ASTM Resonant Inspection Standard Revised, Released

Companies are now able to more easily specify resonant inspection as a standardized technique.

Published: Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 06:10

(The Modal Shop: Cincinnati) -- ASTM E2001-8 -- “Standard Guide for Resonant Ultrasound for Defect Detection in Both Metallic and Non-Metallic Parts” has been revised and released. Standardizing resonant inspection nondestructive testing (NDT) across different organizations, companies, and countries to be able to have meaningful comparison and consistency for the technique is the express purpose of the new standard.

ASTM E2001-8 allows end-user companies to more easily specify resonant inspection as a standardized technique and be assured that regardless of the vendor, the application of the technique will be consistent.

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (commonly referred to as resonant inspection) based NDT techniques all vibrate a part mechanically and detect defects based upon measurable changes in the given part’s resonant frequency pattern. These techniques have become commonly used for quality inspection in the manufacture of steel, sintered, and ceramic parts.

The standard describes a procedure for detecting defects in parts using resonance. The procedure describes a whole body resonant techniques used to distinguish acceptable parts from those containing defects such as cracks, voids, chips, density defects, tempering changes, and dimensional variations.

The primary advantage of resonant inspection is making numerous measurements in a single test. It can work on parts at any stage of the manufacturing process, no part preparation required, and it can work with any material that exhibits a resonant response.

The Modal Shop's Resonant Acoustic Method (NDT-RAM) technique for resonant inspection has proven effective for many manufacturers in a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, and medical devices. NDT-RAM is ideal for manufacturers that have substantial inspection cost, require 100-percent inspection, produce, or use safety-critical parts, have substantial scrap costs due to false rejects, or simply want to improve their part quality.

With no part preparation required, this technique can successfully identify internal and external flaws due to cracks, voids, material density, dimensions, porosity, and nodularity, as well as missed manufacturing processes.

The Model Shop offers free parts tests for feasibility testing of your parts, and system rentals are available allowing you to try the system in your facility before buying.

For more information, visit www.ndt-ram.com.

About The Author

ASTM International

The Modal Shop, a PCB Group Company, provides structural vibration and acoustic sensing systems to engineers worldwide. Located in Cincinnati, they retain close ties to the University of Cincinnati’s Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory, a recognized leader in sound, vibration and modal analysis research.