NDT Glossary

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NDT Glossary
A
 A-Scan Display - A data presentation method in which signal amplitude is
plotted along the y-axis versus time on the x-axis. The horizontal distance
between any two signals represents the material distance between the two
conditions causing the signals. In a linear system, the vertical excursion is
proportional to the amplitude of the signal.
 Absolute Measurement - A Measurement made without a direct reference to a
second signal or measurement.
 Absorbed Does - The amount of energy, imparted to matter by an ionizing
particle per unit mass of irradiated material at the place of interest. It is
expressed in rads.
 Absorption - The taking up of energy from the medium through which it passes.
 Absorption Coefficient - The ratio of energy absorbed by a medium or material
to the energy incident on the surface. If a flux through a material decreases with
distance x in proportion to e-ax, then a is called the absorption coefficient. Also
known as the absorption factor; absorption ratio; coefficient of absorption.
 Absorption Coefficient, Linear - The fractional decrease in transmitted
intensity per unit of absorber thickness. It is usually designated by the symbol µ
and expressed in units of (cm-1.2).
 Accelerator - A device that accelerates charged atomic particles to high
energies. An x-ray machine or a betatron is an accelerator.
 Acceptance Standard - A controlled specimen containing natural or artificial
discontinuities that are well defined and similar to the maximum acceptable
discontinuity, in size and extent, in the product.
- Also may refer to the document defining acceptable discontinuity size limits.
 Acoustic Emission Testing (AE) - A nondestructive testing method that
"listens" for transient elastic-waves generated due to a rapid release of strain
energy caused by a structural alteration in a solid material.
 Acoustic Impedance (Z)- The resistance of a material to the passage of sound
waves. The value of this material property is the product of the material density
and sound velocity. The acoustic impedance of a material determines how much
sound will be transmitted and reflected when the wave encounters a boundary
with another material. The larger the difference in acoustic impedance between
two materials, the larger the amount of reflected energy will be.
 Acoustic Microscopy - A general term referring to the use of high resolution,
high frequency ultrasonic techniques to produce images of surface or near surface
features.
 Acoustic Plane Wave - A disturbance of molecular matter (sound energy) for
which the wave disturbance is distributed uniformly over a planar surface (same
phase / same amplitude)
 Acoustic Properties - Intrinsic characteristics of any particular material that
describe how sound travels through it. Such characteristics include the density,
acoustic impedance, and sound velocity
 Acoustic Reflectivity - The relative reflectivity of a specific material, that is, the
tendency to deflect sound energy in a specific medium rather than absorb it.
 ACPD - Acronym for Alternating Current Potential Drop.
 Activation - The process by which neutron bombard is used to make normally
stable atoms radioactive.
 Activity - A measure of the radioactivity of a particular radioisotope. Activity is
calculated by the number of atoms disintegrating per unit of time. Its unit of
measurement is the curie.
 Addendum - That portion of a gear tooth between the pitch line and the tip of
the tooth. Plural is "addenda."
 Air Gap - The free space that the magnetic flux must cross when a magnetic
circuit contains a break. Cracks produce small air gaps on the surface of a part.
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 Algorithm - A set of steps for solving a specific problem. Algorithms can be

expressed in many ways but are commonly expressed as one or more
mathmatical equations.
 Alpha Particle - A positively charged particle emitted by certain radioactive
material. It is made up of two neutrons and two protons; hence it is identical with
the nucleus of a helium atom.
 Alpha Radiation: A stream of fast-moving helium nuclei. This is a strongly
ionizing radiation with very weak penetration (e.g. cannot penetrate a piece of
paper).
 Alternating Current (AC) - Electric current that reverses direction periodically
(usually many times per second).
 Ambient - Surrounding or background level. Usually used in relation to
temperature, light or sound.
 Ammeter - An instrument for measuring the magnitude of electric current in a
circuit.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/amperage.htm)
 Amperage - A term used to describe the strength of electric current. The number
of electrons moving past a fixed point in a conductor in one second. Measured in
amperes. The term amps is often used for short.
 Ampere - A standard unit of measure for electric current or the flow of electrons.
The amount of current sent by one volt through a resistance of one ohm.
 Ampere Turns - A measure of the magnetizing or demagnetizing strength of the
coil, which is the product of the number of turns in a coil and the number of
amperes of current flowing through it. For example: 500 amperes in a 6 turn coil
= 500 x 6 = 3000 ampere turns.
 Amplifier - A device to increase or amplify electric impulses.
 Amplitude - (1) The maximum absolute value obtained by the disturbance of a
wave or any quantity that varies periodically. (2) The vertical height of a received
signal on an A-scan. It is measured from peak to peak for an RF presentation or
from base to peak for a video presentation.
 Angle Beam Testing - An ultrasound testing technique that uses an incidence
wave angle other than 90 degrees to the test surface. The refracted angle of the
sound energy is calculated using Snell's law.
 Angle Beam Transducers - A device used generated sound energy, send the
energy into a material at angle other than 90 degrees to the surface, and receive
reflected energy and convert it to electrical pulses.
 Angle of Incidence - The angle between the direction of propagation of an
electromagnetic or acoustic wave (or ray) incident on a body and the local normal
to that body.
 Angle of Reflection - The angle between the direction of propagation of an
electromagnetic or acoustic wave (or ray) reflected by a body and the local
normal to that body.
 Angle of Refraction - The angle between the direction of propagation of an
electromagnetic or acoustic wave (or ray) refracted by an optically homogeneous
body and the local normal to that body.
 Angstrom - A unit of length equal to 0.0000000001 or (1 x 10-10) meter.
 Angular Frequency - For any oscillation, the number of vibrations per unit time,
multiplied by 2π. Also known as angular velocity and radian frequency.
 Anisotropy - The characteristic of a substance for which a physical property,
such as the elastic properties, varies with the direction along which the
measurement is made.
 Annealing - Any treatment of metal at an elevated temperature for the purpose
of softening, removing residual stresses, recrystallization and other purposes.
 Anode - (1) The positive terminal or the collector of electrons in an electrical
system (i.e. the positive terminal of a battery) (2) The electrode at which
oxidation or corrosion occurs. It is the opposite of cathode.
 Anodizing - An electrochemical process that thickens and toughens the naturally
occurring protective oxide forming a surface coating for corrosion protection or
aesthetic purposes on metal surfaces. It is Commonly used to produce an
aluminum oxide coating on aluminum parts.
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 Antinode - A point in a standing wave where certain characteristics of the wave

field have maximum amplitude.
 Applied Stress - The stress applied to a part or assembly as a result of external
forces or loads.
 Arc Strike - The location where a welding electrode has contacted a metal
surface, melting a small volume of metal.
 Area-Amplitude Blocks - Calibration blocks in which there are a series of flat-
bottomed holes of varying diameter.
 Array Transducer - A transducer made up of several individually piezoelectric
elements connected so that the signals they transmit or receive may be treated
separately or combined as desired.
 Artifact - In nondestructive inspection, and indication that may be interpreted.
 Artificial Discontinuity - A feature, such as a notch, hole or crack, that is
manufactured to closely resemble a natural defect.
 Asperity - A term used in wear technology or tribology to describe a peak or
projection from a surface.
 Atom - The smallest particle of any element that still retains the characteristics of
that element. All matter such as solids, liquids, and gases, is composed of atoms.
 Atomic Number - A number representing the positive charge or number of
protons in the nucleus of an atom.
 Attenuation - The reduction in the level of a quantity, such as the intensity of a
wave or radiation.
 Attenuation Coefficient - A factor which is determined by the degree of
reduction in sound wave energy per unit distance traveled. It is composed of two
parts, one (absorption) proportional to frequency, the other (scattering)
dependent on the ratio of grain size or particle size to wavelength.
 Attenuator - A device for causing or measuring attenuation. Usually calibrated in
decibels.
 Austenite - A nonmagnetic solid solution of ferric carbide or carbon in iron. An
elevated-temperture parent phase in ferrous metals from which all other low-
temperature structures are derived. The normal structures are derived. The
normal condition of certain types of stainless steels.
 Autotransformer - A special type of single coil transformer in which the output
voltage can be easily varied. The autotransformer is thus employed to adjust the
primary voltage applied to the stepup transformer which produces the high
voltage applied to the x-ray tube.
 Axial - Longitudinal or parallel to the axis or centerline of a part.
B
 B-scan - A data presentation method applied to pulse echo techniques. It
produces a two-dimensional view of a cross-sectional plane through the test
object. The horizontal sweep is proportional to the distance along the test object
and the vertical sweep is proportional to depth, showing the front and back
surfaces and discontinuities between.
 Back Reflection - The signal received from the far boundary or back surface of a
test object.
 Background - The visual, radiographic or electronic response against which an
indication from a discontinuity must be viewed.
 Background fluorescence - Fluorescent residues observed over the general
surface of the part during fluorescent penetrant inspection.
 Background Noise - The extraneous signals caused by random signal sources
within or exterior to the ultrasonic testing system, including the test material.
Sometimes called grass or hash.
 Background Radiation - The radiation of man's natural environment, consisting
of that which comes from cosmic rays, the naturally radioactive elements of the
earth and the impact of the cumulative deposition from stratospheric fallout and
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nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl. Term may also mean radiation extraneous
to an experiment.
 Back Scatter - Scattered signals that are directed back to the
transmitter/receiver.
 Bainite - An intermediate transformation product from austenite in the heat
treatment of steel. Bainite can somewhat resemble pearlite or martensite,
depending on the transformation temperature.
 Banking Concept - An idea or model used to facilitate the explanation of
radiation exposure permitted in a lifetime.
 Baseline - The reference line in a measurement by triangulation. (I.e. The
horizontal trace across the A-scan display. It represents time and is generally
related to material distance or thickness.)
 Beachmarks - Macroscopic lines on a fatigue fracture that show the location of
the tip of the fatigue crack at some point in time. Must not be confused with
striations, which are extremely small and are formed in a different way.
 Beam Alignment Measurements - Measurements that provide data on the
degree of alignment between the sound beam axis and the transducer housing.
This information is particularly useful in applications that require a high degree of
certainty regarding beam positioning with respect to a mechanical reference
surface
 Beam Exit Point - See probe index.
 Beam Profiles - A measurement of the intensity of the beam across its width (or
profile). It provides valuable information about transducer sound field
characteristics. Transverse beam profiles are created by scanning the transducer
across a target (usually either a steel ball or rod) at a given distance from the
transducer face and are used to determine focal spot size and beam symmetry.
Axial beam profiles are created by recording the pulse-echo amplitude of the
sound field as a function of distance from the transducer face and provide data on
depth of field and focal length.
 Beam Spread - The divergence of the sound beam as it travels through a
medium. Specifically, the solid angle that contains the main lobe of the beam in
the far field.
 Beer's Law -the ability of a penetrant to yield an indication depends primarily on
its ability to fluoresce as a very thin film. The performance of penetrants based
on the physical constraints of the dyes can be predicted using Beer's Law
equation. This equation does not hold true when very thin layers are involved but
works well to establish general relationships between variables.
 Bequerel, Henri - The discoverer of naturally occurring radioactive uranium in
1896. He showed how these particles differed from the recently discovered x-ray
radiation by showing that they could be deflected by an electric or magnetic field.
 Betatron - A particle accelerator that is used to accelerate electrons (beta
particles) and collide them with a target to produce high energy radiation.
 Beta Radiation - A high speed electron, small in mass, moderate penetrating
abilities (e.g. unable to penetrate more
than a few millimeters of biological tissue).
 Black-light - See ultraviolet light.
 Bottom Echo - See back reflection.
 Boundary - The edge, end or face of a finite medium.
 Boundary Echo - Reflection of an ultrasonic wave from an interface.
 Bremsstrahlung - A German term that means "braking rays." It is an important
phenomenon in the generation of X-rays. In this process, a high speed electron
traveling in a material is slowed or completely stopped by the forces of any atom
it encounters.
 Brittle Rupture - A material failure mechanism that results with little or no
plastic (permanent) deformation prior to fracture.
 Broad Banded - Having a relatively wide frequency band width. Used to describe
pulses that display a wide frequency spectrum and receivers capable of
amplifying them. Opposite of narrow banded or tuned.
 Bubbler - See water column.
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C
 C-scan - a data presentation method applied to pulse echo and transmission
techniques. It yields a two-dimensional plan view of the object. No indication of
depth is given unless special gating procedures are used.
 Calibration - The process whereby the magnitude of the output of a measuring
instrument is related to the magnitude of the input force driving the instrument
(i.e. Adjusting a weight scale to zero when there is nothing on it).
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/calibrationmethods.htm)
 Calibration Reflector - A reflector with a known dimensioned surface
established to provide an accurately reproducible reference measurement.
 Capacitance - The property of an electrical circuit that opposing a change in
voltage. Capacitance enables devices or circuits to hold an electrical change.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/impedancematching.htm)
 Capacitive Reactance - The opposition to alternating current due to the
capacitance of a capacitor, cable, or circuit.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Instrumentation/impedanceplane.htm)
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/impedance.htm)
 Capillary Action - The phenomenon of a liquid such as water spontaneously
creeping up thin tubes and fibers, this is caused by adhesive and cohesive forces
and surface tension.
o (Course Material//PenetrantTest/Introduction/history.htm)
 Capillary Pressure - The difference in pressure across the interface between two
immiscible fluids.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/surfaceenergy.htm)
 Carbon Dating -A method of using the half-life of Carbon-14 to find the
approximate age of an object that is up to 50,000 years old.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/carbon14dating.htm)
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/carbondating.htm)
 Carbonitriding - An evelated-temperature process (similar to carburizing) by
which a ferrous metal absorbs both carbon and nitrogen into the surface when
exposed to an atmosphere high in carbon and nitrogen. The carbon and nitrogen
atoms diffuse into the metal to form a high-carbon and high-nitrogen zone near
the surface.
 Carburizing - An elevated temperature process by which a ferrous metal absorbs
carbon into the surface when exposed to a high-carbon environment. Carbon
atoms diffuse into the metal to create a high-carbon zone near the surface.
 Case - In a ferrous metal, the outer portion that has been made harder than the
interior, or core.
 Case Depth - The depth of the case, or hardened surface region, of a metal.
 Cathode - A negatively charged electrode, as of an electrolytic cell, a storage
battery, or an electron tube. The electrode at which reduction (and practically no
corrosion) occurs. It is the opposite of anode.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/xraygenerators.htm)
 Cathode Ray Tube - A vacuum tube containing a screen on which ultrasonic
scans or oscilloscope traces may be displayed.
 Characteristic Frequency Ratio - It allows the test coil operating point to be
specified in terms of a single quantity rather than four independent variables.
 Chemical Element - Any material that is composed of only one type of atom. It
is also called a basic element or just an element.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/elements.htm)
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 Chemical Formula - A formula used to describe the types of atoms and their
numbers in an element or compound.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/chemicalformula.htm)
 Circuit - A closed path followed or capable of being followed by an electric
current.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/currentflow.htm)
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/circuitsphase.htm)
 Circuit Diagrams - A type of diagram that is a pictorial way of showing circuits.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/circuitdiagrams.htm)
 Circular Magnetism - The circular magnetic field around and inside a solid
magnetic conductor when an electric current is passed through it.
 Circumferential - Around the circumference, or periphery, of circular or
cylindrical object. Also called tangential or hoop when referring to stresses.
 Circumferential Coil - See encircling and internal probes.
 Cladding - The outer layer, which provides corrosion protection or other
desirable property, to a composite metal. The metal layers can be bonded
together by rolling, welding, casting, heavy chemical deposition, or heavy
electroplating.
 Cleavage Fracture - A splitting fracture of a metal (usually polycrystalline)
across the grains (or crystals).
 Cloud Chamber - (1) A station in a penetrant inspection processing line where
the developer is applied by creating a cloud of developer that envelops the test
component. (2) A device for detecting and measuring radioactivity and radiation.
The cloud chamber was invented by Charles Wilson in 1911 and it makes it
possible to visually see and photograph the path of ionizing radiation.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/detection
measurement/cloudchamber_popup.htm)
 Coefficients - A constant chemical or physical property constant for a system
with specific conditions (i.e. Coefficient of Friction).
o (Course Material/Ultrasonic/Physics/reflectiontransmission.htm)
 Coefficient of Thermal Expansion - The linear expansion or contraction per
unit length per degree temperatures between specified lower and upper
temperatures.
 Coercive Force - The reverse magnetizing force necessary to remove residual
magnetism and demagnetize the part.
 Cohesive Strength - The force that holds together the atoms in metal crystals.
Analogous to tensile strength, but on a submicroscopic scale.
 Coil - More than one loop of a conductor wound in a spiral. Also called a solenoid.
 Coil Shot - A short "shot" of magnetizing current passed through a solenoid or
coil for the purpose of producing a longitudinal magnetic field in a test
component.
 Cobalt 60 - A radioisotope of the element cobalt.
 Cold Shut - (1) A discontinuity that appears on the surface of cast metal as a
result of two streams of liquid metal meeting but failing to unite. (2) A lap on the
surface of a forging or billet that was closed without fusion during deformation.
Same as forging lap.
 Cold Work - Permanent deformation caused by application of an external force
to a metal below its recrystallization temperature.
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/absorption.htm)
 Collimating Nozzle - A transducer assembly attachment designed to reduce the
ultrasonic beam spread.
 Collimation - The process by which a beam of energy or particles is aligned to
form a parallel beam.
 Collimator - A device for limiting the effects of beam spread.
 Color-Contrast Penetrant - A penetrant incorporating a color dye or sufficient
intensity to give good color contrast in indications against the background of the
surface being tested, when viewed under white light.
 Columnar Structure - A coarse structure of parallel columns of grains, having
the long axis perpendicular to the surface.
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 Comparative Test Block - A metal block specially cracked and having two
separate, but adjacent areas for the application of different penetrants so that a
direct comparison can be obtain.
 Compensator - An electrical matching network to compensate for electrical
impedance differences.
 Complex Electrical Impedance - In a typical AC circuit, resistance R and
reactance X combine in vector fashion to form a complex impedance. Reactance
is conventionally multiplied by the positive square root of -1 (j), to express Z as a
complex number of the form R + jX.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/tranducertesting2.htm)
 Composite - A product that is produced by combining several different material
products to arrive at desired set of properties. Fiber glass, carbon graphite epoxy,
and carbon fiber are examples of composite material.
 Compound - Any material that is composed of more than one type of atom.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/atomselements.htm)
 Compression - The act of forcing or pressing together.
o (Basic Science/sound/vibration/discussion002.htm)
 Compressional Wave - A wave in which the particle motion in the material is
parallel to the wave propagation direction. Also called a longitudinal wave.
 Compressive Strength - In compression testing, the ratio of maximum load to
the original cross-sectional area. Fracture may or may not occur, depending on
the applied forces and the properties of the material.
 Compton Scattering - A process through which radiation is absorbed by the
material it penetrates.
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/radmatinteraction.htm)
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/comptonscattering.htm)
 Computed Tomography - A radiographic technique in which the planar density
data is stretched out in a third dimension and combined similar data taken at
various angles to generate cross sectional images of the test component.
o (Course Material/AdvancedTechniques/computedtomography.htm)
 Concentration Cell - A cell involving an electrolyte and two identical electrodes,
with the electrical potential resulting from differences in the chemistry of the
environments adjacent to the two electrodes.
 Conductivity - A measure of the ability of a material to conduct electrical
current.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Introduction/historyofET.htm)
o (Course
Material/EddyCurrents/ProbesAndApplication/conductivitymeasurements.ht
m)
 Conductors - Materials that have free electrons and allow electrical current to
flow easily.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/valenceshell.htm)
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/propertiesofelectricity.htm)
 Consequent Poles - Magnetic poles that exist where the specimen has been
successively magnetized in different sections to create more than two poles; e.g.,
two north poles with one south pole between them.
 Constriction - Squeezing in the lines of force; i.e., a narrowing of section in a
magnetized material.
 Constructive Interference - The strengthening of waves that occurs when two
waves interact and in phase portions of each wave combine to create a wave with
a higher intensity.
o (Basic Science/Sound/interference.htm)
 Contact Method - The testing method in which the transducer face makes direct
contact with the test object through a thin film of couplant.
 Contact Transducers - An ultrasonic transducer that is designed to be used in direct
contact with the surface of the test article.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/transducertypes.htm)
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 Contaminant - Any foreign substance that interferes with a process or measurement.

