Non-Destructive Metallic Materials Testing—Recent Research and Future Perspectives

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2016) | Viewed by 61085

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Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
Interests: artificial intelligence; data mining; machine learning; pattern recognition; simulation; intelligent transport systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Instituto Federal de Educação, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60020-181 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Interests: Artificial intelligence; image data science; internet of things; pattern recognition; information security
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Non-destructive testing (NDT) has become extremely important in metallic materials characterization, mainly by allowing the assessment of structural, mechanical and microstructural properties in an effective and reasonable manner, in addition to maintaining the integrity of the evaluated samples and applicability in service in many cases. The aim of this Special Issue, “Non-Destructive Metallic Materials Testing—Recent Research and Future Perspectives”, is to disseminate technological advances, which have been reached through innovation and customization of non-destructive testing techniques for metallic materials, present successful application cases, and discuss possible future trends, endeavoring for faster and more reliable decision-making processes. We are pleased to invite researchers, manufacturers and end-users to contribute to this Special Issue, which also welcomes review and perspective manuscripts. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Signal processing and analysis in NDT;
  • Image processing and analysis in NDT;
  • Pattern recognition and classification in NDT;
  • 3D image reconstruction from NDT data;
  • Computational Methods and Simulation in NDT;
  • Microstructural characterization using NDT;
  • Methods and applications of NDT;
  • Software development for metallic materials non-destructive testing.

Dr. João Manuel R. S. Tavares
Dr. Victor Hugo C. de Albuquerque
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Signal processing
  • Computer methods
  • Materials characterization
  • Decision-making
  • NDT techniques and applications

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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179 KiB  
Editorial
Non-Destructive Metallic Materials Testing—Recent Research and Future Perspectives
by João Manuel R. S. Tavares and Victor Hugo C. De Albuquerque
Metals 2017, 7(10), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/met7100430 - 16 Oct 2017
Viewed by 3048
Abstract
Non-destructive testing (NDT) has become extremely important formicrostructural characterization, mainly by allowing the assessment of metallic material properties in an effective and reasonable manner, in addition to maintaining the integrity of the evaluated metallic samples and applicability in service in many cases [...]
[...] Read more.
Non-destructive testing (NDT) has become extremely important formicrostructural characterization, mainly by allowing the assessment of metallic material properties in an effective and reasonable manner, in addition to maintaining the integrity of the evaluated metallic samples and applicability in service in many cases [...]
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Research

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6321 KiB  
Article
Evolution of Metal Surface Topography during Fatigue
by Darong Zhu, Lu Xu, Fangbin Wang, Tao Liu and Ke Lu
Metals 2017, 7(2), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/met7020066 - 22 Feb 2017
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4587
Abstract
Changes in surface topography reflect the state of fatigue damage. In this paper, a new method to characterize metal surface topography during fatigue has been proposed. Firstly, we acquired surface topography images based on machine vision and separated them into roughness, waviness, and [...] Read more.
Changes in surface topography reflect the state of fatigue damage. In this paper, a new method to characterize metal surface topography during fatigue has been proposed. Firstly, we acquired surface topography images based on machine vision and separated them into roughness, waviness, and form error images through a shearlet transform. Secondly, we constructed gray co-occurrence matrixes of the obtained surface topography images and calculated the characteristic parameters, such as contrast, correlation coefficient, energy, and entropy for all the original and separated images. Then, taking a Q235 steel specimen as an example for testing, the experimental results and theoretical analysis demonstrate that the parameter contrast increases while energy, correlation coefficient and entropy decrease gradually with number of loading circles, which reach their maximum and minimums before fracture, respectively. Full article
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2193 KiB  
Article
Detection of the Magnetic Easy Direction in Steels Using Induced Magnetic Fields
by Edgard M. Silva, Alysson M. R. Paula, Josinaldo P. Leite, Joao P. Leite, Lucia S. S. Andrade, Victor Hugo C. De Albuquerque and Joao Manuel R. S. Tavares
Metals 2016, 6(12), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6120317 - 15 Dec 2016
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4762
Abstract
Conventional manufacturing processes cause plastic deformation that leads to magnetic anisotropy in processed materials. A deeper understanding of materials characterization under rotational magnetization enables engineers to optimize the overall volume, mass, and performance of devices such as electrical machines in industry. Therefore, it [...] Read more.
