NDT Definitions Study Guide & Core Non-Destructive Testing Terminology
Revision Notes
NDT - correct answer ✔✔General Terms
area of interest: the specific portion of the object that is to be evaluated as defined by the
referencing Code Section. ;
defect: - correct answer ✔✔one or more flaws whose aggregate size, shape, orientation,
location, or properties do not meet specified acceptance criteria and are rejectable.
discontinuity - correct answer ✔✔a lack of continuity or cohesion, an intentional or
unintentional interruption in the physical structure or configuration of a material or component.
evaluation - correct answer ✔✔determination of whether a relevant indication is cause to
accept or to reject a material or component.
examination - correct answer ✔✔the process of determining the condition of an area of interest
by nondestructive means against established acceptance or rejection criteria.
false indication - correct answer ✔✔an NDT indication that is interpreted to be caused by a
condition other than a discontinuity or imperfection.
flaw - correct answer ✔✔an imperfection or discontinuity that may be detectable by
nondestructive testing and is not necessarily rejectable.
flaw characterization - correct answer ✔✔the process of quantifying the size, shape,
orientation, location, growth, or other properties, of a flaw based on NDT response.
,imperfection - correct answer ✔✔a departure of a quality characteristic from its intended
condition.
indication - correct answer ✔✔the response or evidence from a nondestructive examination
that requires ;interpretation to determine relevance.
inspection - correct answer ✔✔the observation of any operation performed on materials
and/or components to determine its acceptability in accordance with given criteria.
interpretation - correct answer ✔✔the determination of whether indications are relevant or
nonrelevant.
limited certification - correct answer ✔✔an accreditation of an individual's qualification to
perform some but not all of the operations within a given nondestructive examination method
or technique that consists of one or more than one operation, or to perform nondestructive
examinations within a limited scope of responsibility.
nondestructive examination (NDE) - correct answer ✔✔the development and application of
technical methods to examine materials and/or components in ways that do not impair future
usefulness and serviceability in order to detect, locate, measure, interpret, and evaluate flaws.
nonrelevant indication - correct answer ✔✔an NDT indication that is caused by a condition or
type of discontinuity that is not rejectable. False indications are nonrelevant.
operation - correct answer ✔✔a specific phase of a method or technique.
personnel demonstration - correct answer ✔✔when an individual displays an understanding of
the examination method and proficiency in conducting the examination, by performing a
demonstration examination using the employer's written nondestructive examination
procedure.
,procedure - correct answer ✔✔an orderly sequence of actions describing how a specific
technique shall be applied.
procedure demonstration - correct answer ✔✔when a written procedure is demonstrated, to
the satisfaction of the Inspector, by applying the examination method using the employer's
written nondestructive examination procedure to display compliance with the requirements of
this Section, under (a) normal examination conditions per T-150(a), or (b) special conditions as
described in T-150(b).
procedure qualification - correct answer ✔✔when a written nondestructive examination
procedure is qualified in accordance with the detailed requirements of the referencing Code
Section.
reference standard - correct answer ✔✔a material or object for which all relevant chemical and
physical characteristics are known and measurable, used as a comparison for, or standardization
of, equipment or instruments used for nondestructive testing.
relevant indication - correct answer ✔✔an NDT indication that is caused by a condition or type
of discontinuity that requires evaluation.
sensitivity - correct answer ✔✔a measure of the level of response from a discontinuity by a
nondestructive examination.
Standard - correct answer ✔✔(a) a physical reference used as a basis for comparison or
calibration. (b) a concept that has been established by authority, custom, or agreement to serve
as a model or rule in the measurement of quality or the establishment of a practice or
procedure.
technique - correct answer ✔✔a technique is a specific way of utilizing a particular
nondestructive examination (NDE) method.
, RT - correct answer ✔✔Radiography
analog image - correct answer ✔✔an image produced by a continuously variable physical
process (for example, exposure of film).
annotate - correct answer ✔✔to provide an explanatory note on the digital image.
back-scattered radiation - correct answer ✔✔radiation which is scattered more than 90 deg
with respect to the incident beam, that is, backward in the general direction of the radiation
source.
calibrated line pair test pattern - correct answer ✔✔see optical line pair test pattern.
calibrated step wedge film - correct answer ✔✔a radiograph with discrete density steps, which
is traceable to a national standard.
cassette - correct answer ✔✔a light-tight container for holding radiographic recording media
during exposure, for example, film, with or without intensifying or conversion screens.
composite viewing - correct answer ✔✔the viewing of two or more superimposed radiographs
from a multiple film exposure
contrast sensitivity - correct answer ✔✔a measure of the minimum percentage change in an
object which produces a perceptible density/ brightness change in the radiological image.
contrast sensitivity (per Mandatory Appendix VI) - correct answer ✔✔the size of the smallest
detectable change in optical density.