o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/MethodsTech/preparation.htm)
 Continuous Method - A magnetic particle inspection method in which the
indicating particles are on the part while the magnetizing current is being applied.
 Continuous Wave - A wave that continues without interruption.
 Continuum - The name used for the combination of all colors an object, such as
the Sun, emits, and also for the broad variation from color to color in how much
light is emitted.
o (Course Material/Radiography/EquipmentMaterials/xraysources.htm)
 Contracted Sweep - A misnomer that refers to extending the duration of the
sweep to permit viewing discontinuities or back reflections from deeper in the test
object. The sweep appears to be compressed.
 Contrast (radiographic) - The measure of difference in the film or detector
density (darkness) from one area to another, resulting from various X-ray
intensities interacting with the detector.
o (Course Material/Radiography/TechCalibrations/contrast.htm)
 Contrast Ratio - The relative difference in the film or detector density
(darkness) between the image background and a feature of interest.
 Contrast Sensitivity - Being able to differentiate between an object and its
background
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/Introduction/contrastsensitivity.htm)
 Control Echo - An ultrasonic reference signal from a constant reflector, such as
the back reflection from a smooth, regular surface. Loss of the control echo
indicates that the UT system is not functioning properly due to a problem such as
coupling loss.
 Controlled Area - A defined area in which the occupational exposure of
personnel to radiation or to radioactive material is under the supervision of the
individual in charge.
 Cooling Stresses - Residual stresses resulting from nonuniform distribution of
temperature during cooling.
 Corner Effect - The strong reflection obtained when an ultrasonic beam is
directed toward the intersection of two or three mutually perpendicular surfaces.
 Corrosion - Deterioration of a metal by chemical or electrochemical reaction with
its environment.
o (Course
Material/EddyCurrents/ProbesAndApplication/corrosiondamage.htm)
 Corrosion Embrittlement - The severe loss of ductility of a metal, resulting
from corrosive attack, usually intergranular and often not visually apparent.
 Corrosion Fatigue - Cracking that initiates and propagates due to the
application of repeated or fluctuating stresses, and the initiation and propagation
occurs more rapidly due to the presence of a corrosive environment.
 Coulomb(ku`-lum) - A charge that moves past a given point in one second. A
coulomb is the charge carried by 6.25 x 10^18 electrons.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/amperage.htm)
 Couplant - A substance (usually liquid) used between the transducer and the
test surface to permit or improve transmission of ultrasonic energy into the test
object.
 Coupling - (1) The physical connect of an ultrasonic transducer to the test
component. (2) The interaction of the coil's magnetic field with the test sample,
which results in the generation of eddy currents in the sample and, in turn, a
change in probe impedance.
 Coupon - A piece of metal from which a test specimen is to be prepared. Often
an extra piece that is cut from a casting or forging.
 Crack - A long narrow discontinuity
 Crack Growth Rate - The change in crack length per number of fatigue cycles.
 Crack Tip Diffraction - A process using a beam transducer to determine the
length and height of a crack
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/cracktip.htm)
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 Creep - Time-dependent strain occurring under stress, or the change of shape

that occurs gradually under a steady load.
 Creep Strength - (1) The constant nominal stress that will cause a specified
quantity of creep in a given time at constant temperature; (2) the constant
nominal stress that will cause a specified creep rate at constant temperature.
 Crevice Corrosion - Localized corrosion resulting from the formation of a
concentration cell in a crevice between two surfaces.
 Critical Angle - The first angel of the incident sound wave that generates a
refracted wave that travels along the incident surface. The first angle that results
in a surface following longitudinal wave is known as the 1st critical angle and the
first angle that results in surface following shear wave is known as the 2nd critical
angle.
o (Basic Science/sound/interference/discussion010.htm)
 Cross Talk - The unwanted signal leakage (acoustical or electrical) across and
intended barrier, such as leakage between the transmitting and receiving
elements of a dual transducer. Also called cross noise and cross coupling.
 CRT - See cathode ray tube.
 Crystal - A three-dimensional array or atoms having a certain regularity in its
arrangement. A crystal is composed of many cells or lattices, in which the atoms
are arranged. In the field of metallurgy, a crystal is often called a grain.
 Cumulative Dose (radiation) - The total dose (see threshold dose) resulting
from repeated exposure to radiation of the same region or of the whole body.
 Cup Fracture (cup-and-cone-fracture) - Fracture, frequently seen in tensile
test pieces of a ductile material , in which the surface of failure on one portion
shows a central flat area of failure in tension, with an exterior extended rim of
failure in shear.
 Curie - The basic unit of measure for describing the activity (radioactivity) of a
quantity of radioactive material. The amount of radioactive material giving off 37
billion disintegrations per second. In the United States, the picocurie (1 pCi = 0.037
d.p.s.) is the unit used for many measurements of radioactive contamination.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/halflife1.htm)
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/nature.htm)
 Current (I) - The flow of electrons. Measured in amperes.
 Current Density - Current divided by the electrode area (current per unit area of
the electrode)
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/depthcurrentdensity.htm)
 Curvature corrections - The method to account for degradation of signal
amplitude when using a flat ultrasonic transducer to inspect an object with a
curved surface.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/corrections.htm)
 Cutoff Frequency - The upper or lower frequency beyond which no appreciable
energy is transmitted.
 Cycle (Hertz) - One complete set of recurrent values of a periodic quantity
comprises a cycle.
 Cyclic Load - Repetitive loading of a material that sometimes leads to fatigue
fracture.
 Cyclotron - A device that is capable of accelerating charged particles (protons) in
a circular path to energies that exceed 10 MeV. E.O. Lawrence developed the
Cyclotron in the early 1930’s,
D
 Damping - Limiting the duration or decreasing the amplitude of vibrations.
 Damping Capacity - A measure of the ability of a material to dissipate
mechanical energy.
9|Page
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 Damping Material - A highly absorbent material used to cause rapid decay of

vibration. The material bonded to the back of the piezoelectric element of a
transducer to limit the duration of vibrations.
 Dark Adaptation - The adjustment of the eyes that occurs over time when one
enters a darkened area. This adjustment permits the eye to see better in the dim
lighting conditions.
 Dead Spot - An area where destructive waves interference occurs to such an
extent that the net effect is zero sound energy in the area.
 Dead Zone - In ultrasonic testing, the interval following the initial pulse where
the transducer ring down prevents detection or interpretation of reflected energy
(echoes). In contact ultrasonic testing, the area just below the the surface of a
test object that can not be inspected because of the transducer is still ringing
down and not yet ready to receive signals.
 Deburring - Removing burrs, sharp edges or fins from metal parts by filing,
grinding, or tumble or vibratory deburring.
 Decarburization - The loss of carbon from the surface of a ferrous alloy usually
resulting from heating the material in certain environments.
 Decay - The gradual reduction of the quantity of some substance or energy form
to zero.
 Decay Radioactive - The spontaneous change of an atomic nucleus and the
emission of a particle or a photon.
 Decay Rate - The speed at which radioactive decay occurs. For a definite
quantity of a nuclei, the rate of decay is usually expressed in terms of half-life.
o (Course Material//Physics/decayrate.htm)
 Decibel - A logarithmic unit for expressing power relationships. n = 10
log10(I1/I2) where n is the difference of decibels of intensities 1 & 2.
 Decontamination - The removal of radioactive contaminants from surfaces.
 Deep Drawing - The forming of deeply recessed parts by means of plastic flow
of the material.
 Deep Etching - Severe etching of a metallic surface for examination at a
magnification of ten diameters or less to reveal gross features such as
segregation, cracks, porosity or grain flow.
 Defect - A discontinuity or other imperfection causing a reduction in the quality
of a material or component.
 Definition - The sharpness of features on a radiograph that correspond to
boundaries from thickness or material density changes in the radiographed
component.
o (Course Material/Radiography/TechCalibrations/definition.htm)
 Deflection - Deformation within the elastic range caused by a load or force that
does not exceed the elastic limit of the material. Temporary deformation such as
that of a spring.
 Delamination - A laminar discontinuity such as an area of unbonded materials.
 Delay Line - A material (liquid or solid) placed in front of a transducer to cause a
time delay between the initial pulse and the front surface reflection.
 Delta Effect - The scattering or reradiation of energy from a discontinuity. The
reradiated energy may include waves of both the incident mode and converted
modes (longitudinal and shear).
 Demagnetization - The process of removing existing magnetism from a part.
 Dendrite - A crystal that has a tree-like branching pattern, being most evident in
cast metals slowly cooled through the solidification range.
 Densitometer - An instrument used to measure the degree of darkening of
developed radiographic film.
 Density - The mass of a substance per unit volume.
o (Basic Science/sound/speedinmaterials/discussion004.htm)
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/specificgravity.htm)
o (Course Material/Radiography/TechCalibrations/radiographicdensity.htm)
 Density Gradient - The change in density of a radiographic film as a function of
position. The maximum density gradient of a film is usually called gamma.
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 Depth Compensation - See distance amplitude correction.

 Depth of Fusion - The depth to which the base metal melted and fused during
welding.
 Depth of Penetration (Standard) - The depth to which the eddy current
density has decreased to 1/e or 36.8% of the surface density. Also known as skin
depth.
 Descalling - Removal of the thick layer of oxides formed on some metals at
elevated temperatures.
 Destructive Interference - A reduction in wave intensity that occurs due to the
interaction of waves that are out of phase.
o (Basic Science/Sound/interference/discussion010.htm)
 Detector - A device that determines the presence of or measures the amount of
energy, such as radiation.
 Deuterium - An isotope of hydrogen having one neutron and one proton with an
atomic weight = 2.014.
 Deuteron - The nucleus of a hydrogen-2 (deuterium) atom consisting of one
neutron and one proton. A deuteron is considered a subatomic particle with "unit"
positive charge.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources/fusion_popup.htm)
 Developer (Penetrant) - A finely divided powder applied over the surface of a
part to help bring out penetrant indications.
 Developer (Radiographic) - A chemical solution which reduces exposed silver
halide crystals to metallic silver.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/developers.htm)
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/MethodsTech/developer.htm)
 Developing Time - The time between the application of the developer and the
examination of the part for indications.
 Diamagnetic Materials - Materials that have all paired electrons in the atoms
and thus have no net magnetic moment. The magnetic permeability of
diamagnetic materials is usually very close to 1.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electronpairing/discussion006.htm)
 Differential Probe - A probe having two sensing coils located side-by-side
allowing it to convert a floating signals to a low voltage ground referenced signal
to be displayed on a ground referenced oscilloscope.
 Diffraction - Any redistribution in space of the intensity of waves that results
from the presence of an object causing variations of either the amplitude or
phase of the waves.
o (Basic Science/sound/reflection/discussion012.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/radiatedfields.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/cracktip.htm)
 Diffraction Mottling - A diffuse diffraction pattern on a radiograph that
sometimes results when thin sections of crystalline material are radiographed.
 Diffusion - (1) the movement or atoms or molecules to new sites within a
material. (2) Spreading of a constituent in a gas, liquid or solid, tending to make
the composition of all parts uniform.
 Dimensional Threshold - The minimum thickness that a layer of a fluorescent
penetrant must reach so that it will fluoresce when exposed to UV light.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/dimensionalthreshold.htm)
 Dimpled Rupture Fracture - A fractographic term describing ductile fracture
that occurs by the formation and coalescence of microvoides along the fracture
path. Seen at high magnification as tiny cups, or half-voids.
 Direct Current (DC) - Electrical current that flows in only one direction in a
circuit.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/directcurrent.htm)
o (Course Material/MagParticle/Equipment/equipment1.htm)
 Directional Properties - Properties whose magnitude vary depending on the
relationship of the test axis to a specific direction within the material. The
variation results from preferred orientation or from fibering in the structure.
Anisotropy.
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 Discernible Image - Image capable of being recognized by sight without the aid
of magnification.
 Discontinuity - a break in the continuity of a medium or material.
 Disintegration, Nuclear - A spontaneous nuclear transformation (radioactivity)
characterized by the emission of energy and/or mass from the nucleus.
 Dislocation - A discontinuity in the structure of a crystal. Two basic linear types
are recognized, but combinations and partial dislocations are most prevalent. An
"edge dislocation" corresponds to the row of mismatched atoms along a straight
edge formed by an extra, partial plane of atoms within the body of the crystal,
that is, by a parallel section through the crystal. A "screw dislocation"
corresponds to the highly distorted lattice adjacent to the axis of a spiral
structure in a crystal, the spiral structure being characterized by a distortion that
has joined normally parallel planes together to form a continuous helical ramp
winding about the dislocation as an axis with a pitch of one interplanar distance.
 Dispersion - The variation of phase velocity with frequency. In general, any
process separating radiation into components having different frequencies,
energies, velocities, or other characteristics.
 Dispersive Medium - A medium in which the propagation velocity depends on
the wave frequency.
 Distance Amplitude Correction (DAC) - Compensation of gain as a function of
time for difference in amplitude of reflections from equal reflectors at different
sound travel distances. Refers also to compensation by electronic means such as
swept gain, time corrected gain, time variable gain and sensitivity time control.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/corrections.htm)
 Distance-Amplitude Blocks - A set of ultrasonic reference specimens in which
each specimen has a different metal path length to a equal-sized reflector. The
specimens are used to develop distance amplitude response curves.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/calibrationmethods.htm)
 Distance-Amplitude Response Curve - A curve showing the relationship

