Nondestructive testing (NDT) is used to examine the ability of materials and components to withstand loads. Two features of NDT are defect inspection and materials characterization. Because of the increasing ability to manufacture materials and products "defect free" there is less need for defect-oriented NDT but an increasing need for materials characterization. This book is the first comprehensive work on materials characterization, presenting the state of the art and practical applications. Materials characterization is used during production, operations, service intervals, or after repairs. Materials are used to withstand mechanical, thermal, chemical, and irradiation loads-or a combination thereof. The ability to withstand these loads is essentially a function of parameters like chemical composition, microstructure, macrostructure, residual stresses, and materials properties. The physical background of NDT is presented along with its different methods. Ultrasonics, electromagnetics, and X-rays are treated with appropriate detail, while other methods such as acoustic emission, vibration analysis, optical, and thermal methods are also covered. The different methods of materials characterization are discussed following the goal parameters, from atomic to macroscopic dimensions. One of the practical features of the book is the presentation of real world applications. On-line process control and condition monitoring are discussed, as well as off-line applications for materials characterization after production and after operation.

This book is devoted to non-destructive materials characterization (NDMC) using different non-destructive evaluation techniques. It presents theoretical basis, physical understanding, and technological developments in the field of NDMC with suitable examples for engineering and materials science applications. It is written for engineers and researchers in R&D, design, production, quality assurance, and non-destructive testing and evaluation. The relevance of NDMC is to achieve higher reliability, safety, and productivity for monitoring production processes and also for in-service inspections for detection of degradations, which are often precursors of macro-defects and failure of components. Ultrasonic, magnetic, electromagnetic and X-rays based NDMC techniques are discussed in detail with brief discussions on electron and positron based techniques.

Materials Characterization Using Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Methods discusses NDT methods and how they are highly desirable for both long-term monitoring and short-term assessment of materials, providing crucial early warning that the fatigue life of a material has elapsed, thus helping to prevent service failures. Materials Characterization Using Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Methods gives an overview of established and new NDT techniques for the characterization of materials, with a focus on materials used in the automotive, aerospace, power plants, and infrastructure construction industries. Each chapter focuses on a different NDT technique and indicates the potential of the method by selected examples of applications. Methods covered include scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography and diffraction, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, microwave, and hybrid techniques. The authors review both the determination of microstructure properties, including phase content and grain size, and the determination of mechanical properties, such as hardness, toughness, yield strength, texture, and residual stress. - Gives an overview of established and new NDT techniques, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography and diffraction, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, microwave, and hybrid techniques - Reviews the determination of microstructural and mechanical properties - Focuses on materials used in the automotive, aerospace, power plants, and infrastructure construction industries - Serves as a highly desirable resource for both long-term monitoring and short-term assessment of materials

The book provides a unique and comprehensive treatment of the science, technology, and applications for industrial and medical ultrasonics, including low- and high-power implementations. The discussion of applications is combined with the fundamental physics, the reporting of the sensors/transducers, and systems for the full spectrum of industrial, nondestructive testing, and medical/bio-medical uses. It includes citations of numerous references and covers both mainstream and the more unusual and obscure applications of ultrasound.

Space may have been called the final frontier, but there are new frontiers to discover every day, and engineers are the ones exploring them. Through groundbreaking research and new technologies, engineers are able to go beyond traditional boundaries to do things that would have been all but impossible just a few years ago. This book, the most recent in a series of publications, describes new and emerging technologies and explains how they were developed and the benefits they will bring. It also offers highlights of the pioneering research and technological work being done by some of the country's emerging leaders in engineering. Topics include biomechanics, sensors and control for manufacturing processes, safety and security issues, decisionmaking tools for design and manufacturing, and intelligent transportation systems.

Due to the increase in world population (more than seven billion inhabitants) the global food industry has the largest number of demanding and knowledgeable consumers. This population requires food products that fulfill the high quality standards established by the food industry organizations. Food shortages threaten human health, and also the disastrous extreme climatic events make food shortages even worse. This collection of articles is a timely contribution to issues relating to the food industry. The objective of this book is to provide knowledge appropriate for students, university researchers, and in general, for anyone wishing to obtain knowledge of food processing and to improve the food product quality.

The Medical Devices Directive (MDD) is an all-encompassing document legislating for the manufacture of any medical device or material used either temporarily or permanently on or in the human body. To achieve its main objectives the MDD requires the manufacturer of all products covered by the Directive to possess a fully auditable Quality Management System consisting of Quality Policies, Quality Procedures and Work Instructions, based on the ISO 9000 standard. The book is based on the sound principles of ISO 9000 and will guide to the reader, if required, to eventually set up an ISO 9000 fully compliant system. MDD-Compliance using Quality Management Techniques consists of the following: * A brief guide to the Medical Devices Directive - explaining the main requirements of the directive, translating legal "Eurospeak" into everyday language * An overview of ISO 9000 and how the MDD links in with these international requirements. * A Quality Manual - will provide a template for a complete Quality Management System that can be used by any product being produced under the requirements of the MDD * CD ROM containing a software copy of the Quality Manual * A User manual consisting of clear instructions and flow charts on how to set up and use the Quality Management System described in the Quality Manual