Nondestructive testing (NDT) is a procedure used to examine and/or inspect materials and components to locate surface and subsurface defects in a way that allows such materials to be examined without changing or destroying their original design or structure.
NDT plays a crucial role in everyday life. It is necessary to assure structural integrity, safety and reliability in aircraft, motor vehicles, pipelines, seafaring vessels, bridges, trains, tunnels, power stations, refineries and oil platforms, all of which are inspected using some method of nondestructive testing.