between signal amplitude and equal-sized reflecting surfaces at various distances
from the transducer. Standard blocks are used to obtain such curve.
 Distorted Field - A magnetic field that does not follow a straight path or have a
uniform distribution due to the irregular in shape of the magnetized test object.
The direction of a magnetic field in a symmetrical object will be substantially
uniform if produced by a uniformly applied magnetizing force, as in the case of a
bar magnetized in a solenoid.
 Distortion - A Change in the shape of a part due to the action of mechanical
forces.
 Divergence - An improper term used to describe the spreading of ultrasonic
waves beyond the near field. It is a function of transducer diameter and
wavelength in the medium.
 Domain - A substructure in a ferromagnetic material within which all the
elementary magnets (electron spins) are held aligned in one direction by
interatomic forces; if isolated, a domain would be magnetically saturated.
 Doppler Effect - The change in the observed frequency of an acoustic or
electromagnetic wave due to relative motion of the source and the receiver.
o (Basic Science/sound/dopplereffect.htm)
 Dose - The amount of ionizing radiation energy absorbed per unit mass of
irradiated material at a specific location, such as a part of the human body.
Measured in reps, rems per hour.
 Dosimeter - A device that measures radiation dose, such as a film badge or
ionization chamber.
 Drain Time - The period of time allowed for excess liquid to gradually flow off of
a part after application of either the penetrant or emulsifier material.
 Dry Developer - A powder that is applied dry to the test component when
performing a penetrant inspection.
 D/T Ratio - The working distance for the X-ray tube in relation to the film
distance. The working distance, d, and the specimen thickness, t, are both
measured with reference to the source side of the specimen.
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 Dual Element Transducers - An ultrasonic transducer that has two active

elements in one case. One of the elements send the sound wave and the second
receives the reflected sound energy. Near surface resolution is improved since
there is no dead-zone issue to content with.
 Ductile – Permitting plastic (or permanently) prior to eventual fracture.
 Ductile Crack Propagation - Slow crack propagation that is accompanied by
noticeable plastic deformation and requires energy to be supplied from outside
the body.
 Ductility - The ability of a material to deform plastically without fracturing of
area in a tensile test or by other means.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/emattexture1.htm)
 Dwell Time - The period of time wherein penetrant or developer is in contact
with the surface of the part. Drain time is considered to be a portion of the dwell
time. Synonymous with penetration time or emulsifier time.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/MethodsTech/application.htm)
 Dynamic - Moving, or having high velocity. Frequently used with impact testing
of metal specimens. Opposite of static, or essentially stationary, testing or
service.
 Dynamic Creep - Creep that occurs under conditions of fluctuating load or
fluctuating temperature.
 Dynamic Range – The ratio of maximum to minimum reflective areas that can
be distinguished on the cathode ray tube at a constant gain setting.
E
 Echo - A signal indicating reflected acoustic energy.
 Echoes - A sound wave that continues to bounce around a room or off other
barriers, or reverberate, until it has lost all its energy.
 Eddy Currents - Circular induced currents that are generated by an alternating
current in the nearby coil.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/eddycurrents.htm)
 Eddy Current Inspection - An electromagnetic technique used on conductive
materials for crack detection or the rapid sorting of small components for either
flaws, size variations, or material variation, as well as other applications.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Introduction/presentstateofET.htm)
 Eddy Current Method - An electromagnetic NDT Method based on the process
of inducing electrical currents into a conductive material and observing the
interaction between the currents and the material.
 Eddy Current Scope - A scope that uses little electrical currents call "eddy
currents" to find defects in different materials.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/workwithelectricity.htm)
 Eddy Current Testing (EC) - An electromagnetic technique used on conductive
materials for crack detection or the rapid sorting of small components for either
flaws, size variations, or material variation, as well as other applications.
o (Course Material/NDTIntro/cc_intro001.htm)
o (Course Material/cc_ec_index.htm)
 EDGE Effect - Signal obtained when a surface prove approaches the sample’s
edge.
 Effective Depth of Penetration -Depth at which eddy current density drops off
to 5% of the surface density.
 Elastic - Able to return immediately to the original size and shape after being
stretched or squeezed; springy.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/elasticsolids.htm)
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 Elastic Constants - The factors of proportionality that relate elastic

displacement of a material to applied forces.
 Elastic Deformation - Change of dimensions accompanying stress in the elastic
range, original dimensions being restored upon release of stress.
 Elastic Limit - The maximum stress to which a material may be subjected with
no permanent deformation after release of the applied load.
 Elastic Modulus - The ratio of the stress applied to an elastic body to the change
in its shape.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/pulserreceivers.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/modeconversion.htm)
 Elastic-Plastic Fracture Mechanics - A design approach used for materials that
fracture or behave in a “plastic” manner, such as lower strength, high-toughness
steels.
 Elastic Properties of Solids - Properties of a solid material defining how it will
react to stress and strain.
 Elasticity - A term that describes how quickly molecules return to their original
positions.
o (Basic Science/sound/speedinmaterials/discussion004.htm)
 Elastomer - A material with rubber-like properties-that is, quite elastic, returning
to its original size and shape after being deformed.
 Electric Motor - A motor that converts electric energy into mechanical energy
that can be used to do work.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electricmotor.htm)
 Electrical Contact - Contact of two conductors allowing current to pass.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/ProbesAndApplication/slidingprobes.htm)
 Electrical Current - The movement of electrons between atoms.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electricalcurrent.htm)
 Electrical Impedance - The total opposition that a circuit presents to an

alternating current.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Instrumentation/impedanceplane)
 Electrical Impedance Plots
 Electrical Noise - Extraneous signals caused by externally radiated signals or
electrical interferences within an ultrasonic instrument. A component of
background noise.
 Electricity - A naturally occurring force that exists all around us.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electricityintro.htm)
 Electrochemical - Pertaining to combined electrical and chemical action.
Deterioration (corrosion) of a metal occurs when an electrical current flows
between cathodic and anodic areas on metal surfaces.
 Electrochemical Corrosion - Corrosion which occurs when current flows
between cathodic and anodic areas on metallic surfaces.
 Electrode - An electrical conductor, usually of metal or graphite, that leads
current into or out of a solution (electrolyte).
 Electrolyte - A material, usually a liquid or paste, that will conduct an electric
current.
 Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer - A device using the magneto effect to
generate and receive acoustic signals for ultrasonic nondestructive tests.
 Electromagnet - Wrapping a wire into a coil creates an electromagnet, which
behaves just like a regular permanent bar magnet when the current is flowing.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electromagnetism.htm)
 Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATS) - A scanning device which
transmits and receives ultrasonic waves.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/emats.htm)
14 | P a g e
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 Electromagnetic Field - A field that is created when energy from a power

source such as a battery is applied to a circuit, making the electrons flow through
a conductor, a new type of field is developed around the wire.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electrostaticfield.htm)
 Electromagnetic Induction - A process by which electrical current is induced in
an electrical conductor by a changing magnetic field that acts upon the conductor.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electricitymagnet2/discussion014.htm)
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/inductance.htm)
 Electromagnetic Radiation - Energy in a wave form that possesses both
electrical and magnetic characteristics. EMR radiates in the form of a wave which
can accelerate charged particles. Electromagnetic radiation can travel through a
vacuum and its energy varies greatly; radio waves have the longest wavelengths
and the lowest frequency and energy, while X-rays and gamma rays have the
shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies and energies.
o (Basic
Science/Radiography/radioactivedecay/twoforms_nucrad_popup.htm)
 Electromagnetic Spectrum - The entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of
electromagnetic radiation extending from gamma rays to the longest radio waves.
 Electromagnetic Testing - A nondestructive way to test materials by using
electromagnetic energy.
 Electromagnetism - The production of a magnetic field by current flowing in a
conductor.
 Electromagnets - An iron bar placed through the center of the coiled wire would
become a temporary magnet, as long as the electric current is flowing through
the wire.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electricitymagnet/discussion013.htm)
 Electromotive Force - The work or energy which causes the flow of an electric
current. Expressed as volts. It should be noted that the term "force" is a
misnomer. However, the term is so well established that its use continues in spite
of its being incorrect.
 Electromotor Force - A force that causes electrons to move in a particular
direction.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/voltage.htm)
 Electron Volt - An amount of energy equal to the energy gained by one electron
when it is accelerated by one volt,
o (Basic Science/Radiography/characterradiation/measuringrad_popup.htm)
 Electron - A negatively charged particle that is in constant motion and generally
orbits the nucleus of an atom. The electron is the lightest known particle that
possesses a charge.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electriccharge.htm)
 Electroscope - A fairly simple device comprised of a metal rod with two thin
leaves attached to one end. If the electroscope is given a negative charge, the
metal leaves will separate from each other. The rate of discharge of the
electroscope is a measure of ions in the air and can be used as a basis of
measurement and detection.
o (Basic
Science/Radiography/detectionmeasurement/electroscope_popup.htm)
 Electrostatic Field - Electrons are said to have a negative charge, which means
that they seem to be surrounded by a kind of invisible force field. This is called an
electrostatic field.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electriccharge.htm)
15 | P a g e
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 Electrostatic Generator - This device accelerates electrons to produce high

energy radiation.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/highenergyrad/electrostaticgen_popup.htm)
 Elements - Any material composed of only one kind of atom.
 Elementary Particle - Originally a term applied to any particle that could not be
further subdivided; now applied only to protons, electrons, neutrons, antiparticles
and strange particles, but not to alpha particles and deuterons.
 Ellipse - When a parabola is closed off by another curved surface an ellipse is
produced.
 Elliptical Void Formula - A formula used to calculate the amount of time it
takes for a viscous fluid to fill an elliptical defect in a material.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/viscosity.htm)
 Elongation - In tensile testing, the increase in the gage length, measured after
fracture of the specimen within the gage length, usually expressed as a
percentage of the original gage length.
 EMATs - Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/ematcomposite.htm)
 Embrittlement - Reduction in the normal ductility of a metal due to a physical or
chemical change.
 Emissivity - The energy emission rate usually expressed as r/c/hr @ 1ft or
mr/mc/hr @ 1 ft.
 Emulsification Time - The period of time during which the emulsifier is
permitted to combine with the liquid penetrant. Emulsification action begins when
the emulsifying agents come in contact with the penetrant and ends with the
removal of this agent, by water rinsing.
 Emulsifier - An agent, usually in liquid form which, when combined with a liquid
penetrant that is insoluble in water, renders such a penetrant "soluble" thereby
facilitating its removal by a water wash.
 Emulsifier Bath - The bath used to soak a part in a penetrate fluid to test for
defects.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/QualityProcess/emulsifiers.htm)
 Emulsifier Concentration and Contact Time - The time the material needs to
be soaked in and the concentration of penetrate in the bath depends on the type
of penetrate used and the desired results.
 Emulsifiers - An additive that promotes the formation of a stable mixture
between two liquids like oil and water.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/emulsifiers.htm)
 Emulsion Penetrant - A mixture of water and oil produced by the addition of a
third material, the liquid penetrant emulsifier.
 Emulsion Radiographic - A gelatin and silver bromide crystal mixture coated
onto a transparent film base.
 Encapsulation - The process of sealing radioactive materials to prevent
contamination.
 END Effect - Signal obtained when an internal or encircling probe approaches the
end of a tube or rod (Similar to edge effect).
 Equiaxed Grain Structure - A structure in which the grains have approximately
the same dimensions in all directions.
 Earing - The amount of wasted, irregular material (usually snipped or cut off) as
part of the stamping or deep drawing process.
 Erosion - Destruction of metals or other materials by the abrasive action of
moving fluids, usually accelerated by the presence of solid particles of matter in
suspension. When corrosion occurs simultaneously, the term erosion-corrosion is
often used.
 Error Analysis - The process used to evaluate the total error throughout an
experiment. This can be due to bias error, precision error as well as others.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/erroranalysis.htm)
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 Erythema Dose - The amount of radiation needed, when applied to the skin, to
make it turn temporarily red.
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/radiationsafety.htm)
 Etchants - A chemical used to etch a metal to reveal the structural details.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/MethodsTech/researchoncleaning.htm)
 Etch cracks - Shallow cracks in hardened steel, containing high residual surface
stresses, produced on etching in an embrittling acid.
 Etching - Subjecting the surface of a metal to preferential chemical or
electrolytic attack in order to reveal structural details.
 Eutectic Alloy - The composition in a binary alloy system which melts at
minimum temperature. More than one eutectic composition may occur in a given
alloy system.
 Evaluation - The process of deciding the severity of a condition after an
indication has been interpreted. Evaluation determines if the test object should be
rejected, repaired or accepted. See indication and interpretation.
 Evanescent Wave - A disappearing wave.
 Exfoliation - A type of corrsion that progresses approximately parallel to the
outer surface of the metal, causing layers of the metal to be elevated by the
formation of corrosion product.
 Expanded Sweep - A short duration horizontal sweep positioned to provide close
examination of a particular signal.
 Exposure - The time which radiation is being exposed to something
 Exposure Film - Radiation intensity multiplied by time.
 Exposure Vaults and Cabinets - Exposure vaults and cabinets are areas that
allow personnel to work safely in the vicinity while exposures are taking place
o (Course Material/Radiography/EquipmentMaterials/vaultscabinets.htm)
 External Discontinuities - Surface irregularities which cause density variations
on a radiograph. These are observable with the naked eye.
F
 False Indication - A test indication that could be interpreted as originating from
a discontinuity but which actually originates where no discontinuity exists.
 Faraday, Michael - a chemist in England during the early 1800's and is credited
with the discovery of electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic rotations, the
magneto-optical effect, diamagnetism, and many other discoveries.
 Faraday's Law - the principle saying that whenever wires are moved with an
electrical current, it creates a magnetic field.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/selfinductance.htm)
 Far Field - The zone beyond the near field in front of the transducer in which
signal amplitude decreases monotonically in proportion to distance from the
transducer. Also called the Fraunhofer zone.
 Fast Film - Radiographic film which has inherent graininess characteristics of a
coarse nature intended to increase the relative film speed.
 Fatigue - The phenomenon leading to fracture under repeated or fluctuating
stresses having a maximum values less than the tensile strength of the material.
Fatigue fractures are progressive, beginning as minute cracks that grow under
the action of the fluctuating stresses.
 Fatigue Cracks - Cracks in a material formed from repeated stress, none of
which exceeded the maximum stress of the material.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/Principles/commonuses.htm)
 Fatigue Limit - The maximum stress below which a material can presumably
endure an infinite number of stress cycles. If the stress is not completely
17 | P a g e
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reversed, the value of the mean stress, the minimum stress, or the stress ratio
should be stated.
 Fatigue Strength - The maximum stress that can be sustained for a specified
number of cycles without failure, the stress being completely reversed within
each cycle unless otherwise stated.
 Feed-Through Coil - See encircling probe.
 Ferrite - Essentially pure iron in the microstructure of an iron or steel specimen.
It may have a small amount of carbon (less than 0.02 wt%). Also called alpha
iron.
 Ferromagnetic - It is a measure of coupling between the coil and test object.
- Fraction of the test coil area filled by the test specimen.
o (Course Material/MagParticle/Introduction/introduction.htm)
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/mutualinductance.htm)
 Ferromagnetic Materials - Materials that can be magnetized.
o (BasicScience/Magnetism/magneticbehavior/discussion002.htm)
 Ferrous - Describing a metal that is more than 50% iron, such as steel, stainless
steel, cast iron, ductile (nodular) cast iron, etc.
 Field Intensity - A term used to describe the strength of the electromagnetic
field.
 Filet - a radius (curvature) imparted to inside meeting surfaces; a blended curve
joining an internal corner to two lateral surfaces.
 Filled Crack - A crack-like discontinuity, open to the surface, but filled with some
foreign material-oxide, grease, etc.- which tends to prevent penetrants from
entering.
 Film Badge - A package of photographic film worn like a badge by workers in the
nuclear industry to measure exposure to ionizing radiation. The absorbed dose
can be calculated by the degree of film darkening caused by the irradiation.
 Film Holder - A light tight carrier for films and screens.
 Film Speed - Relative exposure required to attain a specified density.
 Filter - A layer of absorption material that is placed in the beam of radiation for
the purpose of absorbing rays of certain wavelengths and thus controlling the
quality of the radiograph.
 Filters in Radiography - Filters are placed in the x-ray beam to produce a
cleaner image by absorbing the lower energy x-ray photons that tend to scatter
more.
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/filters.htm)
 Filtration Inherent - The filtration exhibited by the walls and other materials of
a radiation source through which the radiation must pass before it is utilized.
 Fine Crack - A discontinuity in a solid material with a very fine opening to the
surface, but possessing length and depth greater than the width of this opening;
usually depth is many time the width.
 Fission - A term defined as the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two smaller
nuclei of roughly equal mass. During fission, a fissionable nucleus (such as
plutonium) absorbs a neutron, becomes unstable and splits into two nuclei,
releasing energy.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources/fission_popup.htm)
 Fission Products - Nuclei formed by the fission of heavy elements. They are of
medium atomic weight, and almost all are radioactive. Examples: strontium 90,
cesium 137.
 Fissionable Material - Any material readily fissioned by slow neutrons, for
example, uranium 235 and plutonium 239.
 Fixer - A chemical solution which dissolves unexposed silver halide crystals from
developed film emulsions.
 Flakes - Short discontinuous internal fissures in ferrous metals attributed to
stresses produced by localized transformation and decreased solubility of
hydrogen during cooling after hot working. In a fractured surface, flakes appear
as bright silvery areas; on an etched surface they appear as short, discontinuous
cracks. Also called "shatter cracks and snowflakes."
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 Flash Point Interference - A method used to reconstruct a flaw based on an

