Alternative Approaches to the Validation of Nondestructive Testing Methods

There is currently considerable interest in devising appropriate means for measuring how well test methods suit their avowed purpose. One of the major expressions of this interest has been through implementation of standards and guidelines issued by ISO/IEC (International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission) and, in Europe, CEN/CENELEC (European Committee for Standardization/European Commission for Electrotechnical Standardization). Among the goals of the ISO 9000 family of International Standards is provision of quality system guidelines [1] to complement the specific product requirements that are typically incorporated in specifications provided by “customers”. These criteria are intended to aid “suppliers” in achieving continuing improvements in product quality and customer satisfaction. Four key “facets of quality” are identified, associated with a) definition of needs for the product; b) aspects of product design that influence performance of the product; c) consistency in conforming to the product design; and d) providing life-cycle product support

Highly Luminescent Salts Containing Well-Shielded Lanthanide-Centered Complex Anions and Bulky Imidazolium Countercations

In this paper, we report on the syntheses, structures, and characterization of four molten salts containing imidazolium cations and europium(III)- or terbium(III)-centered complex anions. In the complex anions, the lanthanide centers are wrapped by four pseudodiketonate anionic ligands, which prevent them from contacting with high-frequency oscillators and allow them to show intense characteristic europium(III) or terbium(III) emission, small line widths, high color purity, high quantum yields (30−49%), and long decay times (\u3e2 ms)

Computer Simulation of Radiographic Process - A Study of Complex Component and Defect Geometry

In proof of the applicability of a testing method, a global concept of reliability of NDE should be used which is based on both the theoretical and experimental procedure demonstration. This concept includes consequently the performance demonstration of the whole testing chain, including the physical method, the device and the inspector, by using statistical methods as well as empirical data base, and the performance prediction by computer simulation. In addition to this, the computer modeling can be used to optimise testing parameters, to make feasibility analysis for special testing problems, and to support the interpretation of indications, especially for very complicated component geometry. Thus, this variety of applications makes it necessary to develop an easy and practical model to describe the process of radiographie testing with good accuracy and with a small numerical expense, which may include any component geometry and uses experimental findings. A macroscopic model for the X-ray projection process was developed where the X-ray beam and target interaction is described as a simplified transport process. The influence of the scattering effects on the imaging process can be realised with acceptable accuracy by using a global description. The efficiency and limits of the model are discussed in terms of different examples exploring the detectability of cracks with complicated geometry. These cracks are considered for different types of high performance materials: (i) composites in the aircraft and space industry sector and (ii) realistic austenitic welding from the nuclear industry sector. These examples will show the capability of the modeling tool to handle also complicated object geometries and testing conditions like double wall penetration and ellipsoid shot.</p

Strong erbium luminescence in the near-infrared telecommunication window

A new type of near-infrared emitting rare-earth complex has been synthesised, consisting of three bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide ligands and one 1,10-phenanthroline molecule. The chelate rings formed by the rare-earth ion and the bidentate ligands do not contain any carbon atoms and can hence be considered as 'inorganic' chelate rings. The absence of C-H stretching vibration modes in the first coordination sphere of the rare-earth ion and the presence of a light-harvesting moiety (1,10-phenanthroline) bound to the rare-earth ion result in a complex that can be efficiently excited and exhibits intense near-infrared luminescence.status: publishe

Alternative Approaches to the Validation of Nondestructive Testing Methods

There is currently considerable interest in devising appropriate means for measuring how well test methods suit their avowed purpose. One of the major expressions of this interest has been through implementation of standards and guidelines issued by ISO/IEC (International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission) and, in Europe, CEN/CENELEC (European Committee for Standardization/European Commission for Electrotechnical Standardization). Among the goals of the ISO 9000 family of International Standards is provision of quality system guidelines [1] to complement the specific product requirements that are typically incorporated in specifications provided by “customers”. These criteria are intended to aid “suppliers” in achieving continuing improvements in product quality and customer satisfaction. Four key “facets of quality” are identified, associated with a) definition of needs for the product; b) aspects of product design that influence performance of the product; c) consistency in conforming to the product design; and d) providing life-cycle product support.</p

Effect of nicotine on mandibular distraction osteogenesis: a radiological and immunohistochemical study

The TRAPPIST (Transfer, Processing and Interpretation of 3D NDT-Data in a Standard Environment)-system is a software package and data handling philosophy developed during a three years European project. It is dedicated to handle and transfer, to reconstruct, visualize and process 1D, 2D, 3D NDE and CAD-data