New possibilities of increasing accuracy for nondestructive testing: Part 1. Basic principles and application examples

• Published in: NDT & E international : independent nondestructive testing and evaluation Vol. 32; no. 7; pp. 397 - 401
• Main Author: Matiss, Imants
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Calibration; Computers in experimental physics; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Data analysis: algorithms and implementation; data management; Disturbing factor; Exact sciences and technology; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Materials science; Materials testing; Measurement uncertainty; Methods of materials testing and analysis; Physics; Disturbing factor; Measurement uncertainty; Calibration; Measurement errors; Uncertainty; Nondestructive testing; Measuring methods; Signal processing; Data processing
• ISSN: 0963-8695; 1879-1174
• DOI: 10.1016/S0963-8695(98)00072-3

A new method for increasing accuracy of nondestructive testing techniques, particularly electromagnetic (eddy current), thermal, electrical, capacitance, etc., is proposed. The method, called a testing methodology by calibrated disturbing factors, is based on recording of a measuring instrument's response to the introduction of calibrated disturbing excitations in the active testing area. Analysis of the recorded response provides the possibility to calculate corrections for measurement results, to supplement data processing algorithms with corrective actions and to identify sources of measurement uncertainties. In comparison with conventional calibration techniques, the proposed method is based on calibration of disturbing influences in a range available for the calibration experiment with necessary accuracy and transformation of calibration results to the range of real testing conditions not directly accessible. Several data processing algorithms are proposed for calculation of measurement corrections. This series of papers devoted to the subject of calibrated disturbing factors comprises three parts. The first part, this particular paper, has an introductory character and is devoted to explanation of basic principles of the proposed testing methodology. In the second part, data processing algorithms and, in the third part, analysis of data processing algorithms as well as accuracy tests will be described.