Conventional manufacturing processes cause plastic deformation that leads to magnetic anisotropy in processed materials. A deeper understanding of materials characterization under rotational magnetization enables engineers to optimize the overall volume, mass, and performance of devices such as electrical machines in industry. Therefore, it is important to find the magnetic easy direction of the magnetic domains in a simple and straightforward manner. The Magnetic easy direction can be obtained through destructive tests such as the Epstein frame method and the Single Sheet Tester by taking measurements in regions of irreversible magnetization usually called domains. In the present work, samples of rolled SAE 1045 steel (formed by perlite and ferrite microstructures) were submitted to induced magnetic fields in the reversibility region of magnetic domains to detect the magnetic easy direction. The magnetic fields were applied to circular samples with different thicknesses and angles varying from 0° to 360° with steps of 45°. A square sample with a fixed thickness was also tested. The results showed that the proposed non-destructive approach is promising to evaluate the magnetic anisotropy in steels independently of the geometry of the sample. The region studied presented low induction losses and was affected by magnetic anisotropy, which did not occur in other works that only took into account regions of high induction losses. Full article
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6129 KiB  
Article
Ultrasonic Guided Wave Propagation through Welded Lap Joints
by Audrius Jankauskas and Liudas Mazeika
Metals 2016, 6(12), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6120315 - 10 Dec 2016
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8581
Abstract
The objective of the research presented here is the investigation of ultrasonic guided wave (UGW) propagation through the lap joint welded plates used in the construction of a storage tank floors. The investigations have been performed using numerical simulation by finite element method [...] Read more.
The objective of the research presented here is the investigation of ultrasonic guided wave (UGW) propagation through the lap joint welded plates used in the construction of a storage tank floors. The investigations have been performed using numerical simulation by finite element method (FEM) and tested by measurement of the transmission losses of the guided waves transmitted through the welded lap joints. Propagation of the symmetric S0 mode in the welded stainless steel plates in the cases of different lap joint overlap width, operation frequency, and additional plate bonding caused by corrosion were investigated. It was shown that the transmission losses of the S0 mode can vary in the range of 2 dB to 8 dB depending on the ratio between lap joint width and wavelength. It was also demonstrated that additional bonding in the overlap zone caused by corrosion can essentially reduce transmission losses. Full article
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6343 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Structural Stability of Materials through Mechanical Spectroscopy: Four Case Studies
by Girolamo Costanza, Roberto Montanari, Maria Richetta, Maria Elisa Tata and Alessandra Varone
Metals 2016, 6(12), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6120306 - 5 Dec 2016
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4204
Abstract
Microstructural stability is one of the utmost important requirements for metallic materials in engineering applications, particularly at high temperatures. The paper shows how Mechanical Spectroscopy (MS) (i.e., damping and dynamic modulus measurements) permits the monitoring of the evolution of lattice defects, porosity, and [...] Read more.
Microstructural stability is one of the utmost important requirements for metallic materials in engineering applications, particularly at high temperatures. The paper shows how Mechanical Spectroscopy (MS) (i.e., damping and dynamic modulus measurements) permits the monitoring of the evolution of lattice defects, porosity, and cracks which strongly affect the mechanical behavior of metals and sometimes lead to permanent damage. For this purpose, some applications of the technique to different metals and alloys (AISI 304 stainless steel, PWA 1483 single crystal superalloy, nanostructured FeMo prepared via SPS sintering and tungsten) of engineering interest are presented. These experiments have been carried out in lab conditions using bar-shaped samples at constant or increasing temperatures. The results can be used to orient the interpretation of frequency and damping changes observed through other instruments in components of complex shape during their in-service life. Full article
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3222 KiB  
Article
Evolution of Mechanical Twinning during Cyclic Deformation of Mg-Zn-Ca Alloys
by Alexei Vinogradov, Evgeny Vasilev, Mikhail Linderov and Dmitry Merson
Metals 2016, 6(12), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6120304 - 2 Dec 2016
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5160
Abstract
The present study clarifies the complex interplay between mechanical twinning and dislocation slip during low-cycle fatigue testing of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys. Temporal details of these mechanisms are studied non-destructively by in situ monitoring of the acoustic emission (AE) response powered by a robust signal [...] Read more.