general ellipsoid model.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/flawreconstruction.htm)
 Flat Bottom Hole - A type of reflector commonly used in reference standards.
The end (bottom) surface of the hole is the reflector.
 Flaw - A defect.
 Flaw Location Scale - A specially graduated ruler that can be attached to an
angle beam transducer to relate the position of an indication on the cathode ray
tube screen to the actual location of a discontinuity within the test object.
 Flaw Reconstruction - The process used to determine what a flaw looks like
through nondestructive testing.
 Fluorescence, Radiographic - The emission of electromagnetic radiation by a

substance as the result of the absorption of electromagnetic or corpuscular
radiation having greater unit energy than that of the fluorescent radiation.
Fluorescence is characterized by the fact that it occurs only so long as the
stimulus responsible for it is maintained. The characteristic x-radiation emitted as
a result of absorption of x-rays of higher frequency is a typical example of
fluorescence.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/colorandfluorescents.htm)
 Fluorescence, Penetrant - Property of emitting light as the result of, and only
during the absorption of radiation from some other energy source.
 Fluorescent - A bright vivid color that glows under a black light.
o (Course Material//PenetrantTest/Introduction/history.htm)
 Fluorescent Dye - A dye which becomes fluorescent giving off light, when it is
exposed to short wave radiation such as ultraviolet or near ultraviolet light.
 Fluorescent Dye Penetrant - A highly penetrating liquid used in performance of
of liquid penetrant testing and characterized by its ability to fluoresce under black
light.
 Fluorescent Minerals - Minerals that glow when exposed to sunlight.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/discoveryrad.htm)
 Fluorescent Screen - The coating of material in cathode ray tubes, which glows
under electronic bombardment from the cathode.
 Flux, Neutron - The intensity of neutron radiation. It is expressed as the number
of neutrons passing through 1 square centimeter in 1 second.
 Flux Density - The number of flux lines per unit of area, measured at right
angles to the direction of the flux. It is the measure of magnetic field strength.
 Flux Leakage - Flux, or lines of force, leaking from pole to pole outside a
magnet.
 Focal-Film Distance (ffd) - The distance in inches between the focal spot of the
x-ray tube, or the radiation source, and the film.
 Focal Zone - The distance before and after the focal point in which the intensity
differs a specified amount (usually 6db) from the focal intensity. Also called depth
of field or depth of focus.
 Focused Beam - A sound beam that converges to a cross section smaller than
that generated by the transducer.
 Focused Transducer - A transducer that produces a focused sound beam.
 Focusing - Concentration or convergence of energy into a small beam.
 Fog - A darkening of the film resulting from chemical action of the developer,
aging, scattered secondary radiation, pre-exposure to radiation or exposure to
visible light.
 Foil - Metal in sheet form less than 0.006 inch in thickness.
 Forward Scatter - Radiation scattered in approximately the same direction of
the primary beam.
 Foucault Currents Method - In France the eddy current method is known as
the "Foucault Currents" method.
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 Fractograph - Descriptive treatment of fracture, especially in metals, with

specific reference to photographs of he fracture surface. Macrofractography
involves photographs at low magnification, microfractography at high
magnification.
 Fracture - A break, or separation, of a part into two or more pieces.
 Fracture Mechanics - A quantitative analysis for evaluating structural behavior
in terms of applied stress, crack length, and specimen or machine component
geometry.
 Fracture Toughness - A generic term for measures of resistance to extension of
a crack. The term is sometimes restricted to results of fracture mechanics tests,
which are directly applicable in fracture control. However, the term commonly
includes results from simple tests of notched or precracked specimens not based
on fracture mechanics analysis. Results from tests of the latter type are often
useful for fracture control, based on either service experience or empirical
correlations with fracture mechanics tests.
 Fraunhofer Diffraction - A form of diffraction in which the light source and the
receiving screen are in effect at infinite distances from the diffracting object, so
the wave fronts can be treated as planar rather than spherical.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/radiatedfields.htm)
o (Course Materia/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/beamspread.htm)
 Free Electron - An electron that is produced when the valence electron in any
atom gains sufficient energy from some outside force and then breaks away from
the parent atom.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/valanceshell.htm)
 Frequency - The number of waves that pass a given point in a specified unit of
time.
o (BasicScience/Radiography/characterradiation/
freqwavelength_popup.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/acousticplane.htm)
 Frequency, Fundamental – In resonance testing, the frequency at which the
wavelength is twice the thickness of the test material.
 Frequency, Pulse Repetition - The number of pulses per second.
 Frequency Response - The range of frequencies over which a device operates
as expected.
o (Course material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/tranducertesting2.htm)
 Frequency, Test - The nominal ultrasonic wave frequency used in a test.
 Fretting Wear - Surface damage to a metal part resulting from microwelding

due to slight movement in a nearly stationary joint. Also called fretting corrosion.
 Front Surface - The first surface of the test object encountered by the ultrasonic
beam. See interface.
 Full Wave Rectified Single Phase AC- Rectified alternating current for which
the rectified is so connected that the reverse half of the cycle is "turned around,"
and fed into the circuit flowing in the same direction as the first half of the cycle.
This produces pulsating dc, but with no interval between the pulses. Such current
is also referred to as single-phase full-wave dc.
 Full Wave Rectified Three Phase AC - When tree-phase alternating current is
rectified the full-wave rectification system is used. The result is dc with very little
pulsation in fact only a ripple of varying voltage distinguishes it from straight dc.
 Function Generators - A device that generates a function wave such as a sine
wave or square wave.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/functiongenerators.htm)
 Fusion - This is a particular process, also known as charged particle
bombardment, that yields radioisotopes that are not readily available by the
neutron bombardment or fission process.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources/fusion_popup.htm
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G
 Gadolinium 153 - A radioisotope of the element gadolinium.
 Gain Control - A control which varies the amplification of the ultrasonic system.
Also considered the sensitivity control.
 Galvanic Corrosion - Corrosion associated with the current of a galvanic cell
consisting of two dissimilar conductors in an electrolyte or two similar conductors
in dissimilar electrolytes. Where the two dissimilar metals are in contact, galvanic
corrosion may occur.
 Galvanic Series - A series of metals and alloys arranged according to their
relative corrosive tendency in a given environment. The most common
environment is sea water or other concentrations of salt in water.
 Galvanometer - An instrument with a bar of iron wrapped with an electrical wire
and a magnet that detects electrical current.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electricitymagnet2.htm)
 Gamma Radiation - high-energy, short wavelength electromagnetic radiation
emitted by a nucleus. Energies of gamma rays are usually between 0.010 and 10
mev. X-rays also occur in this energy range, but are non-nuclear origin. Gamma
radiation usually accompanies alpha and beta emissions and always accompanies
fission. Gamma rays are very penetrating and are best attenuated by dense
materials like lead and depleted uranium.
 Gas Holes - Holes created by a gas escaping from molten metal.
 Gas Holes (on radiograph) - Appear as round or elongated, smooth-edged dark
spots, occurring individually, in clusters or distributed throughout the casting.
 Gas Porosity - A cavity caused by entrapped gas. Essentially a smooth-sided
bubble within the metal, where the metal solidified before the gas could escape to
the atmosphere. Also called gas pocket.
 Gate - An electronic device for monitoring signals in a selected segment of the
trace on an A-scan display.
- The interval along the baseline that is monitored.
 Gauss (B) - Unit of flux density or induction. The strength of field induced in a
ferromagnetic body is described as being so many gausses. Numerically, one
gauss is one line of flux per square centimeter of area.
 Geiger Counter - A radiation detection and measuring instrument. It contains a
gas filled tube which discharges electrically when ionizing radiation passes
through it. Discharges are counted to measure the radiation's intensity.
 Geometry/X-ray Resolution - Radiograph resolution is effected by source to
film distance, object to film distance and source size.
o (Course Material/Physics/geometryxrayres.htm)
 Ghost - An indication arising from certain combinations of pulse repetition
frequency and time base frequency. See wrap around.
 Grain - The more common term for crystal, a three-dimensional array of atoms
having a certain regularity in its internal arrangement. The grain is composed of
many cells, or lattices, in which the atoms are arranged on the metal involved.
 Grain Boundary - The boundary between two grains.
 Grain Noise Modeling - Methods used to predict the electrical voltage signals
seen during ultrasonic inspections of metal components.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/grainnoise.htm)
 Grain Size - Size of the crystals in metal when compared with a standard.
Usually referred to as being fine, medium, or coarse.
 Graininess - A film characteristic resulting from the grouping or clumping
together of the countless small silver grains into relatively large masses visible to
the naked eye or with slight magnification.
 Grains - Those individual crystals that make up the crystalline structure of metal.
 Grass - See background noise.
 Grinding - Pressing down or together with a crushing turning motion, rubbing
harshly or gratingly.
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 Grinding Cracks - Shallow cracks formed in the surface of relatively hard

materials because of excessive grinding heat or the high sensitivity of the
material.
 Gross Porosity - In weld metal or in casting, pores, gas holes or globular voids
that are larger and in greater number than obtained in good practice.
 Group Velocity - The rate at which the envelope of an ultrasonic pulse (many
frequencies) propagates through the medium.
H
 Half-life - The amount of time it takes for half of the atoms in a given mass to
decay.
 Half Value Layer (HVL) - The depth in given material at which the radiation
intensity becomes one half that at the surface of the material.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/penetrationdepth.htm)
 Half Wave Rectified (ac) - When a single phase alternating current is rectified
in the simplest manner, the reverse half of the cycle is blocked out entirely. The
result is a pulsating unidirectional current with intervals when no current at all is
flowing. This is often referred to as "half-wave" or as pulsating direct current.
 Hall Effect - An effect used in the measurement of magnetic fields.
 Hardness - Resistance of metal to plastic deformation, usually by indentation.
However, the term may also refer to stiffness or temper, or to resistance to
scratching, abrasion, or cutting. Indentation hardness may be measured by
various hardness tests such as Brinell, Rockwell, Knoop, and Vickers. All
indentation hardness tests employ arbitrary loads applied to arbitrary loads
applied to arbitrarily shaped indentors, or penetrators.
 "Hard" X-rays - A term used to express the quality or penetrating power of x-
radiation. Hard x-rays are very penetrating.
 Harmonic - A vibration frequency that is an integral multiple of the fundamental
frequency.
 Hash - See background noise.
 Heads - The clamping contacts on a stationary magnetizing unit.
 Head Shot - A "shot" of magnetizing current passed through a part or a central
conductor while clamped between the head contacts of a stationary magnetizing
nit, for the purpose of circular magnetization of the part is called a "head shot."
Duration of the passage of the current is usually less than one second.
 Health Physics - A term is common use for that branch of radiological science
dealing with the protection of personnel from harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
 Heat Treatment - Heating and cooling a metal or alloy in such a way as to
obtain desired conditions or properties.
 Heat Treat Verification - To verify the material has gotten the proper heat
treatment a conductivity measurement can be taken.
o (Course
Material/EddyCurrents/ProbesAndApplication/conductivitymeasurements2.
htm)
 Heat-Affected Zone - That portion of the base metal which was not melted
during brazing, cutting or welding, but whose microstructure and physical
properties were altered by the heat.
 Henries (H) - The unit induction is measured in.
 Hertz - One cycle per second.
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 High-conductivity copper - Copper which, in the annealed condition, has a

minimum electrical conductivity of 100% IACS as determined in accordance with
ASTM methods of test.
 High-Cycle Fatigue - Fatigue that occurs at relatively large numbers of cycles,
or stress applications. The numbers of cycles may be in the hundreds of
thousands, millions, or even billions. There is no exact dividing line between low-
and high-cycle fatigue, but for practical purposes, high-cycle fatigue is not
accompanied by plastic, or permanent, deformation.
 High Radiation Area - Any area, accessible to personnel, in which there exists
radiation originating in whole or in part within licensed material at such levels
that a major portion of the body could receive in any one hour a dose in excess of
100 millirems.
 Holes - Any void remaining in a specimen as a result of improper manufacturing
processing. Often called gas holes, cavities, or air locks.
 Homogenizing - Holding at high temperature to eliminate or decrease chemical
segregation by diffusion.
 Homogenizing Treatment - A heat treatment of an alloy intended to make it
uniform in composition by eliminating coring and concentration gradients.
 Horizontal Linearity - A measure of the proportionality between the positions of
the indications appearing on the horizontal trace and the positions of their
sources.
 Horseshoe Magnet - A bar magnet, bent into the shape of a horse shoe so that
the two poles are adjacent. Usually the term applies to a permanent magnet.
 Hot Cell - A heavily shielded enclosure in which radioactive materials can be
handled remotely through the use of manipulators and viewed through shielded
windows so that there is no danger to personnel.
 Hot Cracks - Appear as ragged dark lines of variable width and numerous
branches internally or at the surface.
 Hot Spot - The point of retarded solidification caused by an increased mass of
metal at the juncture of two sections. It frequently results in shrinkage and
inferior mechanical properties at this location.
 Hot Tear - A fracture formed in a metal during solidification because of hindered
contraction.
 Hot Working - Deforming metal plastically at such a temperature and rate that
strain hardening does no occur. The low limit of temperature.
 Hydrophilic Emulsifiers - A process to remove the excess penetrant with
mechanical and chemical action but no diffusion takes place. Hydrophilic
emulsifiers are basically detergents that contain solvents and surfactants.
 Hydrogen Embrittlement - A condition of low ductility in metals resulting from

