U.S. Inspection & NDT, LLC
U.S. Inspection & NDT, LLC began operations in 2019 in collaboration with William "Billy" Schneider and David Chamberlain to serve a wide array of clients who shared one common goal.
Service, Training
United States
Overview
U.S. Inspection & NDT, LLC began operations in 2019 in collaboration with William "Billy" Schneider and David Chamberlain to serve a wide array of clients who shared one common goal - to partner with testing professionals who provide reliable results and never lose sight of customer goals and service.
U.S. Inspection & NDT, LLC applies a spectrum of technologies for non-destructive testing. We cost-effectively offer industry-standard methodologies and adopt new technologies as they emerge. When innovation is combined with customer collaboration, USINDT can present solutions that meet the scope of every project on time and under budget.
Our clients depend on USINDT to not only identify discontinuities but also to advise them on the proper techniques of non-destructive testing needed for their materials or equipment. This is where USINDT’s competitive advantage comes into play in the knowledge and experience of our people.
Our industry is based on client relationships. With every project, our teams are committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations.
Products & Services
Radiography Testing
The naked eye can only observe so much. That's why our clients rely on USINDT's radiographic testing (RT) to find problems that could be missed otherwise.
Radiographic testing is a nondestructive testing method that employs isotopes or X-rays to find problem areas with equipment. To get a better look, X-rays are passed through a component for closer examination. This makes RT a great solution for monitoring welds, piping, forgings, casts, pressure vessels, and valves and helps to find trouble spots in new or aging structures. These tests will also help us check for wall thickness and weak spots so we can help you catch problems early.
Radiographic Testing Results
We do not have to do a lot to prepare surfaces for testing. RT is great because the test records last forever. We can put results on film and make a computerized copy so you can store and review them later. Some of the major advantages of radiographic testing are:
- Highly reproducible
- Requires minimal surface area for preparation
- Ability to perform on a variety of different materials
We aim to meet every client challenge. We have onsite darkrooms and offsite laboratories, offering a variety of radiographic testing solutions for a wide range of facilities and equipment. Our testing bays are portable, so we can work in different types of areas at any time of the day. We help you to keep your business running.
Ultrasonic Testing
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a method of using short, high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves to identify flaws in a component. Our highly trained and experienced technicians will then measure these waves to determine and identify any problems. UT is also used for dimensional measurements, thickness, and material characterization.
The advantage of UT is that it is incredibly accurate and can scan on and underneath the surface. Not only is UT sensitive to surface and subsurface issues, but its depth of penetration for measurement and detection is superior to other NDT processes.
Ultrasonic Testing is also non-destructive. Test pieces don’t have to be sectioned, cut, or exposed to chemicals. UT doesn’t pose potential health hazards associated with processes like radiography. The results are reliable and highly repeatable.
Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT)
Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT) works with an ultrasonic gauge that measures how long it takes for a sound pulse to travel through a test piece and then return to the inside surface or far wall. The sound pulse is conducted by an ultrasonic transducer. The measurement of thickness is calculated and then displayed on a digital monitor.
Ultrasonic Thickness Testing is performed on a wide variety of structures, including piping and pressure vessels. It’s widely used in the oil and gas industry, where erosion and corrosion can damage components. Performing UTT can help to determine how much metal has been lost, if repair or replacement work is needed, or if a structure needs to be retired.
Shear Wave UT
Shear-Wave Ultrasonic Testing, also known as an “angle-beam inspection,” is a UT technique that uses a probing ultrasonic transducer with a plastic wedge to test component strength. The probe conducts an ultrasonic beam at an angle into the test area, moving back and forth as it detects any flaws based on the refraction of the beam. From there, our highly skilled technicians evaluate the gathered information.
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is an advanced non-destructive technique that uses a set of ultrasonic-testing (UT) probes made up of numerous smaller elements that are individually pulsed with computer-calculated timing. PAUT is used to inspect complex-shaped components that are more difficult to check with a single probe. This method detects discontinuities such as cracks and flaws, and can also determine the component’s material quality.
PAUT has many advantages compared to traditional UT methods: Phased Array UT can be conducted within seconds, and additional scans can be performed easily because the emitting beams provide a high degree of repeatability. The beams also help create detailed and accurate cross-sections of a component.
Corrosion Mapping / C-Scan Inspection
Corrosion Mapping is an ultrasonic technique to determine thickness, testing for deterioration of a metallic material by chemical or electrochemical issues.
Different kinds of corrosion include:
- Inter-granular: grows along grain boundaries
- Uniform: extends evenly across the surface
- Pitting: uneven and has smaller deep areas
- Exfoliation: moves along layers of elongated grains
Corrosion Mapping is widely used in the oil and gas industries for the inspection of pipework, pressure vessels, storage tanks, and reactors. In the aerospace sector, corrosion mapping is referred to as a “C-scan” for the inspection of composite materials.
Magnetic Particle Testing
Magnetic particle testing, or MT, is a very sensitive, nondestructive testing method used on rigid materials like iron, cobalt, nickel, and their alloys. It’s one of the fastest, most cost-efficient ways to ensure that critical elements like pipes or pipe welds are safe and ready to be used.
Minuscule cracks or discontinuities lead to fatigue – and, eventually, to failure of the part. MT can detect even the smallest surface cracks, and certain subsurface issues, as well. That’s helped make this method of inspection the industry standard.
HOW DOES MT WORK?
Any ferrous metal object that is magnetized becomes surrounded by an invisible magnetic field. If there is a crack or hole in the object, that magnetic field is disrupted. During magnetic particle testing, metal shavings are applied to the object, and they are attracted to these disruptions.
As they cluster around a crack, or “flux leakage field,” these shavings provide a visible indication of the flaw’s size and shape. Particles are chosen to best contrast with the color or darkness of the metal being tested. If there are no flaws, the shavings remain evenly distributed across the magnetic field.
MT is used in two variants: wet and dry. Wet MT allows the metal shavings to move more freely over surfaces. Dry MT is especially practical when testing pipes where high temperatures prevent using liquid.
WHO USES MAGNETIC PARTICLE TESTING?
Magnetic particle testing provides real-time results, and equipment portability makes it ideal for field inspections. That’s why several different industries now use MT to determine the fitness of a component. Examples include the petrochemical, structural steel, power generation, automotive, and aerospace industries.
This process is useful when underwater inspections are required, including structures like offshore oil wells and submerged pipelines. MT is also employed as an inspection method on fasteners, automotive parts, castings, weldments, and forgings, among other components.
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