Nondestructive Testing in Transportation Industries

In the transportation industry, VT is the most straightforward and essential NDT method, involving the careful inspection of vehicles, train components, and ship structures for visible surface defects. VT can be applied underwater, and NDT technicians may use camera-equipped ROVs in situations that are not safe for or accessible to divers.

This method is vital in detecting internal flaws within critical transportation components. The NDT technician introduces high-frequency sound waves into a part and—even underwater—when the sound hits a discontinuity, it reflects back to the sending unit and is displayed visually so that an experienced technician can determine the type of discontinuity.

This method includes a variety of techniques that use electromagnetic fields to detect subtle material changes and defects in nonferromagnetic metal components in vehicles, rails, and ships, measuring their structural integrity.

Industrial RT plays a crucial role in inspecting the internal structure of materials. By using X-rays (or gamma radiation for thicker materials), NDT technicians can capture images of the interior of welds, rails tracks, ship hulls, and other critical parts, providing a view of flaws that would not be visible otherwise.

This method is particularly effective in identifying surface and near-surface defects in ferromagnetic materials used in transportation. Fine ferromagnetic particles are applied to the part’s surface, and the NDT technician uses a permanent magnet or electromagnet to send a magnetic current through the material, drawing the particles into any discontinuities and making them visible.

When an NDT technician applies a low viscosity liquid to a part and then wipes away the excess, they can see where the liquid was trapped in voids open to the surface. In transportation applications, PT can reveal cracks in engine blocks, cylinder heads, structural components, and the surfaces of wheels and axles.

LT uses gases, pressurization, or the creation of a vacuum to detect and locate leaks in fuel systems, radiators, hydraulic systems, tanks, and even ship hulls. This method—applied to systems above and under water—is vital for preventing environmental contamination and ensuring the safety of vessels, vehicles, and structures.

IR measures the infrared radiation given off by an object as heat flows through, to, or from it and is an invaluable tool for detecting temperature variations that may indicate defects in engines, electrical systems, and brake and wheel components.

This method involves applying a localized stress force and monitoring the stress waves to locate discontinuities. In transportation sectors, AE can provide early warning of failures in high-stress components such as suspension systems, drive shafts, rails, wheels, ship hulls, and pressure vessels—even when those components are under water.

GPR is widely used in transportation for subsurface inspection of rail beds and tracks, roadways, bridges, docks and piers. By sending pulses of electromagnetic energy into the ground, NDT technicians can identify and map geophysical features in and around buried components.

NR is particularly useful for examining lightweight materials like composites and certain plastics, which are common in modern vehicles due to their strength and lightness. NR is excellent at detecting water and moisture inside dense metal parts, which is crucial for keeping electronic systems and other key components safe and reliable. It also helps ensure the strength of adhesive bonds and checks complex assemblies like engines and hydraulic systems.