the absorption of hydrogen.
 Hysteresis - Magnetization curve.
I
 IACS(International Annealed Copper Standard) - Conductivity as a
percentage of pure copper.
 Icicles (Burn Through) - A coalescence of meal beyond the root of the weld.
 Imaging - A process to produce an image of an opaque object on film for study.
o (Course Material/Radiography/TechCalibrations/imageconsiderations.htm)
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 Immersion Method - The test method in which the test object and the
transducer are submerged in a liquid (usually water) that acts as the coupling
medium. The transducer is not usually in contact with the test object.
 Immersion Transducers - A device that focuses sound energy on an object in a
water environment. Immersion transducers do not come in direct contact with the
object.
 Immersion Ultrasonic Testing - A NDT that is completed with squirters where
the sound travels through a jet of water or by taking the transducer and test
object and immersing them in a tank of water.
o (Basic Science/sound/immersion.htm)
 Impedance - The total opposition in an electrical circuit to flow of alternating
current.
- Represents the combination of those electrical properties that affect the flow of
current through the circuit.
 Impedance, Acoustic - See acoustic impedance.
 Impedance Matching - The process of matching the system impedance to the
cable impedance, otherwise error-producing reflections are created.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/CoilDesign/impedancematching.htm)
 Impedance Method - Eddy current method, which monitors the change in prove
impedance; both phase and amplitude.
 Impedance Plane - The plane formed by the resistance component and the
reactance component.
 Impurities - Elements or compounds whose presence in a material is undesired.
 Incident Photon - Absorption of x-rays occurs when the x-ray photon is
absorbed resulting in the ejection of electrons from the outer shell of the atom.
That photon is called the incident photon.
 Inclusion - Nonmetallic particles, usually compounds in a metal matrix. Usually
considered undesirable, though in some cases, such as in free machining metals,
inclusions may be deliberately introduced to improve machinability.
 Incoherent Scattering - The process when the incident x-ray photon ejects a
electron from an atom and an x-ray photon of lower energy is scattered from the
atom. (Also known as Compton Scattering (C))
 Incomplete Fusion - Welding fusion which is less than compete. Failure of weld
metal to fuse completely with the base metal or preceding bead.
 Incomplete Joint Penetration (Lack of Fusion) - Welding fusion that fails to
penetrate to complete thickness of the materials being joined. Appears as
elongated darkened lines of varying length and width which may occur in any part
of the welding groove.
 Incomplete Penetration - Welding root penetration which is less than complete
or failure of a root pass and backing pass to fuse with each other.
 Independent Thinking - The process of being able to think on your own, with
out someone else guiding you.
o (TeachingResources/ClassroomTips/Research-based
Framework/independent_thinking.htm)
 Indication - In nondestructive testing, the response from or the evidence of a
discontinuity in material condition or structure.
 Induced Current - Passing an alternating current through a conductor will set
up a fluctuating magnetic field. If a second conductor in the form of a closed loop
is placed in this field, the action of the fluctuating field moving across the
conductor will set up a second alternating current of the same frequency. This is
an induced current.
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 Induced Radioactivity - Radioactivity that is created by bombarding a

substance with neutrons in a reactor or with charged particles produced by
particle accelerators.
 Inductance - Ratio of the total magnetic flux-linkage in a coil to the current
flowing through the coil.
 Induction - The process of generating current in a conductor by placing the
conductor in a changing magnetic field.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electroinduction.htm)
 Induction Hardening - A method of locally heating the surface of a steel or cast
iron part through the use of alternating electric current. It is usually necessary to
rapidly cool, or quench, the heated volume to form martensite, the desired hard
microstructure.
 Inductive Reactance - The opposition to a change in alternating current flow.
 Inductor - A coil.
 Inertial - The property of matter that causes it to resist any change in its
motion.
 Inherent Defects - Discontinuities which are normal in the material at the time
it originally solidifies from the molten state.
 Initial Pulse - The pulse applied to excite the transducer. It is the first indication
on the screen if the sweep is undelayed. Also called the main bang. May refer to
an electrical pulse or an acoustic pulse.
 Insonification - Irradiation with sound.
 Insulators - Materials that do not have any free electrons. Because of this fact,
they do not tend to share their electrons very easily and do not make good
conductors of electrical currents.
 Insulators - Materials that resist the flow of electrons.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/conductorsinsulators.htm)
 Intensifying Screen - A layer of material placed in contact with the film to
increase the effect of the radiation, thus shortening the exposure.
 Intensity - The amount of energy a sound has over an area. The same sound is
more intense if you hear it in a smaller area. In general, sounds with a higher
intensity are louder.
o (Basic Science/Sound/components/intensity007.htm)
 Interface - The boundary between two contacting parts or regions or parts.

 Interface Triggering - Triggering the sweep and auxiliary functions from an
interface echo occurring after the initial pulse. Also called IF synchronization.
 Interference - When two or more sound waves from different sources are
present at the same time, they interact with each other to produce a new wave.
The new wave is the sum of all the different waves. Wave interaction is called
interference.
 Intergranular Corrosion - Corrosion occurring preferentially at grain
boundaries.
 Intergranular Fracture - Brittle fracture of a metal in which the fracture is
between the grains, or crystals, that form the metal. Contrasted to transgranular
fracture.
 Interlock - A device for precluding access to an area of radiation hazard either
by preventing entry or by automatically removing the hazard.
 Internal Probe (coil) - A probe for testing tube (or holes) from the inside. The
coil(s) is circumferentially wound on a bobbin.
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 Interpretation - The determination of the source and relevancy of an ultrasonic

indication.
 Inverse Square Law - The equation stating some A = 1 / B2.
o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/inversesquare.htm)
 Ion - A charged atom or molecularly bound group of atoms; sometimes also a
free electron or other charged subatomic particle.
 Ion Pairs - A positive ion and a negative ion or electron having charges of the
same magnitude, and formed from a neutral atom or molecule by the action of
radiation or by any other agency that supplies energy.
 Ionization - This process of radiation absorption.

o (Basic Science/Radiography/ionization.htm)
 Ionization Chamber - An instrument that detects and measures ionizing
radiation by observing the electrical current created when radiation ionizes gas in
the chamber, making it a conductor of electricity.
 Ionizing Radiation - Radiation of sufficiently high energy to knock electrons out
of the orbits of atoms and molecules, often creating more ionizing radiation and
adversely affecting living tissues. Biologically significant radiation is an ionizing
dose of radiation above 155 ev which may have carcinogenic, mutagenic, or other
health effects in humans.
 Iridium 192 - A radioactive isotope of the element Iridium which has a half-life
of 75 days. It is used extensively as a source of gamma radiation.
 Irradiation - Exposure to radiation, as in a nuclear reactor.
 Isomer - One or two or more nuclides having measurable time intervals in
different radioactive properties.
 Isotope - One of two or more atoms of the same element that have the same
number of protons in their nucleus but different numbers of neutrons. Most
elements have more than one naturally occurring isotope.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/isotopes.htm)
 Isotropy - A condition in which significant medium properties (velocity, for
example) are the same in all directions.
J
 Joint Efficiency - The strength of a welded joint expressed as a percentage of
the strength of the unwelded base metal.
 Joint Penetration - The distance weld metal and fusion extend into a joint.
 Joule - The SI unit of energy, work, or quantity of heat.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/voltage/thevoltpopup.htm)
K
 Kev - 1,000 ev (see electron volt)
 K-Electron Capture - Electron capture by a nucleus of an electron from the "K"
or innermost shell of electrons surrounding it. Also loosely used to designate any
orbital electron captured.
 Kilovolt (kv) - Unit of electromotive force or potential equal to 100 volts.
 Kilovolt Peak - The crest value of electromotive force or potential, in kilovolts, of
a pulsating source of electric potential.
 Klein-Nishina Formula - Gives an angular distribution of Compton scattered x-
rays and gamma-rays.
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o (Course Material/Radiography/Physics/kleinnishina.htm)
 K-Shell - The lowest energy state of an atom.
L
 Lack of Fusion - Discontinuity due to lack of union between weld metal and
parent metal.
 Lamb Wave -A type of ultrasonic wave propagation in which the wave is guided
between two parallel surfaces of the test object. The mode and velocity depend
on the product of the test frequency and the separation between the surfaces.
 Lamb Wave Generation - Lamb waves are similar to longitudinal waves but are
bounded by the sheet or plate surface causing a wave-guide effect.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/ematlambwave.htm)
 Lamellar - Plate-like; made of a number of parallel plates or sheets. Usually
applied to microstructure. The most common lamellar microstructure is pearlite in
ferrous metals.
 Laminations - Metal defects with separation or weakness generally aligned
parallel to the worked surface of the metal. May be the result of pipe, blisters,
seams, inclusions or segregation elongated and made directional by working.
Lamination defects may also occur in metal-powder compacts.
 Lap - A surface defect, appearing as a seam, caused by folding over hot metal,
fins or sharp corners and then rolling or forging them into the surface, but not
welding them.
 Latent Image - The invisible image on exposed film which has not been
developed.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/producearadiograph.htm)
 Latitude (Radiographic) - The range of thickness of material that can be
recorded on the radiograph within the useful reading range of film density. A high
contrast film has little latitude and conversely a low contrast film has great
latitude.
 Leak Test - A test on sealed sources to assure that radioactive material is not
being released.
 Leak Testing (LT) - Techniques are used to detect and locate leaks in pressure
containment parts, pressure vessels, and structures.
 Leakage Field - The magnetic field formed outside of a magnet when there is a
crack in the magnet.
o (Course Material/MagParticle/Introduction/basicprinciples.htm)
 Left-hand Rule - If you place your left hand around the conductor and close
your fist on it with your thumb pointing toward the direction of current flow.
 Lenz's Law - An induced current has a direction such that its magnetic field
opposes the change in magnetic field that induced the current.
 Licensed Material - Source material, special nuclear material or byproduct
material received, possessed, used or transferred under a general or special
license issued by the Atomic Energy Commission.
 Life-Off - Distance between the coil of a surface probe and sample. It is a
measure of coupling between probe and sample.
 Light Metal - One of the low-density metals such as aluminum magnetism,
titanium, beryllium or their alloys.
 Linear Accelerator - A particle accelerator designed to move charged particles
at high velocities along a straight path to a target.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/highenergyrad/linearaccel_popup.htm)
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 Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics - method of fracture analysis that can

determine the stress (or load) required to induce fracture instability in a structure
containing a crack-like-flaw of known size and shape.
 Linearity, Amplitude - A measure of the proportionality of the signal input to
the receiver and the amplitude of the signal appearing on the display of the
ultrasonic instrument or on an auxiliary display.
 Linearity, Area - Constant proportionality between the signal amplitude and the
areas of equal discontinuities located at the same depth in the far field.
Necessarily limited by the size of the ultrasonic beam and configuration of the
reflector.
 Line Focus Principle - The process of making the angle between the anode face
and the central ray such that the effective focal spot is small in relation to the
actual spot size.
 Line of Force - The lines that can be produced by a permanent magnet or a use
of a sheet of paper and iron filings are called "magnetic lines of force". These
lines are imaginary lines, but the concept is convenient for describing a magnetic
field. A magnetic field has an intensity of so may lines per square inch. These
lines have a definite direction and always form closed loops and return back onto
themselves.
 Linear Accelerator (linac) - An apparatus used to accelerate electrons to high
velocities by means of a high frequency electrical wave traveling along a tube in
the linear direction of the electron beam.
 Linearity -The characteristic of an instrument that is revealed by a linear change
in reflected signal amplitude. The vertical linearity is determined by plotting the
change in ratios of signal amplitude from two reflecting areas. The horizontal
linearity is determined by plotting the distance the signal is displaced along the
sweep against the change in material thickness.
 Lipophilic Emulsifiers - Emulsifiers that are able to mix with penetrants
regardless of the concentration.
 Liquid Penetrant Inspection (LPI) - A method that is used to reveal surface
breaking flaws by bleedout of a colored or fluorescent dye from the flaw.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/Introduction/improvingdetection.htm)
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/Principles/liquidpi.htm)
 Load - An electrical device which electrical power is delivered to.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/seriescircuit.htm)
 Logarithmic Decrement - The natural logarithm of the ratio of the amplitudes
of two successive cycles in a damped wave train.
 Longitudinal - Lengthwise, or in an axial direction.
 Longitudinal Direction - The principal direction of flow in a worked metal.
 Longitudinal Magnetization - Magnetization of a material in such a way that
the magnetic flux runs substantially parallel to the long axis of the part, the flux
path completing itself through the air outside the material. It is sometimes called
bipolar magnetization, because at least two external poles exist in longitudinal
magnetization.
 Longitudinal Waves - Commonly used term for compressional wave.
o (Basic Science/vibration/discussion002.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/velocitymeasure.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/wavepropagation.htm)
 Longitudinal Wave (Velocity) - Rate of propagation of a wave parallel to the
direction of motion of the particles.
 Loop - A single turn of wire or cable used to carry electric current. It is used for
magnetizing and demagnetizing purposes.
 Loss of Back Reflection - Absence or significant reduction of an indication from
the back surface of the test Object.
 Low-Cycle Fatigue - Fatigue that occurs at relatively small numbers of cycle, or
stress applications. The numbers of cycles may be in the tens, hundreds, or even
thousands of cycles. There is no exact dividing line between low- and high- cycle
fatigue, but for practical purposes, low-cycle fatigue may be accompanied by
some plastic, or permanent, deformation.
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 Lox-safe penetrant - A penetrant material or system specifically designed to be

compatible with or nonreactive in the presence of liquid oxygen.
M
 Macroshrinkage - A casting defect, detectable at magnifications not exceeding
ten diameters, consisting of voids in the form of stringers shorter than shrinkage
cracks. This defect results from contraction during solidification where there is not
an adequate opportunity to supply filler material to compensate for the shrinkage.
It is usually associated with abrupt changes in section size.
 Macrostructure - The structure of metals as revealed by examination of the
etched surface of a polished specimen at a magnification not exceeding ten
diameters.
 Magnet - Any piece of iron, steel or magnetite that has the property of attracting
iron or steel.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magneticbehavior/discussion002.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/twoends.htm)
 Magnetic Behavior - When two materials attract or repel each other.

