THE RELIABILITY OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION: ASSESSING THE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES UNDER STRESS

This book introduces the reader to the many factors which influence the reliability of non-destructive inspection techniques, to the experimental problems of quantifying this reliability, and to ways of developing more reliable inspections. The main emphasis is on ultrasonic detection and sizing of crack-like defects in materials such as steel. There are chapters on the following topics: a) the inspection of inspection; b) systems reliability; c) defects and failures; d) methods of non-destructive testing; E) failure of inspection; f) idealised inspection studies. An extensive bibliography is also provided, as well as an appendix on some of the special statistical methods required for these issues of reliability. (TRRL)