Revision Notes
NDT - correct answer ✔✔General Terms
area of interest: the specific portion of the object that is to be evaluated as defined by the
referencing Code Section. ;
defect: - correct answer ✔✔one or more flaws whose aggregate size, shape, orientation,
location, or properties do not meet specified acceptance criteria and are rejectable.
discontinuity - correct answer ✔✔a lack of continuity or cohesion, an intentional or
unintentional interruption in the physical structure or configuration of a material or component.
evaluation - correct answer ✔✔determination of whether a relevant indication is cause to
accept or to reject a material or component.
examination - correct answer ✔✔the process of determining the condition of an area of interest
by nondestructive means against established acceptance or rejection criteria.
false indication - correct answer ✔✔an NDT indication that is interpreted to be caused by a
condition other than a discontinuity or imperfection.
flaw - correct answer ✔✔an imperfection or discontinuity that may be detectable by
nondestructive testing and is not necessarily rejectable.
flaw characterization - correct answer ✔✔the process of quantifying the size, shape,
orientation, location, growth, or other properties, of a flaw based on NDT response.
,imperfection - correct answer ✔✔a departure of a quality characteristic from its intended
condition.
indication - correct answer ✔✔the response or evidence from a nondestructive examination
that requires ;interpretation to determine relevance.
inspection - correct answer ✔✔the observation of any operation performed on materials
and/or components to determine its acceptability in accordance with given criteria.
interpretation - correct answer ✔✔the determination of whether indications are relevant or
nonrelevant.
limited certification - correct answer ✔✔an accreditation of an individual's qualification to
perform some but not all of the operations within a given nondestructive examination method
or technique that consists of one or more than one operation, or to perform nondestructive
examinations within a limited scope of responsibility.
nondestructive examination (NDE) - correct answer ✔✔the development and application of
technical methods to examine materials and/or components in ways that do not impair future
usefulness and serviceability in order to detect, locate, measure, interpret, and evaluate flaws.
nonrelevant indication - correct answer ✔✔an NDT indication that is caused by a condition or
type of discontinuity that is not rejectable. False indications are nonrelevant.
operation - correct answer ✔✔a specific phase of a method or technique.
personnel demonstration - correct answer ✔✔when an individual displays an understanding of
the examination method and proficiency in conducting the examination, by performing a
demonstration examination using the employer's written nondestructive examination
procedure.
,procedure - correct answer ✔✔an orderly sequence of actions describing how a specific
technique shall be applied.
procedure demonstration - correct answer ✔✔when a written procedure is demonstrated, to
the satisfaction of the Inspector, by applying the examination method using the employer's
written nondestructive examination procedure to display compliance with the requirements of
this Section, under (a) normal examination conditions per T-150(a), or (b) special conditions as
described in T-150(b).
procedure qualification - correct answer ✔✔when a written nondestructive examination
procedure is qualified in accordance with the detailed requirements of the referencing Code
Section.
reference standard - correct answer ✔✔a material or object for which all relevant chemical and
physical characteristics are known and measurable, used as a comparison for, or standardization
of, equipment or instruments used for nondestructive testing.
relevant indication - correct answer ✔✔an NDT indication that is caused by a condition or type
of discontinuity that requires evaluation.
sensitivity - correct answer ✔✔a measure of the level of response from a discontinuity by a
nondestructive examination.
Standard - correct answer ✔✔(a) a physical reference used as a basis for comparison or
calibration. (b) a concept that has been established by authority, custom, or agreement to serve
as a model or rule in the measurement of quality or the establishment of a practice or
procedure.
technique - correct answer ✔✔a technique is a specific way of utilizing a particular
nondestructive examination (NDE) method.
, RT - correct answer ✔✔Radiography
analog image - correct answer ✔✔an image produced by a continuously variable physical
process (for example, exposure of film).
annotate - correct answer ✔✔to provide an explanatory note on the digital image.
back-scattered radiation - correct answer ✔✔radiation which is scattered more than 90 deg
with respect to the incident beam, that is, backward in the general direction of the radiation
source.
calibrated line pair test pattern - correct answer ✔✔see optical line pair test pattern.
calibrated step wedge film - correct answer ✔✔a radiograph with discrete density steps, which
is traceable to a national standard.
cassette - correct answer ✔✔a light-tight container for holding radiographic recording media
during exposure, for example, film, with or without intensifying or conversion screens.
composite viewing - correct answer ✔✔the viewing of two or more superimposed radiographs
from a multiple film exposure
contrast sensitivity - correct answer ✔✔a measure of the minimum percentage change in an
object which produces a perceptible density/ brightness change in the radiological image.
contrast sensitivity (per Mandatory Appendix VI) - correct answer ✔✔the size of the smallest
detectable change in optical density.
