The main objective of non-destructive testing (NDT) has always been to assess quality and integrity of various components by characterization (e.g. defect detection) without any impact on the components function in its application. The output of these systems (non-destructive evaluation, NDE) has by tradition been limited to information of the indications such as positioning of the defects, characteristics (e.g. service induced or manufacturing defects) and estimation of their sizes. SCeNDT attempts to address the development of a methodology that incorporates non-destructive evaluation with e.g. structural integrity and thereby providing lifetime assessment. This new area of research, Integrity and quality assessment by NDE (IqNDE), intends to increase the amount of information from the output of nondestructive techniques in order to increase the economic value of the inspections.

New and stronger demands on reliability of used NDE/NDT procedures and methods have stimulated the development of simulation tools of NDT. To qualify the procedures extensive experimental work on test blocks is normally required. A thorough validated model has the ability to be an alternative or a complement to the experimental work in order to reduce the extensive cost that is associated with the previous procedures.

SCeNDT started as a cooperation between the Chalmers University of Technology and DNV Inspection in 1998, financed by the Swedish NDT Qualification Centre, SQC. The idea was and still is to convert theoretical knowledge into applicable tools (e.g. simulation software) that can be used by people with mainly practical skills and experience within the NDT area. SCeNDT will also be an attractive associate partner to both NDT companies and their customers, in evaluation of new NDT techniques. The Centre is also expanding its endeavours by developing a laboratory for experimental validations. This is an important task since only a thorough validated model has the ability to be an alternative or a complement to the experimental work.

The research teams consists of scientists both from the industry and the university, all with previous experiences of applied mathematical modeling within the NDT area. One of the main objectives is to create an environment that combines concentrated academic research with industrial R&D.

These web pages will briefly present the centre and some of the projects.