The present study clarifies the complex interplay between mechanical twinning and dislocation slip during low-cycle fatigue testing of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys. Temporal details of these mechanisms are studied non-destructively by in situ monitoring of the acoustic emission (AE) response powered by a robust signal categorization. Through the analysis of AE time series, the kinetics of deformation twinning per cycle and the overall accumulation of twinning during cyclic loading is described and its effect on fatigue life is highlighted. Full article
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1815 KiB  
Article
Acoustic Emission Assessment of Impending Fracture in a Cyclically Loading Structural Steel
by Igor Rastegaev, Alexey Danyuk, Maksim Afanas’yev, Dmitry Merson, Filippo Berto and Alexei Vinogradov
Metals 2016, 6(11), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6110266 - 4 Nov 2016
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4435
Abstract
Using the advanced acoustic emission (AE) technique, we address the problem of early identification of crack initiation and growth in ductile structural steels under cyclic loading. The notched 9MnSi5 steel specimens with weld joints were fatigue tested at room and lower temperatures with [...] Read more.
Using the advanced acoustic emission (AE) technique, we address the problem of early identification of crack initiation and growth in ductile structural steels under cyclic loading. The notched 9MnSi5 steel specimens with weld joints were fatigue tested at room and lower temperatures with concurrent AE measurements. Detection of AE in ductile materials where fatigue crack initiation and propagation is mediated by local dislocation behavior ahead of the notch or crack tip is challenging because of an extremely low amplitude of the AE signal. With account of this issue, two new practically oriented criteria for recognition of different stages of fatigue are proposed on the basis of AE data: (1) a power spectrum-based criterion and (2) a pattern recognition-based criterion utilizing modern clustering algorithms. The applicability of both criteria is verified using obtained AE data. A good correspondence between AE outcomes and experimental observations of the fatigue behavior was obtained and is discussed. Full article
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3818 KiB  
Article
Effects of Phyllanthus muellerianus Leaf-Extract on Steel-Reinforcement Corrosion in 3.5% NaCl-Immersed Concrete
by Joshua Olusegun Okeniyi, Cleophas Akintoye Loto and Abimbola Patricia Idowu Popoola
Metals 2016, 6(11), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6110255 - 27 Oct 2016
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5424
Abstract
This paper investigates Phyllanthus muellerianus leaf-extract effects on steel-reinforcement corrosion in concrete immersed in 3.5% NaCl, simulating saline/marine environment. Different concentrations of the leaf-extract were admixed in steel-reinforced concrete samples, which were immersed, with normal control, in the test-environment, while positive control samples [...] Read more.
This paper investigates Phyllanthus muellerianus leaf-extract effects on steel-reinforcement corrosion in concrete immersed in 3.5% NaCl, simulating saline/marine environment. Different concentrations of the leaf-extract were admixed in steel-reinforced concrete samples, which were immersed, with normal control, in the test-environment, while positive control samples were immersed in distilled water. Electrochemical measurements of corrosion-rate (by linear-polarization-resistance instrument), corrosion-current (by zero-resistance-ammeter) and corrosion-potential (by high impedance multimeter) were obtained for assessing the reinforcing-steel corrosion. Analyzed results showed that the corrosion-rate exhibited excellent correlation (R = 98.82%, Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency = 97.66%, ANOVA p-value = 0.0006) with function of the admixture concentration and of the corrosion noise-resistance (ratio of corrosion-potential and corrosion-current standard deviations). The 0.3333% Phyllanthus muellerianus (per weight of cement) exhibited optimal efficiency, η = 97.58% ± 1.28% (experimental) or 95.33% ± 4.25% (predicted), at inhibiting concrete steel-reinforcement corrosion in the test-environment, which compares well with the positive control performance model, η = 97.96% ± 0.03%. The experimental and predicted models followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, which indicated physisorption as the Phyllanthus muellerianus leaf-extract adsorption mechanism on the reinforcing-steel. These support suitability of the N-, S-, and O-containing and π-electron rich Phyllanthus muellerianus leaf-extract as an environmentally-friendly inhibitor for effective corrosion-protection of steel-reinforcement in concrete designed for the saline/marine environment. Full article
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7151 KiB  
Article
Classification of Induced Magnetic Field Signals for the Microstructural Characterization of Sigma Phase in Duplex Stainless Steels
by Edgard M. Silva, Leandro B. Marinho, Pedro P. Rebouças Filho, João P. Leite, Josinaldo P. Leite, Walter M. L. Fialho, Victor Hugo C. De Albuquerque and João Manuel R. S. Tavares
Metals 2016, 6(7), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6070164 - 14 Jul 2016
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5830
Abstract
Duplex stainless steels present excellent mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. However, when heat treated at temperatures above 600 C, the undesirable tertiary sigma phase is formed. This phase presents high hardness, around 900 HV, and it is rich in chromium, the material [...] Read more.
