's National Metrology Institute. It aims to promote advances in metrology that underpin non-destructive testing, condition monitoring and diagnostic engineering for design and quality assurance purposes. With state-of-the-art facilities and expertise in NDE, NPL is ideally placed to serve industry and academia by providing measurements and data analysis, consultancy and research to assist material assessment.
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