o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magneticbehavior.htm)
 Magnetic Discontinuity - This refers to a break in the magnetic uniformity of
the part-a sudden change in permeability. A magnetic discontinuity may not be
related to any actual physical break in the metal, but it may produce a magnetic
particle indication.
 Magnetic Domain - A region in which the magnetic fields of atoms are grouped
together and aligned.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magneticdomain.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magneticdomain/discussion007.htm)
 Magnetic Field - The space in which a magnetic force is exerted. This space
exists within and around a magnetized material and a conductor carrying
electrical current.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electronpairing/discussion006.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/fieldcreation.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/fieldcreation/discussion005.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/linesofforce/discussion009.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magneticfields.htm)
 Magnetic Field Strength - The measured intensity of a magnetic field at a

specific point. Usually expressed in amperes/meter or oersteds.
 Magnetizing Force - See Magnetic field strength.
 Magnetic Flux - A measure of quantity of magnetism, taking account of the
strength and the extent of a magnetic field. The total number or lines of force
existing in a magnetic circuit.
 Magnetic Flux Density (B) - The normal magnetic flux per unit area. Usual
expressed in Tesla or Gauss.
 Magnetic Lines of Force - Imaginary lines in the magnetic field indicating how
strong the magnetic force is (the closer together the lines, the stronger the
force).
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/linesofforce.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/linesofforce/discussion009.htm)
 Magnetic Loop - If a conductor carrying an electric current is bent in a loop, the
magnetic lines of force enter on one side of space within the loop is found to
contain a magnetic field which has very definite directional properties. Polarity is
29 | P a g e
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created within the coil with one end being a north pole and the opposite end a
south pole. The space enclosed by the loops is longitudinally magnetized.
 Magnetic Materials - Materials are affected by magnetism in two general ways.
Some of them are attracted by a magnet, while others exert a repellent force.
The first is called "paramagnetic" and the later "diamagnetic." In Magnetic
particle inspection we are not ordinarily concerned with either of the two classes,
but with what may be termed a subdivision of the first class called "ferromagnetic
materials."
 Magnetic Moment - The ratio between the maximum torque exerted on a
magnet, current-carrying coil or moving charge situated in a magnetic field and
the strength of that field.
 Magnetic Particle Inspection - A method of detecting cracks or defects by
establishing a magnetic field in the object and using iron filings to see if the field
lines are constant.
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magnetismndt.htm)
 Magnetic Particle Testing - (see Magnetic Particle Inspection)
 Magnetic Permeability - The ratio of the magnetic flux density, B, in a
substance to the external field strength.
 Magnetic Poles - Any place that a magnetic line of force exits or enters the
magnet is called a pole.
 Magnetic Testing (MT) - A nondestructive testing method used for defect

detection.
o (Course Material/cc_mpi_index.htm)
 Magnetically Hard Alloy - A ferromagnetic alloy capable of being magnetized

permanently because of its ability to retain induced magnetization and magnetic
poles after removal of externally applied fields; an alloy with high coercive force.
The name is based on the face that the quality of the early permanent magnets
was related to their hardness.
 Magnetically Soft Alloy - A ferromagnetic alloy that becomes magnetized
readily upon application of a field and that returns to practically a nonmagnetic
condition when the field is removed; an alloy with the properties of high magnetic
permeability, low coercive force and low magnetic hysteresis loss.
 Magnetism - The force of attraction or repulsion in a material.
o (BasicScience/hs_mag_index.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electricitymagnet2.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magneticbehavior/discussion002.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/magnetismintro.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/electricitymagnet.htm)
o (Basic Science/Magnetism/currentflow.htm)
o (Course Material/MagParticle/Introduction/history.htm)
 Magnetization - The property and the extent of being magnetized.
Quantitatively, the magnetic moment per unit volume of a substance.
 Magnetizing Force - The total force tending to set up a magnetic flux in a
magnetic circuit. It is usually designated by the letter "H"and the unit is the
"Oersted."
 Magnetograph - A picture of a magnetic field made by the use of iron powder
under conditions that allow it to arrange itself into the pattern of the field.
 Magnetostrictive - Deformation of a ferromagnetic material (such as iron and
steel) subjected to a magnetic field.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/piezotransducers.htm)
 Main Bang - See initial pulse.
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 Malleability - The characteristic of metals which permits plastic deformation in

compression without rupture.
 Manipulator - In immersion testing, a device for angular orientation of the
transducer.
 Marie & Pierre Curies - Discovered two radioactive elements in pitchblende
(polonium and radium). They were later awarded the Nobel Prize.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/curies.htm)
 Markers - A series of indications on the horizontal trace of the cathode ray tube
to show increments of time or distance.
 Martensite - The very hard structure in certain irons and steels that is usually
formed by quenching (rapid cooling) from an elevated temperature. Martensite
may or may not be tempered to reduce hardness and increase ductility and
toughness.
 Mass Numbers - The number of protons and neutrons in a atoms.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/atomicmassnumber.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/nuclearreactions.htm)
 Material Noise - Random signals caused by the material structure of the test
object. A component of background noise.
 Matrix - The principal phase of a metal in which another constituent is
embedded. For example, in gray cast iron, the metal is the matrix in which that
graphite flakes are embedded.
 Matter - Anything that has mass and occupies space.

o (Basic Science/Magnetism/reviewatom/discussion004.htm)
 Maximum Permissible Dose (MPD) - That dose of ionizing radiation which
competent authorities have established as the maximum that can be absorbed
without undue risk to human health.
 Mean Free Path - Average distance a particle travels between collisions.
 Mean Life - The average time during which an atom or other system exists in a
particular form.
 Measuring Attenuation - Measuring the ultrasonic absorption and the scattering
of a material.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/attenuationmeasure.htm)
 Mechanical Properties – The properties of a material that reveal its elastic and
inelastic (plastic) behavior when force is applied, thereby indicating its suitability
for mechanical (load-bearing) application, fatigue limit, hardness, modulus of
elasticity, tensile strength, and yield strength.
 Megacycle (megahertz) - One million Hertz per second.
 Metabolic Processes - The chemical and physical processes continuously going
on in living organisms and cells.
 Metal - An opaque, lustrous elemental chemical substance that is a good
conductor of heat and electricity and, when polished, a good reflector of light.
Most elemental metals are malleable and ductile and are, in general, heavier than
the other elemental substances.
 Metallographic - Pertaining to examination of a metallic surface with the aid of a
microscope. The surface is usually polished to make it flat, and may be etched
with various chemicals to reveal the microstructure.
 Metallography - the science dealing with the constitution and structure of
metals and alloys as revealed by the unaided eye or by such tools as low powered
magnification, optical microscope, electron microscope and x-ray diffraction.
 Metallurgy - The science and technology of metals.
 Metal Smear - When defects that are normally open to the surface are partially
or completely be covered over.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/MethodsTech/materialsmear.htm)
 Mev - One million electron volts.
 Micro - A prefix that divides a basic unit by one million.
 Microfissure - A crack of microscopic proportions.
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 Micrograph - A graphic reproduction of the surface of a prepared specimen,

usually etched, at a magnification greater than ten diameter. If produced by
photographic means it is called a photomicrograph ( not a microphotograph).
 Microhardness - The hardness of microscopic areas or of the individual
microconstituents in a metal, as measured by such means as Tukon. Knoop or
scratch methods.
 Microscopic Stresses - Residual stresses which vary from tension to
compression in a distance (presumably approximating the grain size) which is
small compared to the gage length in ordinary strain measurements. Hence not
detectable by dissection methods; they can sometimes be measured by x-ray
shift.
 Microsegregation - Segregation with a grain, crystal or small particle. Also
called coring.
 Microshrinkage - A casting defect, not detectable at magnifications lower than
ten diameters, consisting of interdendritic voids. This defect results from
contraction during solidification where there is not an adequate opportunity to
supply filler material to compensate for shrinkage. Alloys with a wide range in
solidification temperature are particularly susceptible.
 Microstructure - The structure of polished and etched metals as revealed by a
microscope at a magnification greater than 25-50 times.
 Milli - A prefix that divides a basic unit by one thousand.
 Milliampere - Unit of electric current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.
 Milliroentgen - One thousandth of roentgen.
 Miniature Angle Beam Block - A specific type of reference standard used
primarily for the angle beam method, but also for straight beam and surface
wave tests.
 Misruns - Appears as prominent darkened areas of variable dimensions with a
definite smooth outline.
 Mode - The manner in which an acoustic wave is propagated, as characterized by
the particle motion in the wave (shear, Lamb, surface or longitudinal).
 Mode Conversion - The change of ultrasonic wave propagation mode upon
reflection and/or refraction at an interface.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/modeconversion.htm)
 Mode of Vibration - Type of wave motion. Three common modes used in
ultrasonic testing are longitudinal, transverse and surface wave.
 Modification - The treatment of a aluminum silicon alloys in the molten state
with a small percentage of an alkaline metal or salt, such as sodium fluoride, to
change the size and shape of the silicon particles in the solid metal.
 Modulation Analysis - An instrumentation method, which separates desirable
from undesirable frequency signals from the modulating envelope of the carrier
frequency signal.
- Test sample must move at constant speed.
 Modulus of Elasticity - A measure of the stiffness of a metal in the elastic
range. The degree to which a metal will deflect when a given load of imposed on
a given shape. Also called Young’s modulus.
 Mold - A form or cavity into which molten metal is poured to produce a desired
shape. Molds may be made of sand, plaster or metal and frequently require the
use of cores and inserts for special applications.
 Molecule - A Combination of two or more atoms held together by chemical
bonds.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/basicstructure.htm)
 Momentum - The linear momentum (p) of a body is the product of its mass (m)
and its velocity (v), i.e. p=mv.
 Monitoring - Periodic or continuous determination of the amount of ionizing
radiation or radioactive contamination present in an occupied region.
 Multi-Frequency Techniques - These kind of techniques simply involve
collecting data at several different frequencies and then comparing the data or
mixing the data in some way.
o (Course
Material/EddyCurrents/AdvancedTechniques/multiplefreqtechniques.htm)
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 Multiaxial Stresses - Any stress state in which two or three principal stresses
are not zero.
 Multidirectional Magnetization - Two or more separate fields, having different
directions can be imposed upon a part sequentially in rapid succession. When this
is done magnetic particle indications are formed when discontinuities are located
favorably with respect to the directions of each of the fields, and will persist as
long as the rapid alternations of field direction continue. This, in effect, does
constitute two or more fields in different directions at the same time, and enables
the detection of discontinuities oriented in all directions in one operation.
 Multiple Back Reflections - Repetitive echoes from the far boundary of the test
object.
 Mutual Inductance - When one circuit induces current flow in a second nearby
circuit.
N
 Narrow Banded - A relative term denoting a restricted range of frequency
response.
 Natural Frequency - The frequency at which an object will vibrate freely when
set in motion.
o (Basic Science/sound/frequencypitch/discussion008.htm)
 Naturally Occurring Radiation - cosmogenic (extraterrestrial) and terrestrial
radiation with an activity range that is usually around 5-10 micro roentgens per
hour, The term "naturally occurring" needs to be differentiated from "background
radiation," which now includes the impact of the cumulative deposition from
stratospheric fallout and nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl. In some
contaminated areas, such accumulations of long-lived artificially produced
radionuclides exceed natural background radiation levels.
 NDE - Acronym for Nondestructive Evaluation
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Introduction/history.htm)
 NDT- Acronym for Nondestructive Testing.
 NDT Methods - A process used to test an object for flaws and other defects that
does not harm the object.
 Near Field - The distance immediately in front of the transducer in which the
ultrasonic beam exhibits complex and changing wavefronts. Also called the
Fresnel Field or Fresnel Zone.
 Neper - The natural logarithm of a ratio of two amplitudes (equal to 8.686 dB)
used as a measure of attenuation. Power ratios are expressed as one-half the
natural logarithm.
 Neutron - One of the basic particles which make up an atom and is about the
same size as a proton but has no electrical charge.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/isotopes.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/subatomicparticles.htm)
 Neutron Activation - The process of bombarding a material with neutrons.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources/neutronact_popup.htm)
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 Neutron source - A source that emits neutrons, e.g. a poloniumberyllium

source, sometimes used in radiography where background fields are high, e.g. in
a reactor room.
 Newton's Inverse Square Law - The intensity of the influence at any given
radius (r) is the source strength divided by the area of the sphere.
 Nitriding - An elevated-temperature process (but lower than carburizing or
carbonitiding) by which a ferrous metal absorbs nitrogen atoms into the surface
when exposed to a high-nitrogen environment. Nitrogen atoms actually diffuse, or
flow, into the metal to form a high-nitrogen surface layer.
 Nodal Points - In angle beam testing, the location of reflections at opposite
surfaces as a wave progresses along a test object.
 Node - A point in a standing wave where a given characteristic of the wave field
has zero amplitude.
 Noise - Any undesired signal that obscures the signal of interest.
- It might be electrical noise or a signal from specimen dimensional or property
variations.
 Nonaqueous - Made with liquids other than water.
 Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) - The use of non-invasive techniques to
determine the integrity of a material, component or structure, or to quantitatively
measure some characteristic of an object. (Making quantitative measurements is
what distinguishes NDE from NDT.)
 Nondestructive Testing (NDT) - Testing to detect defects in materials using
techniques that do not damage or destroy the items being tested.
 Nonferrous - Describing a metal that is less than 50% iron, such as aluminum,
copper, magnesium, and zinc and their alloys.
 Nonrelevant Indication - An indication that has no relation to a significant
discontinuity.
 Normal Beam Inspection - Pulse-echo ultrasonic measurements can determine
the location of a discontinuity in a part or structure
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/beaminspection.htm)
 Normal Incidence - A condition in which the axis of the ultrasonic beam is
perpendicular to the entry surface of the test object.
- A condition where the angle of incidence is zero.
 Normal Incidence Shear Wave Transducers - A transducer that allows shear
waves directly into a test piece without the use of an angle beam wedge.
 Nuclear Fission - A process which involves the splitting of nuclei with the
accompanying release of energy.
 Nuclear Fusion - A process whereby several small nuclei are combined to make
a larger one whose mass is slightly smaller than the sum of the small ones.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources/fusion_popup.htm)
 Nuclear Radiation - Radiation emitted from an unstable atomic nucleus.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radioactivedecay.htm)
o (Basic
Science/Radiography/nuclearreactions/twoforms_nucrad_popup.htm)
 Nuclear Reaction - A reaction involving an atom's nucleus, such as fission,
neutron capture, radioactive decay, or fusion, as distinct from a chemical
reaction, which is limited to changes in the electron structure surrounding the
nucleus.
 Nuclear Reactors - Devices that control fission reactions producing new
substances from the fission product and energy.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/usesradioactivity.htm)
 Nucleon - A nuclear particle-either a proton or neutron or both collectively.
 Nucleus - The center of an atom containing protons and neutrons.
34 | P a g e
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 Nuclide - Any species of atom that exists for a measurable length of time. A
nuclide can be distinguished by its atomic weight, atomic number, and energy
state. The term is used synonymously with isotope. A radionuclide is a radioactive
nuclide.
O
 Occupational Dose - Includes exposure of an individual to radiation (1) in a
restricted area; or (2) in the course of employment in which the individual's
duties involve exposure to radiation; provided, the "occupational dose" shall not
be deemed to include any exposure of an individual to radiation for the purpose
of medical diagnosis or medical therapy of such individual.
 Ohms - The unit used to measure resistance in electrical systems.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/resistance.htm)
 Ohm's Law - Electromotive force across a circuit is equal to the current flowing
through the circuit multiplied by the total impedance of the circuit.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/ohmslaw.htm)
 Operating Point - Point on the impedance diagram that specifies the normalized
inductive reactance and resistance of a coil.
 Optimum Frequency - The frequency that provides the highest signal-to-noise
ratio compatible with the detection of a specific discontinuity. Each combination of
discontinuity type and material may have a different optimum frequency.
 Orientation - The angular relationship of a surface, plane, discontinuity or axis
to a reference plane or surface.
 Oscillatory Motions - Moving backward and forward like a pendulum.
 Oscilloscope - A device that displays how a voltage or current signal varies over
time.
P
 Pair Production - An absorption process for X and gamma radiation in which the
incident photon is annihilated in the vicinity of the nucleus of the absorbing atom,
with subsequent production of an electron and positron pair.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/ionization/pairproduction_popup.htm)
 Parabola - An open curve which all points are equidistant from a fixed point and
a straight line.
 Parallel Circuit - A circuit in which the current has two or more paths to follow.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/parallelcircuit.htm)
o (Basic Science/Electricity/seriesparallelcircuits.htm)
 Paramagnetic (and diamagnetic) - All materials are affected by magnetic
fields. Those which are attracted are called paramagnetic. The reaction to a
magnetic field of these two classes of substances is very slight indeed. The few
materials that are strongly attracted by magnetic fields are called ferromagnetic.
 Parameter - A material property or instrument variable.
 Parasitic Echo - See spurious echo.
 Particles - Fundamental units of matter and energy.
35 | P a g e
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 Particle Motion - Movement of particles of material during wave propagation.