Duplex stainless steels present excellent mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. However, when heat treated at temperatures above 600 C, the undesirable tertiary sigma phase is formed. This phase presents high hardness, around 900 HV, and it is rich in chromium, the material toughness being compromised when the amount of this phase is not less than 4%. This work aimed to develop a solution for the detection of this phase in duplex stainless steels through the computational classification of induced magnetic field signals. The proposed solution is based on an Optimum Path Forest classifier, which was revealed to be more robust and effective than Bayes, Artificial Neural Network and Support Vector Machine based classifiers. The induced magnetic field was produced by the interaction between an applied external field and the microstructure. Samples of the 2205 duplex stainless steel were thermal aged in order to obtain different amounts of sigma phases (up to 18% in content). The obtained classification results were compared against the ones obtained by Charpy impact energy test, amount of sigma phase, and analysis of the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The proposed solution achieved a classification accuracy superior to 95% and was revealed to be robust to signal noise, being therefore a valid testing tool to be used in this domain. Full article
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Review

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3737 KiB  
Review
An Evaluation of Mechanical Properties with the Hardness of Building Steel Structural Members for Reuse by NDT
by Masanori Fujita and Keiichi Kuki
Metals 2016, 6(10), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6100247 - 19 Oct 2016
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7184
Abstract
The reuse system proposed by the authors is one method to reduce the environmental burden in the structural field. As for reusable members, we take up building steel structures used for plants and warehouses. These buildings are assumed to be demolished within approximately [...] Read more.
The reuse system proposed by the authors is one method to reduce the environmental burden in the structural field. As for reusable members, we take up building steel structures used for plants and warehouses. These buildings are assumed to be demolished within approximately 30 years or more for physical, architectural, economic, or social reasons in Japan. In this paper, the performance of steel structural members of a gable frame is evaluated with a non-destructive test for reuse. First, the flow to estimate mechanical properties of steel structural members such as tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation is shown via a non-destructive test. Next, tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of steel structural members are estimated, with hardness measured with a portable ultrasonic hardness tester. Finally, the mechanical properties of steel structural members for reuse are estimated based on the proposed flow. Full article
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16182 KiB  
Review
Review of Electromagnetic-Based Crack Sensors for Metallic Materials (Recent Research and Future Perspectives)
by Muhammad Usman Memon and Sungjoon Lim
Metals 2016, 6(8), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/met6080172 - 25 Jul 2016
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6589
Abstract
Evaluation and non-destructive identification of stress-induced cracks or failures in metals is a vital problem in many sensitive environments, including transportation (steel railway tracks, bridges, car wheels, etc.), power plants (steam generator tubing, etc.) and aerospace transportation (landing gear, aircraft fuselages, etc.). There [...] Read more.
Evaluation and non-destructive identification of stress-induced cracks or failures in metals is a vital problem in many sensitive environments, including transportation (steel railway tracks, bridges, car wheels, etc.), power plants (steam generator tubing, etc.) and aerospace transportation (landing gear, aircraft fuselages, etc.). There are many traditional non-destructive detection and evaluation techniques; recently, near-field millimeter waves and microwave methods have shown incredible promise for augmenting currently available non-destructive techniques. This article serves as a review of developments made until now on this topic; it provides an overview of microwave scanning techniques for crack detection. This article summarizes the abilities of these methods to identify and evaluate cracks (including describing their different physical properties). These methods include applying filters based on dual-behavior resonators (DBRs), using complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs) for the perturbation of electric fields, using waveguide probe-loaded CSRRs and using a substrate-integrated-waveguide (SIW) cavity for the detection of sub-millimeter surface and subsurface cracks. Full article
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