Multimodal NDT: Combining Techniques for Enhanced Defect Detection

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the field of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) is undergoing a significant transformation thanks to the development of innovative technologies that are both more compact and cost-effective. These advances enable industries to perform inspections more frequently, with higher reliability, and on increasingly complex structures, while optimizing operational costs.

In this context, multimodal approaches are emerging as a promising solution to meet the growing demands for precision and reliability in inspection processes. Multimodality in NDT refers to the combination of multiple technologies and physical principles within a single system. For example, integrating ultrasonic, thermographic, and electromagnetic techniques allows one to leverage the strengths of each method.

This combination offers two major advantages: it enables the detection of various types of defects (cracks, delaminations, porosity, corrosion, etc.) and enhances the overall sensitivity and accuracy of detection. In other words, multimodal systems help compensate for the inherent limitations of individual technologies.

This Special Issue aims to provide a broad framework for multiphysics and multispectral approaches applied to nondestructive testing, including advanced vision and imaging methods.

The areas of focus for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Multiphysics and multispectral NDT;
• Integrated sensing for smart structures;
• Data fusion and AI-based defect characterization;
• Multimodal inspection for aerospace and composite materials.

We warmly invite researchers to submit their latest findings to this Special Issue.

Dr. Ludovic Gavérina
Dr. Stefano Sfarra
Guest Editors

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