 Particulate Radiation - A stream of atomic or subatomic particles.
o (Basic
Science/Radiography/nuclearreactions/twoforms_nucrad_popup.htm)
 Penetrability - The property of a penetrant that causes it to find its way into
very fine openings, such as cracks.
 Penetrometer - A device for measuring the penetrating power of radiation.
o (Course Material/Radiography/TechCalibrations/controllingquality.htm)
 Penetrant - A fluid (usually a liquid but can be a gas) which possesses unique
properties that render it highly capable of entering small openings, a
characteristic which makes this fluid especially suitable for use in the detection of
surface discontinuities which may be present.
 Penetrant Testing (PT) - Method that is used to reveal surface breaking flaws
by bleedout of a colored or fluorescent dye from the flaw.
o (Course Material/cc_pt_index.htm)
 Penetration, Ultrasonic - Propagation of ultrasonic energy into a material. See
also effective penetration.
 Penumbra - The shadow cast when the incident radiation is partly, but not wholly
cut off by an intervening body; the space of partial illumination between the
umbra, or perfect shadow or all side and the full light. A marginal region on
borderland or partial obscurity.
 Penumbra Shadow - The shadow of an object with an appreciable size has two
distinct regions; one of full-shadow, called the umbra, the other of half-shadow,
called the penumbra shadow.
o (Course Material/Physics/geometryxrayres.htm)
 Periodic Table - A chart that lists all of the known elements.
 Permanent Magnets - An object that once magnetized will maintain the
properties of magnetism indefinitely.
 Permeability - The ease with which a magnetic flux can be established in a given
magnetic circuit.
 Permeability (Magnetic) - Ratio between flux density, B, and magnetizing
force, H. Permeability describes the intrinsic willingness of a material to conduct
magnetic flux lines.
 Personnel monitoring equipment - Devices designed to be worn or carried by
an individual for the purpose of measuring the dose received (e.g. film badges,
pocket chambers, pocket dosimeters, film rings, etc.).
 Perturbation - Any effect that causes a small change in a physical system
and/or changes the value of some given function.
 Phantom - A reference standard used to verify the performance of medical
diagnostic ultrasound systems.
 Phase Angle - The difference in phase between two sinusoidal varying
quantities.
 Phase Array - A mosaic of transducer elements in which the timing of the
elements’ excitation can be individually controlled to produce certain desired
effects, such as steering the beam axis or focusing the beam.
 Phase Lag - A lag in phase (or time) between the sinusoidal currents flowing at
the surface and those below the surface.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/phaselag.htm)
 Phase Velocity - The velocity of a single frequency continuous wave.
 Phasor - A vector describing sinusoidal signals; It has both amplitude and phase.
 Photodisintegraton (PD) - the process by which an x-ray photon is captured by
the nucleus of the atom with the ejection of a particle from the nucleus when all
the energy of the x-ray is given to the nucleus.
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 Photoelectric (PE) - A substance is photoelectric if it ejects electrons when light
strikes it.
 Photoelectric absorption - A process by which electromagnetic radiation
imparts energy to matter.
 Photoelectric Effect - When charged particles are released from a material
when it absorbs radiant energy.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/ionization/photoelectric_popup.htm)
 Photoinductive Imaging (PI) - A powerful, high-resolution scanning and
imaging tool
 Photon - The elementary particle of electromagnetic energy; light.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/characterradiation.htm)
 Physical properties - The properties of a material that are relatively insensitive
to structure and can be measured without the application of force. Examples are
density, melting temperature, damping capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal
expansion, magnetic properties, and electrical properties.
 Pierre & Marie Curie - Two scientists that discovered polonium and radium
o (Basic Science/Radiography/curies.htm)
 Piezoelectric Effect - The ability of certain materials to convert electrical energy
into mechanical energy and vice versa.
 Piezoelectric Element - A material that vibrates when an electric current passes
through it.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/characteristicspt.htm)
 Piezoelectric Transducers - A tool that takes an electrical signal and turns it
into mechanical vibrations, or takes vibrations and turns it into an electrical
signal.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/piezotransducers.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/modepropagation.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/characteristicspt.htm)
 Pig - A container usually made of lead or U 238 used to shield radioactive
sources when not in use.
 Pin - expansion test - A test for determining the ability of tubes to be expanded
or for revealing the presence of cracks or other longitudinal weaknesses, made by
forcing a tapered pin into the open end of a tube.
 Pipe - (1) then central cavity formed by contraction in metal, especially ingots,
during solidification; (2) the defect in wrought or cast products resulting from
such a cavity; (3) an extrusion defect due to the oxidized surface of the billet
flowing toward the center of the rod at the back end; (4) a tubular metal product,
cast or wrought.
 Pitch - The property of sound that varies with frequency (high and low sounds
are at different pitches).
o (Basic Science/Sound/components/pitch007.htm)
o (Basic Science/sound/frequencypitch.htm)
 Pitch-Catch -A term describing a test method in which the ultrasonic energy is
emitted by one transducer and received by another on the same or opposite
surface.
 Pitch Line - The location on a gear tooth, approximately midway up the tooth,
that crosses the pitch circle, or the equivalent-size disk that could geometrically
replace the gear.
 Pitchblende - An ore which contains uranium.
 Pitting - Small cavities in a metal surface by nonuniform electrodeposition or by
corrosion.
 Planck Constant - The fundamental constant equal to the ratio of the energy of
a quantum of energy to its frequency.
 Plane Wave - wave in which points of same phase lie on parallel plane surfaces.
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 Plastic Deformation - Deformation that remains after removal of the load or

force that caused the deformation, or change of shape. Same as permanent
deformation.
 Plate Wave - See lamb wave.
 Plated Crystal - Crystal on which metallic surfaces are deposited for protection
and/or to produce surfaces on which the electrical potential can be impressed.
 Point of Incidence - Denotes the point at which the center of the sound beam
leaves the plastic wedge of an angle beam transducer and enters the test object.
See probe index.
 Polarization - The process of confining the vibrations of the vector constituting a
transverse wave to one direction.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/ematshearwave.htm)
 Poling - The process of reorienting crystal domains in certain materials by
applying a strong electric field at elevated temperatures. Materials (usually
ceramics) so treated exhibit piezoelectric behavior.
 Polycrystalline - Pertaining to a solid metal composed of many crystals, such as
an ordinary commercial metal.
 Pores - (1) Small voids in the body of a metal; (2) In powder metallurgy -
minute cavities in a compact, sometimes intentional; (3) minute perforations in
an electroplated coating.
 Porosity - The property of being porous.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Introduction/presentstate.htm)
 Positron - A Nuclear particle with the mass of an electron but opposite charge
(an anti-electron).
o (Basic Science/Radiography/ionization/pairproduction_popup.htm)
 Post-Emulsification Penetrant - A type of penetrant containing no emulsifier,

but which is cleaned from a surface with water after applying an emulsifier as a
separate step. The term is often abbreviated as "P.E." penetrant, or
"P.E."method.
 Potential Energy - Potential energy is stored energy, energy that can be
released or harnessed to do work.
 Precleaning (Penetrant ) - The cleaning of parts before testing so that they are
free from all foreign material (paint, grease, oil, rust, scale, layout dye, was
crayon markings, etc.) which could cover a surface discontinuity and thereby
inhibit the entrance of the penetrant liquid.
 Presentation - The method used to show ultrasonic information. This may
include A-scans, B-scans or C-scans, displayed on various types of recorders or
cathode ray tube instruments.
 Primary Radiation - Radiation arising directly from the target of an x-ray tube
or from a radioactive source.
 Primary Reference Response Level - The ultrasonic response from the basic
calibration reflector at the specified sound path distance, electronically adjusted
to a specified percentage of full screen height.
 Primary Field - The magnetic field surrounding the coil due to the current
flowing through it.
 Principal Stresses - The normal stresses on three mutually perpendicular planes
on which there are no shear stresses.
 Probe - Eddy current transducer.
 Probe Index - The point on a shear wave or surface wave transducer through
which the emergent beam axis passes.
 Prods - Two handheld electrodes which are pressed against the surface of a part
to make contact for passing magnetizing current through the metal. The current
passing between the two contacts creates a field suitable for finding defects with
magnetic particles.
 Propagation - Advancement of a wave through a medium.
 Proportional Limit - The maximum stress at which strain remains directly
proportional to stress; the upper end of the straight-line portion of the stress-
strain or load-elongation curve.
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 Protons - A fundamental particle usually found in the nucleus of an atom with a

positive charge.
 PSI - Acronym for pounds per square inch, a unit of measurement for stress,
strength, and modulus of elasticity.
 Pulse - A transient electrical or ultrasonic signal.
 Pulse Echo Method - An ultrasonic test method in which discontinuities are
detected by return echoes from the transmitted pulses.
 Pulse-Echo Test - A test that can determine the location of a discontinuity by
measuring the time required for a short ultrasonic pulse to travel through the
material.
o (Basic Science/pulseecho.htm)
 Pulsed Eddy Current - A test used for detection and quantification of corrosion
and cracking
 Pulse Length - A measure of pulse duration expressed in time or number of
cycles.
 Pulse Method - Use of ultrasonic equipment that generated a series of pulses
which are separated from each other be a constant period of time, i. e., energy is
not sent our continuously.
 Pulse Rate - Number of pulses that are transmitted in a unit time (also called
pulse repetition rate).
 Pulser-Receiver- Used with a transducer and oscilloscope for flaw detection and
thickness gauging.
 Pulse Repetition Frequency - See repetition rate.

 Pulse Tuning - Control of pulse frequency to optimize system response.
Q
 Quantum - If the magnitude of a quantity is always an integral multiple of a
definite unit, then that unit is called the quantum of the electromagnetic field and
the meson is considered to be the quantum of the nuclear field.
 Quantum Mechanics - A system of mechanics based on quantum theory, which
arose out of the failure of classical mechanics and electromagnetic theory to
provide a consistent explanation of both electromagnetic wave and atomic
structure.
 Quantum Theory - the study of the jumps from one energy level to another as it
relates to the structure and behavior of atoms.
 Quasi-Cleavage Fracture - A fracture mode that combines the characteristics of
cleavage fracture and dimpled rupture fracture. An intermediate type of fracture
found in certain high-strength metal.
 Quenching - The rapid cooling of a metal by immersing it in a bath of liquid in
order to improve its properties.
 Quenching of Fluorescence - The loss of fluorescence by causes other than the
removal of the exciting radiation, for example, the action of heat, strong oxidizing
agents, or strong acids or alkalis.
 Quick-Breaking - The sudden breaking of a direct current to be induced in the
part by the rapid collapse of the magnetic field. In magnetic particle testing, fast
breaking of the magnetizing current in a part which is favorable for finding
transverse defects at the ends of longitudinally magnetized bars. Such defects are
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often concealed by the strong polarity at the bar ends. At such locations the lines
of force of the longitudinal field are leaving the bar in a direction normal to the
surface, which prevents them from intercepting transverse defects in those areas.
The field induced by the transient current does intercept such discontinuities.
R
 Rad - radiation absorbed dose. The basic unit of absorbed dose of ionizing
radiation. One rad is equal to the absorption of 100 ergs of radiation energy per
gram of matter.
 Radial - In the direction of a radius between the center and the surface of a
circle, cylinder, or sphere.
 Radian - A unit in circular measure, an angle subtended at the center of a circle
by an arc of equal length to the radius. One radian is equal to 57.296.
o (Course Material//EddyCurrents/Physics/phaselag.htm)
 Radiation - Energy traveling in the form of electromagnetic waves or photons.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/characterradiation.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/discoveryelements.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/halflife1/assessingrad_popup.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/interactionradmat.htm)
 Radiation Absorbed Dose (RAD) - the quantity that expresses the amount of
energy which ionizing radiation imparts to a given mass of matter.
 Radiation Area - Any area, accessible to personnel, in which there exists
radiation, originating in whole or in part within licensed material, at such levels
that a major portion of the body could receive in any one hour a dose in excess of
5 millirems, or in any 5 consecutive days, a dose in excess of 100 millirems.
 Radiation Damage - A general term for the alteration of properties of a material
arising from radiation exposure to x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, heavy-particle
radiation or fission fragments in nuclear fuel material.
 Radiation Pressure - The pressure exerted on a surface by electromagnetic
radiation.
 Radiation Protection Guide - The total amounts of ionizing radiation dose over
certain periods of time which may safely be permitted to exposed industrial
groups. These standards, established by the Federal Radiation Council, are
equivalent to what was formerly called the "maximum permissible exposure."
 Radiation Sources - An object that emitted radiation.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources.htm)
 Radioactive - Atoms which are energetically unstable and decay to a stable

condition by emitting radiation are said to be radioactive.
 Radioactive Activity - The amount of radiation an object is emitting.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/halflife1/comparing_radact_popup.htm)
 Radioactive Contamination - Deposition of any radioactive material in any
place where it is not desired, particularly where it may be harmful.
 Radioactive Decay - The process by which the nucleus of a radioactive isotope
decomposes and releases radioactivity.
o (Basic
Science/Radiography/radiationsources/studyof_raddecay_popup.htm)
 Radioactive Elements - Elements that naturally emit radiation when the
nucleus of the atoms disintegrate or decay.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/discoveryelements.htm)
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 Radioactive Half-Life (1/2T) - the time required for one half the atoms in a
radioactive substance to decay. For example, the radioactive half-life of cesium is
30.174 years. Radionuclides with short half-lives decay quickly and radionuclides
with longer half-lives emit energy over longer periods of time.
 Radioactive Material - Includes any such material whether or not subject to
licensing control by the commission.
 Radioactive Waste - Equipment and materials (from nuclear operations) which
are radioactive and for which there is no further use.
 Radioactivity - spontaneous decay of the nucleus of an atom by the emission of
particles, usually accompanied by electromagnetic radiation. It is also defined as
the mean number of nuclear transformations occurring in a given quantity of
radioactive material per unit time, expressed in either becquerels (Bq) or curies
(Ci). Most radionuclides have multiple forms of radioactive emissions, and are
classified according to their principal decay modes. The most common types of
radiation are Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radioactivity.htm)
 Radioactivity Concentration Guide - The concentration of radioactivity in an
environment which results in doses equal to those in the radiation protection
guide. This Federal Radiation Council term replaces the former "maximum
permissible concentration."
 Radiograph - a photographic recording produced by the passage of radiation
through a subject onto a film.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/producearadiograph.htm)
 Radiographer - Any individual who performs or who, in attendance at the site
where the sealed source or sources are being used, personally supervises
radiographic operations and who is responsible to the licensee for assuring
compliance with the requirements of these regulations and the conditions of the
licenses.
 Radiographic Code - A code for specifying minimum standards related to
radiographic practices.
 Radiographic Exposure Device - Any instrument containing therein, in which
the sealed source or shielding thereof may be moved, or otherwise change, from
a shielded to unshielded position for purposes of making a radiographic exposure.
 Radiographic Film - A type of film that is sensitive to a certain type of radiation
allow an image to form when exposed.
o (Course Material/Radiography/EquipmentMaterials/radiographicfilm.htm)
 Radiographic Interpretation - The determination of the cause and significance
of subsurface discontinuities indicated on the radiograph. The evaluation as to the
acceptability or rejectibility of the materials is based upon the judicious
application of the radiographic specifications and standards governing the
material.
 Radiographic Qualification Test - A procedure for determining the optimum
value of the d/t ratio, or the proper working distance of an x-ray tube or a
radioactive source.
 Radiographic Screens - Metallic or fluorescent sheets used to intensify the
radiation effect on films.
 Radiography - The process of making a radiograph
o (Basic Science/hs_rad_index.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiographsphotos.htm)
o (Course Material/cc_rad_index.htm)(Course
Material/Radiography/AdvancedTechniques/computedtomography.htm)
 Radiofrequency Display - The presentation of unrectified signals on a cathode

ray tube. See also video presentation.
 Radioisotopes - elements that are atomically unstable and radioactive.
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o (Basic Science/Radiography/radiationsources.htm)
 Radiology - That branch of medicine which uses ionizing radiation for diagnosis
and therapy.
 Radionuclides - A nuclide that is radioactive.
 Radium - A radioactive element with the atomic number 88 and an atomic

