Warfare Center Hosts Nondestructive Testing Working Group
Posted: 2017-4-26
By:
J.W. Marcum
Source:
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division
PORT HUENEME, Calif.—Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD), hosted a three-day non-destructive testing (NDT) working group event on-site, April 18-20.
The working group, comprised of technical and engineering subject matter experts, reviewed NDT action items, proposed revisions to technical manuals and instructions, and participated in breakout discussions on industry standards and NDT guidance for naval systems and technology.
"This is the body that does the research, does the testing, and advises the technical warrant holders on policies and decisions," said NSWC PHD Command Materials Subject Matter Expert and Surface Warfare Command Systems Materials Laboratory (SWCSML) Manager Tim Tenopir. "The work and decisions made here with this group of experts impacts all of the ships in the Navy."
Various methods of NDT have been adopted for structural and technological testing through utilizing engineering principles such as sound energy, X-ray, heat decay, ultrasonics, thermography, acoustic impedance and other methods, which can help to determine the health of a structure and materials onboard ships in the fleet. The testing can also detect and indicate whether there are material or structural defects, damages, improper assembly or manufacturing methods and other faults.
"This is another method of finding answers without having to destroy things," said Tenopir. Tenopir says the assessment of complex naval technologies requires atypical testing. "What they teach in the materials science industry is simple stuff—pieces of metal, wood, fiberglass—not antenna structure with composite layers of filtering, wire grids and different kinds of material," continued Tenopir. "It’s got to be able to defend the ship, and you can’t destroy the equipment in doing the testing."
NSWC PHD supports NDT at the SWCSML and at various locations through collaborative partners. The SWCSML contains unique and highly specialized test equipment needed for internal and multiple Warfare Center collaborative research, development, testing and evaluation of materials-related research. The laboratory-facility network can handle a variety of testing, development, and validation needs, from simple research to complex product development and small-scale prototype manufacturing. NSWC PHD aims to be the Naval Sea Systems Command Materials Center of Excellence for Surface Combat Systems and will serve as the West Coast surface combatant training and certification facility for new, emerging and mature technologies.
Image:
Participants of the Nondestructive Testing Working Group pose for a photo during their 2-day meeting, April 18-19. (U.S. Navy Photo by Esthela McKenzie)
The working group, comprised of technical and engineering subject matter experts, reviewed NDT action items, proposed revisions to technical manuals and instructions, and participated in breakout discussions on industry standards and NDT guidance for naval systems and technology.
"This is the body that does the research, does the testing, and advises the technical warrant holders on policies and decisions," said NSWC PHD Command Materials Subject Matter Expert and Surface Warfare Command Systems Materials Laboratory (SWCSML) Manager Tim Tenopir. "The work and decisions made here with this group of experts impacts all of the ships in the Navy."
Various methods of NDT have been adopted for structural and technological testing through utilizing engineering principles such as sound energy, X-ray, heat decay, ultrasonics, thermography, acoustic impedance and other methods, which can help to determine the health of a structure and materials onboard ships in the fleet. The testing can also detect and indicate whether there are material or structural defects, damages, improper assembly or manufacturing methods and other faults.
"This is another method of finding answers without having to destroy things," said Tenopir. Tenopir says the assessment of complex naval technologies requires atypical testing. "What they teach in the materials science industry is simple stuff—pieces of metal, wood, fiberglass—not antenna structure with composite layers of filtering, wire grids and different kinds of material," continued Tenopir. "It’s got to be able to defend the ship, and you can’t destroy the equipment in doing the testing."
NSWC PHD supports NDT at the SWCSML and at various locations through collaborative partners. The SWCSML contains unique and highly specialized test equipment needed for internal and multiple Warfare Center collaborative research, development, testing and evaluation of materials-related research. The laboratory-facility network can handle a variety of testing, development, and validation needs, from simple research to complex product development and small-scale prototype manufacturing. NSWC PHD aims to be the Naval Sea Systems Command Materials Center of Excellence for Surface Combat Systems and will serve as the West Coast surface combatant training and certification facility for new, emerging and mature technologies.
Image:
Participants of the Nondestructive Testing Working Group pose for a photo during their 2-day meeting, April 18-19. (U.S. Navy Photo by Esthela McKenzie)
