NDE Questions with Correct Solutions
Question:
1. What is the primary purpose of NDE in an inservice inspection?
Answer:
To detect, characterize, locate, or size discontinuities or damage without materially impairing
the pressure-retaining item.
Question:
2. What is the inspector's first question when an NDE examination is proposed?
Answer:
What condition or damage mechanism am I trying to find, and what method is capable of
detecting it?
Question:
3. What should determine the choice of NDE method?
Answer:
The suspected damage mechanism, material, geometry, accessibility, surface condition,
required sensitivity, and applicable Code/NBIC requirements.
Question:
4. What is the key distinction between a discontinuity and a defect?
Answer:
A discontinuity is an interruption or imperfection; a defect is a discontinuity that exceeds
applicable acceptance criteria.
Question:
5. What is an indication in NDE?
Answer:
A response or signal produced by an examination that may require evaluation; an indication is
not automatically a defect.
Question:
6. What is a relevant indication?
Answer:
An indication caused by a condition or discontinuity that requires evaluation under the
applicable examination procedure or acceptance criteria.
,Question:
7. What is a nonrelevant indication?
Answer:
An indication produced by something other than a condition of concern, such as geometry or
inherent material features, as established by the applicable method/procedure.
Question:
8. What is the inspector's role when an NDE report identifies an indication?
Answer:
Determine whether the examination and report meet requirements, evaluate the indication
against the applicable acceptance criteria, and document the inspection decision.
Question:
9. Where should you look for exact NDE technique and acceptance requirements?
Answer:
Start with the applicable Code of Construction and the applicable NBIC requirements; use the
specified NDE procedure/standard referenced by those requirements.
Question:
10. Is ASME Section V itself the authority for deciding whether an inservice indication is
acceptable?
Answer:
Not necessarily. Section V provides examination methods and techniques; acceptance
requirements come from the applicable Code, NBIC provision, specification, or other
governing requirement.
Question:
11. What is ASME Section V?
Answer:
The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code section covering nondestructive examination
methods and techniques.
Question:
12. What NDE methods are specifically represented in the IS Body of Knowledge?
Answer:
Radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing,
and visual examination.
, Question:
13. What is visual examination (VT) best suited for?
Answer:
Surface condition, visible discontinuities, deformation, corrosion, leakage evidence,
workmanship, and other conditions observable from the accessible surface.
Question:
14. What are major limitations of VT?
Answer:
It requires adequate access, lighting and visual conditions, and generally cannot directly
reveal subsurface discontinuities that are not manifested at the surface.
Question:
15. What can VT often identify on pressure equipment?
Answer:
General condition, corrosion, pitting, cracking visible at the surface, distortion, deposits,
leakage evidence, damaged components, and other visible abnormalities.
Question:
16. Why is surface preparation important for VT?
Answer:
Deposits, scale, insulation, dirt, coatings, or poor lighting can conceal relevant conditions and
reduce examination effectiveness.
Question:
17. What is liquid penetrant testing (PT) designed to detect?
Answer:
Surface-breaking discontinuities in nonporous materials.
Question:
18. What materials can generally be examined by PT?
Answer:
Nonporous materials, including many ferrous and nonferrous metals, provided the surface
and process are suitable.
Question:
19. What is a major limitation of PT?
Question:
1. What is the primary purpose of NDE in an inservice inspection?
Answer:
To detect, characterize, locate, or size discontinuities or damage without materially impairing
the pressure-retaining item.
Question:
2. What is the inspector's first question when an NDE examination is proposed?
Answer:
What condition or damage mechanism am I trying to find, and what method is capable of
detecting it?
Question:
3. What should determine the choice of NDE method?
Answer:
The suspected damage mechanism, material, geometry, accessibility, surface condition,
required sensitivity, and applicable Code/NBIC requirements.
Question:
4. What is the key distinction between a discontinuity and a defect?
Answer:
A discontinuity is an interruption or imperfection; a defect is a discontinuity that exceeds
applicable acceptance criteria.
Question:
5. What is an indication in NDE?
Answer:
A response or signal produced by an examination that may require evaluation; an indication is
not automatically a defect.
Question:
6. What is a relevant indication?
Answer:
An indication caused by a condition or discontinuity that requires evaluation under the
applicable examination procedure or acceptance criteria.
,Question:
7. What is a nonrelevant indication?
Answer:
An indication produced by something other than a condition of concern, such as geometry or
inherent material features, as established by the applicable method/procedure.
Question:
8. What is the inspector's role when an NDE report identifies an indication?
Answer:
Determine whether the examination and report meet requirements, evaluate the indication
against the applicable acceptance criteria, and document the inspection decision.
Question:
9. Where should you look for exact NDE technique and acceptance requirements?
Answer:
Start with the applicable Code of Construction and the applicable NBIC requirements; use the
specified NDE procedure/standard referenced by those requirements.
Question:
10. Is ASME Section V itself the authority for deciding whether an inservice indication is
acceptable?
Answer:
Not necessarily. Section V provides examination methods and techniques; acceptance
requirements come from the applicable Code, NBIC provision, specification, or other
governing requirement.
Question:
11. What is ASME Section V?
Answer:
The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code section covering nondestructive examination
methods and techniques.
Question:
12. What NDE methods are specifically represented in the IS Body of Knowledge?
Answer:
Radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing,
and visual examination.
, Question:
13. What is visual examination (VT) best suited for?
Answer:
Surface condition, visible discontinuities, deformation, corrosion, leakage evidence,
workmanship, and other conditions observable from the accessible surface.
Question:
14. What are major limitations of VT?
Answer:
It requires adequate access, lighting and visual conditions, and generally cannot directly
reveal subsurface discontinuities that are not manifested at the surface.
Question:
15. What can VT often identify on pressure equipment?
Answer:
General condition, corrosion, pitting, cracking visible at the surface, distortion, deposits,
leakage evidence, damaged components, and other visible abnormalities.
Question:
16. Why is surface preparation important for VT?
Answer:
Deposits, scale, insulation, dirt, coatings, or poor lighting can conceal relevant conditions and
reduce examination effectiveness.
Question:
17. What is liquid penetrant testing (PT) designed to detect?
Answer:
Surface-breaking discontinuities in nonporous materials.
Question:
18. What materials can generally be examined by PT?
Answer:
Nonporous materials, including many ferrous and nonferrous metals, provided the surface
and process are suitable.
Question:
19. What is a major limitation of PT?
