Improved Interpretation of NDE Data by Correlation of Magnetic, Eddy Current and Ultrasonic Data

Normally non-destuctive testing aims at applications, where according to given standards of customer specifications specific techniques are required. For example in weld inspection the radiographic tests have the special advantage to detect volumetric weld nonconformities like inclusions, porosity, undercut and mislignment, whereas ultrasonic testing is sensitive for the detection of crack-like materials imperfections. Though the need for a combination of the two technqiues is stringent if there is the need for detection of the two types of nonconformities. A complete other importance and quality of a combination of techniques is achieved, when the redundant and / or diverse selected information is put into a data-fusion model, using logical and or computational data mixing in order to suppress disturbing influences and to enhance signal to noise ration for more than one qunatity of interest to a achieve a generalized quality documentation. The contribution presented here discusses dif ferent applications of new combination techniques in order to document the benefits of data-fusion for an economical quality enhancement. The first example is a combined inspection of air-bag pressure vessels by use of an eddy current and an EMAT technique. the second example also introduces in a production integrated application and reports to a combination of a magnetic and an ultrasonic technique for an online materials property determination in a cold-rolling mill.