Nondestructive Testing (NDT) is a vital aspect to any project in the construction industry. Testing may be used during planning and construction phases for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) evaluation, or during troubleshooting, maintenance and repair projects.

SME’s team of certified inspectors and professional engineers has extensive experience in the testing of metals and welds, with specialties in four NDT methods:

  • Visual Inspection (VT)
  • Dye Penetrant Testing (PT)
  • Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
  • Ultrasonic Testing (UT) including Phased Array (PAUT)

Traditionally, a structure is periodically inspected. When the degree of deterioration exceeds a certain limit, repair or strengthening of the structure is performed. Visual inspection is the first and primary method. After visual inspection, SME uses the other NDT methods to look inside materials to detect discontinuities and defects that may not be seen by visual inspection alone. Performed without damaging the materials, NDT helps determine if the materials are still acceptable, or if they contain defects that need to be repaired or replaced.

SME conducts inspections in steel mills, fabrication shops, in the field, or in our laboratories. We inspect a variety of structures including bridges, buildings, towers, poles and sign structures. In addition to NDT, SME provides QA/QC services; field inspection, testing and training in proper welding and bolting methods; and laboratory services.

Welds

SME routinely consults and tests welds including bridges, buildings, piping, tanks, machined parts and specialty fabricated elements. With hundreds of years of combined experience, our welding experts can assist clients with everything from qualifying welders and material classification for weldability, to specialty nondestructive or destructive testing.
From basic building reviews to analyzing why welds are cracking, to developing QA/QC programs, SME has the experienced staff available to assist clients with all their welding project needs.

Bolting

SME’s team of inspectors is experienced in proper bolting inspection techniques, from laboratory testing to installation and troubleshooting. We own multiple torque-tension calibration machines to assist contractors in verifying the proper tensioning of their installation methods. Whether clients need extensive laboratory testing of bolts in production or field verification of standard processes, SME has staff available to assist clients with a project’s specific bolting needs.

Steel, Coatings and Nondestructive Testing

Coatings

Group Lead

Tiffany D. Vorhies, NACE CIP-2

Vice President
Steel and Coating Services

View Bio & Contact