When you’re an NDT trainee, you’re an essential part of a crucial process for many different companies and organizations across different industries; as such, you are highly in demand and have the potential to earn more than people of similar levels of experience in other industries.
What Does an NDT Trainee Do? An NDT trainee (or NDT assistant or Level I) learns all aspects of inspection services from a technician, performs equipment setup and calibrations, and makes evaluations.
Assisting with equipment setup and calibration.
Participating in inspections in accordance with procedures and standards.
Learning from experienced technicians and practitioners.
This career offers mentorship and training in a crucial industry where the skills you’ll develop are in high demand and the possibilities are endless.
What Does an NDT Researcher Do? An NDT researcher studies novel methods or new applications of current methods that could enable NDT practitioners to test assets more efficiently and/or safely to ensure these assets keep functioning according to quality standards.
Conducting experiments and studies in a variety of disciplines
Publishing your research in prestigious scientific journals
Editing and contributing to essential publications
Presenting your research at premier, interdisciplinary conferences and events
NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) certification is essential for technicians looking to work in the field of non-destructive testing. Some well-known, established sources for NDT certifications include:
ASNT offer NDT certification programs, including Level I, Level II, and Level III in different methods like ultrasonic testing, radiography, magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing, and more.
BINDT provide certifications in ultrasonic testing, radiographic testing, eddy current testing, and other NDT methods.
American Welding Society (AWS): AWS offers certifications in various welding-related fields, including Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI).
Canadian Institute for Non-destructive Evaluation (CINDE): CINDE is Canada’s leading NDT certification body, providing certifications in ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing, and other NDT methods.
Note: Different countries and industries may have specific requirements for NDT certifications, check with potential employers or regulatory bodies to determine which certifications are most relevant to your career goals.
A Study of Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) for Detecting, Sizing, and Characterizing Flaws in the Welds of Existing Hydraulic Steel Structures (HSS)
Abstract Hydraulic steel structures (HSS) are components of navigation, flood control, and hydropower projects that control or regulate the flow of water.
Damage accumulates in HSS as they are operated over time, and they must be inspected periodically. This is often accomplished using nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques.
If damage is detected, the structure’s fitness for continued service must be evaluated, which requires information on the location and size of discontinuities.
This information can be obtained using ultrasonic testing (UT) techniques.
However, there is limited information on the reliability of UT techniques with respect to detecting, sizing, and characterizing flaws in HSS.
This study addresses this gap.
Round-robin experiments were carried out using phased-array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) to scan weld specimens representing a variety of HSS geometries.
The results of the round-robin experiments were analyzed to estimate the probability of detection (POD) and to assess the influence of factors potentially affecting POD.
Uncertainty in estimates of flaw length and height were described, and partial safety factors were derived for use in fitness-for-service analyses.
These results demonstrate the importance of the technician as a factor influencing the reliability of NDT techniques applied to HSS.
