ASNT Relaunches Research in Nondestructive Evaluation as Diamond Open Access Journal

(COLUMBUS, OHIO) The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) today announced the relaunch of Research in Nondestructive Evaluation (RNDE) as a Diamond Open Access journal, to be independently published by ASNT beginning in early 2027. The move ends a more than 35-year publishing partnership with Taylor & Francis and marks the first time in the journal's history that ASNT will own and operate the full publication platform.

Under the new model, RNDE will be freely available to readers worldwide at no cost, with no article processing charges (APCs) for authors in Year 1. The journal will be hosted on Open Journal Systems (OJS), an open-source platform used by thousands of peer-reviewed journals globally and will remain indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. All articles will be published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.

"RNDE is the only society-owned peer-reviewed research journal focused exclusively on nondestructive evaluation, and we are excited to create an open platform that serves the entire global NDE community — not just those whose institutions can afford subscription access," said Jill Ross, ASNT Director of Publications. "This is just the beginning of what is possible. Today's technology allows us to rethink how a specialized research journal operates, and we intend to build something that puts authors, readers, and the NDE community first."

Founded in 1989, RNDE publishes original research across the full spectrum of NDE methods and applications. The journal currently receives approximately 200 submissions annually and is widely regarded as the premier venue for NDE-focused research. Transitioning to Diamond Open Access removes the financial barriers that have historically limited access to that research — particularly for practitioners, early-career professionals, and researchers in low- and middle-income countries.

The relaunch will also introduce AI-assisted editorial workflows designed to improve turnaround times and manage a growing submission volume without compromising rigor. ASNT has been developing these tools in parallel with the platform transition, with the goal of reducing time-to-first-decision and freeing editors to focus on the quality of science rather than administrative overhead.

"This relaunch reflects our belief that the future of NDE research publishing belongs to the NDE community," said Neal J. Couture, FASAE, CAE, ASNT CEO. "Open access is not just a trend; it is the right thing for a nonprofit professional society to do. We are proud to make RNDE freely available to anyone, anywhere, who wants to advance this field."

As part of the transition, ASNT is appointing new editorial leadership to guide RNDE into this next chapter. Further details on the journal's editorial direction will be announced in the coming months.

Volume 38, Issue 1, the first issue under ASNT's independent publishing model, is expected in early 2027. Authors with manuscripts currently under review through the Taylor & Francis platform will be contacted directly with transition guidance. New submissions will open on the ASNT-hosted OJS platform in early 2027; authors are encouraged to visit Research in Nondestructive Evaluation (RNDE) - Leading NDT Innovation for updates.

About ASNT

ASNT is the association for nondestructive testing (NDT) professionals committed to making the world a safer place. NDT professionals detect irregularities, flaws, and defects in materials, components, and structures that could compromise the safety, reliability, or functionality of an object or structure. Established in 1941, ASNT supports members with certifications, professional development, industry insights, advocacy, events, publications, and networking opportunities and is focused on fostering the growth of future generations of NDT professionals through the ASNT Foundation. Serving more than 22,000 members and certificate holders worldwide, ASNT is the largest technical society for NDT professionals. ASNT is based in Columbus, Ohio, with offices in Houston, Texas, Washington, DC, and Chennai, India.

About RNDE

Research in Nondestructive Evaluation is the only peer-reviewed research journal dedicated exclusively to NDE, publishing original research on NDE methods, materials characterization, and related applications since 1989. The journal is indexed in Scopus and Web of Science and has an Impact Factor of 1.3 (2025). Beginning with Volume 38 (2027), RNDE will be published by ASNT as a Diamond Open Access journal at no cost to authors or readers.

Media Contact:
Garra Liming
Director, Public Relations & Government Affairs
The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT)
614-274-6003
govrelations@asnt.org