weight of 226. In nature, radium is found associated with uranium, which decays
to radium by a series of alpha and beta emissions. Radium is used as a radiation
source.
 Rads - An absorbed does of 0.01 joules of energy per kilogram of tissue.
 Range - The maximum ultrasonic path length that is displayed. See also sweep
length.
 Range Control - A means of expanding the pattern obtained on the cathode ray
tube so that any portion of the total distance being tested can be presented.
 Rarefaction - The thinning or separation of particles in a propagating medium
due to the relaxation phase of an ultrasonic cycle. Opposite of compression. A
compressional wave is composed of alternating compressions and rarefactions.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/ematlambwave.htm)
 Ratchet Marks - Ridges on a fatigue fracture that indicate where two adjacent
fatigue areas have grown together. Ratchet marks usually originate perpendicular
to a surface and may be straight or curved, depending on the combination of
stresses that is present.
 Ray - A beam of energy of small cross section.
 Rayleigh Waves - An ultrasonic wave that propagates along the surface of a test
object. The particle motion is elliptical in a plane perpendicular to the surface,
decreasing rapidly with depth below the surface. The effective depth of
penetration is considered to be about one wavelength.
 RBE Dose - Relative biological effectiveness. An RBE dose is the dose measured
in rems.
 Real-Time Radiography - A radiograph is produced electronically rather than on
film so there is very little lag time.
o (Course Material/Radiography/AdvancedTechniques/realtime.htm)
 Receiver - The section of the ultrasonic instrument that amplifies echoes
returning from the test object. Also, the transducer that picks up the echoes.
 Recrystallization - (1) The change from one crystal structure to another, such
as occurs on heating or cooling through a critical temperature. (2)The formation
of a new, strain-free grain structure from that existing in cold-worked metal,
usually accomplished by heating.
 Rectified Alternating Current - By means of device called a rectifier, which
permits current to flow in one direction only, alternating current can be converted
to direct or unidirectional current. This differs from direct current in that the
current value varies from a steady level. This variation may be extreme, as inn
the case of half-wave rectified single-phase AC or slight, as in the case of three-
phase rectified AC.
 Rectifier - A tube or circuit capable of converting the high voltage alternating
wave from into a usable unidirectional voltage wave form.
 Reduction Factor - Dose rate without a shield divided by the dose rate with a
shield interposed between a source and a point at which radiation is measured.
 Reference - Eddy current transducer.
 Reference Blocks - A block or series of blocks of material containing artificial or
natural discontinuities or one or more reflecting areas at one or more distances
from the test surface, which are used for reference in defining the size and
distance of defective areas in materials.
 Reference Coil - Coil which enables bridge balancing in absolute probes. Its
impedance is close to test coil impedance but does not couple to test material.
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 Reference Standards - A reference object containing known reflectors

representing accept or reject criteria.
- A sample test object.
o (Course Materials/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/standreferences.htm)
 Reference Radiographs - A group of radiographs containing images of
discontinuities. These can be used as comparison "standards" for acceptability of
materials.
 Reflectogram - A picture of recording of the indications presented on the
cathode ray tube of the ultrasonic instrument.
 Relectograph - A recording or chart made of either the signals transmitted
through a part or reflected back from defects within a part, or both
 Refracted Beam - A beam that occurs in the second medium when an ultrasonic
beam is incident at an acute angel on the interface between two media having
different sound velocities.
 Refraction - The change in direction of an acoustic wave as the ultrasonic beam
passes from one medium into another having a different sound velocity. A change
in both direction and mode occurs at acute angles of incidence. At small angles of
incidence, the original mode and a converted mode may exist in the second
medium.
o (Basic Science/Sound/refraction.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/refractionsnells.htm)
 Refractive Index -The ratio of the velocity of the incident wave to that of a
refracted wave. It is known as the refractive index of the second medium with
respect to the first.
 Reinforcement of Weld - (1) In a butt joint, weld metal on the face of the weld
that extends out beyond a surface plane common to the members being welded;
(2) in a fillet weld, weld metal that contributes to convexity; (3) in a flash , upset
or gas pressure weld, the original diameter or thickness.
 Reject - An instrument function or control used for minimizing or eliminating low
amplitude signals (electrical or material noise) so that other signals may be
further amplified. Use of this control can reduce vertical linearity. Also called
suppression.
 Rejection Level - The level above or below which a signal is an indication of a
rejectable discontinuity.
 Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) - The relative effectiveness of a given
kind of ionizing radiation in producing a biological response as compared with
250,000 electron volt gamma rays.
 Relaxation - Relief of stress by creep. Some types of tests are designed to
provide diminution of stress by relaxation at constant strain, as frequently occurs
in service.
 Relevant Indication - In nondestructive testing, an indication from a
discontinuity requiring evaluation.
 Reluctance - the degree of difficulty or resistance of a material to magnetize.
 Remnant Magnetism - The term applied to the magnetism remaining in a
magnetic circuit after the magnetizing force is removed.
 Rems - The biologically effective does in rems is the radiation does in rads
multiplied by a "quality factor" which is an assessment of the effectiveness of that
particular type and energy of radiation.
 REP - Roentgen equivalent physical. An obsolete unit of radiation dosage, now
superseded by the rad.
 Repeatability - Ability to produce a detectable indication separate processings
and inspections.
 Repetition Rate - The number of pulses generated or transmitted per unit of
time (usually seconds).
 Residual Elements - Elements present in an alloy in small quantities, but not
added intentionally.
 Residual Field - The field left in a piece of ferromagnetic material when the
magnetizing force is reduced to zero.
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 Residual Method (Magnetic Particle) - Bath is applied after current has been
shut off; that is, the indicating particles are on the part when residual (remaining)
magnetic field is present.
 Residual Stress – Internal stress; stress present in a body that is free from
external forces or thermal gradients.
 Resistance (R) - The opposition to the flow of electrical current. Measured in
ohms
 Resistivity - Reciprocal of conductivity.
 Resistors - Components that are used to control that amount of current flowing
in a circuit by adding a specific amount of resistance.
 Resolution - The ability to clearly distinguish signals obtained from two reflective
surfaces with a minimum difference in depth. Near surface resolution is the ability
to clearly distinguish a signal from a reflector at a minimum distance under the
near surface without interference from the initial pulse signal. Far surface
resolution is the ability to clearly distinguish signals from the back surface when
the sound beam is normal to that back surface.
 Resolving power - A measure of the ability of an ultrasonic system to separate
two signals close together in time or distance.
 Resonance - A circuit having an inductor and capacitor connected in series or
parallel. When inductive reactance equals capacitive reactance the circuit is tuned
or in resonance.
o (Basic Science/sound/frequencypitch/discussion008.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/toneburst.htm)
 Resonance Method - A method using the resonance principle for determining
velocity, thickness or presence or laminar discontinuities.
 Resonant Circuits - A circuit containing capacitance and inductance.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Instrumentation/resonantcircuits.htm)
 Resonant Frequency - The frequency at which a body vibrates freely after being
set in motion by some outside force.
 Resultant (vector field) - When two or more magnetizing forces operating in
different directions are simultaneously applied to a ferromagnetic material, a
resultant field is produced, having a direction of the applied magnetizing forces.
Such a field is also referred to as a vector field. If either or both of the applied
magnetizing forces are themselves varying in direction or amount, the resultant
field is moving or swinging in direction and strength. Such a moving resultant
field is sometimes referred to as a "swinging field."
 Retentivity - The property of a given material of retaining, to a greater or lesser
degree, some amount of residual magnetism.
 RF Display - See radiofrequency display.
 Ringing Method - A test method for bonded structures in which unbonds are
indicated by increased amplitude of ringing signals.
 Ringing Signals - Closely spaced multiple signals caused by multiple reflections
in a thin material.
- Signals caused by continued vibration of a transducer.
 Ringing Time - The time that the mechanical vibrations of a transducer continue
after the electrical pulse has stopped.
 Rinse - The process of removing liquid penetrant inspection material from the
surface of an item by means of washing or flooding with another liquid, usually
water. Also termed "Wash."
 R-Meter - An ionization-type instrument designed to measure radiation dose.
 Roentgen - A unit of exposure dose of ionizing radiation. It is that amount of
gamma or x-rays required to produce ions carrying 1 electrostatic unit of
electrical charge in 1 cubic centimeter of dry air under standard conditions.
 Roentgen Equivalent Man (REM) - See REM.
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 Roentgens - A measure of radiation intensity of X-rays or gamma rays.

 Root (of a Notch) - The innermost part of a stress concentration, such as the
bottom of a thread or groove.
 Root Angle - In a dual element delay line transducer, the angle by which the
transducer elements of the delay line are tilted to direct the beams of the two
elements to intersect at a specified zone in the medium.
 Root Crack - A crack in either the weld or heat-affected zone at the root of a
weld.
 Root Penetration - The depth to which weld metal extends into the root of a
joint.
S
 Safelight - A special lamp used in the darkroom to provide working visibility
without affecting the photosensitive emulsion of the radiographic film.
 Samarium 145 - A radioisotope of the element samarium.
 Saturation (Magnetic) - A condition where incremental magnetic permeability
of a ferromagnetic material becomes 1.0.
 Saturation Level - The limit of indication height that is obtained as the area of
the discontinuity is increased.
 Scanning - Movement of the transducer over the surface of the test object in a
controlled manner so as to achieve complete coverage. May be either contract or
immersion method.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/AdvancedTechniques/scanning.htm)
o Eddy current data can be collected using automated scanning systems to
improve the quality of the measurements and to construct images of
scanned areas.
 Scattering - Random reflection of ultrasonic waves by small discontinuities or
surface irregularities.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/attenuation.htm)
 Scattering Ultrasonic - Dispersion of ultrasonic waves in a medium due to
causes other than absorption.
 Schlieren System - An optical system used for visual display of an ultrasonic
beam passing through a transparent medium.
 Scintillation Counter - A device for counting atomic particles by means of tiny
flashes of light (scintillations) which the particles produce when they strike certain
crystals.
 Search Unit - An assembly comprising a piezoelectric element, backing material
(damping), wear plate or wedge (optional) and leads enclosed in a housing. Also
called transducer or probe.
 Secondary Field - The magnetic field produced by induced eddy currents.
 Secondary Radiation - Particles or rays produced by the interaction of any type
of primary radiation with matter, e.g. Compton recoil electrons.
 Seeability - The characteristic of an indication that enables an observer to see it
against the adverse conditions of background, outside light, etc.
 Segregation - Nonuniform distribution of alloying elements, impurities or
microphases.
 Segregation Radiographic - Variation in film density which can be explained by
segregation of elements of atomic numbers different from that of the matrix.
 Self-Emulsifiable - The property of a liquid penetrant to combine satisfactorily
with water, in either emulsion or solution form, to permit its being removed from
a surface by washing (rinsing) in water. Synonymous with water-washable.
 Self-Inductance - The property of an electric circuit or component that caused
an e.m.f. to be generated in it as a result of a change in the current flowing
through the circuit.
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 Semi-Infinite Conductor - A crystalline solid, such as silicon or germanium,

with an electrical conductivity intermediate between that of a conductor and an
insulator.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/Physics/depthcurrentdensity.htm)
 Send-Receive - The variations in the test object which affect current flow within
the test object can be detected by observing their effect upon the voltage
developed across a secondary receive coil.
 Send/ Receive Transducer - A transducer consisting of two piezoelectric
elements mounted side by side separated by an acoustic barrier. One element
transmits, one receives.
 Sensitivity - A measure of the ability to detect small signals. Limited by the
signal-to-noise ratio.
 Sensitivity Panel - A plated metal panel with cracks of know depth induced into
the plating; used to evaluate and compare penetrant sensitivity.
 Sensitometric - The process or technique of producing images of an opaque
object on photographic film or on a fluorescent screen by means of radiation.
o (Course Material/Radiography/TechCalibrations/filmprocessing.htm)
 Series Circuit - A circuit that has only one path for the electrons to take.
 Shadow - A region in a test object that cannot be reached by ultrasonic energy
traveling in a given direction. Shadows are caused by geometry or the presence
of intervening large discontinuities.
 Shallow Discontinuity - A discontinuity open to the surface of a solid object
which possesses little depth in proportion to the width of this opening. A scratch
or nick may be a "shallow discontinuity" in this sense.
 Shear - A type of force that causes or tends to cause two regions of the same
part or assembly to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to their
plane of contact. May be considered on a microscale when planes of atoms slide
across each other during permanent, or plastic, deformation. May also be
considered on a macroscale when gross movement occurs along one or more
planes, as when a metal is cut or sheared by another metal.
 Shear Fracture - Fracture that occurs when shear stresses exceed shear
fractures are transverse fracture of a ductile metal under a torsional (twisting)
stress, and fracture of a rivet cut by sliding movement of the joined parts in
opposite directions, like the action of a the pair of scissors.
 Shear Horizontal Wave - A shear wave in which the particle vibration is parallel
to the incidence surface. Abbreviated SH wave.
 Shear Lip - A narrow, slanting ridge, nominally about 45° to the surface, along
the edge of a fracture of a ductile tensile specimen, the shear lip forms the typical
“cup-and-cone” fractures. Shear lips may be present on the edges of some
predominantly brittle fractures to form a “picture frame” around the surface of a
rectangular part.
 Shear Vertical Wave - A shear wave in which the plane of vibration is normal to
the incidence surface. Abbreviated SV wave.
 Shear Waves - Waves which move perpendicular to the direction the wave
propagates.
o (Basic Science/sound/anglebeam.htm)
 Shear Wave Transducer - An angle beam transducer designed to cause
converted shear waves to propagate at a nominal angle in a specified test
medium.
 Shielding - A barrier surrounding a region to exclude it from the influence of an
energy field.
 Shoe - A device used to adapt a straight beam transducer for use in a specific
type of testing, including angle beam or surface wave tests and tests on curved
surfaces. See also wedge.
 Shot Peening - A carefully controlled process of blasting a large number of
hardened spherical or nearly spherical particles (shot) against the softer surface
of a part. Each impingement of a shot makes a small indentation in the surface of
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the part, thereby inducing compressive residual stresses, which are usually
intended to resist fatigue fracture or stress-corrosion cracking.
 Shrink - Internal rupture occurring in castings due to contraction during cooling.
Also applied to surface shrinkage cracks.
 Shrinkage Cavity - Cavities in castings caused by lack of sufficient molten metal
as the casting cools. A small bubble in metal that appears as dendritic,
filamentary, or jagged darkened area on a radiograph film.
 Shrinkage Cracks - Hot tears associated wit shrinkage cavities.
 Shrinkage Porosity or Sponge - A localized lacy, or honeycombed, darkened
area on a film that indicates porous metal.
 SH Wave - See shear horizontal wave.
 Signal - A change in eddy current instrument output voltage; It has amplitude
and phase.
 Signal-to-Noise Ratio - Ratio between defect signal amplitude and that from
non-relevant indications. Minimum acceptable ratio is 3:1.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/grainnoise.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/signaltonoise.htm)
 Silver - A discontinuity consisting of a very thin elongated piece of metal
attached by only one end to the parent metal into whose surface it has been
rolled.
 Single-Phase Alternating Current - Simple current, alternating in direction.
Commercial single-phase current follows a sine wave. Such a current requires
only two conductors for its circuit. Most common commercial Frequencies are 25,
50 and 60 cycles per second.
 Skin Depth - See depth of penetration.
 Skin Effect - A phenomenon where induced eddy currents are restricted to the
surface of a test sample. Increasing test frequency reduces penetration.
 Skip Distance - In angle beam tests of plate or pipe, the distance from the
sound entry point to the first reflection point on the same surface. See V-path.
 Slag Inclusions - Nonmetallic solid material entrapped in weld metal or between
weld metal and base metal.
 Snell’s Law - The physical law that defines the relationship between the angle of
incidence and the angle of refraction.
o (GeneralResources/Calculator/calculator.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Physics/refractionsnells.htm)
 Soak Time - The period time wherein the emulsifier remains in contact with the
liquid penetrant/emulsifier is quenched with water, or completely removed by
water rinsing. Synonymous with emulsification time.
 Soft X-Rays - The quality or penetrating power of x-radiation; their penetrating
power is relatively slight.
 Solenoid - An electrically charged coil of insulated wire which produces a
magnetic field within the coil.
 Solidification Shrinkage - The decrease in volume of a metal during
solidification.
 Solvent Action - The dissolution of a fluid or solid by another material.
 Solvent Cleaning - The process of removing the excess penetrant from the
surface of a part by washing or wiping with a solvent for the penetrant.
 Solvent Developer - A developer in which the developing powder is applied as a
suspension in a quick-drying solvent.
 Solvent Remover - A nonaqueous liquid employed in removal of surface
penetrant from parts or for removal of unwanted background porosity indications.
 Sound - Mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium.
o (BasicScience/hs_sound_index.htm)
 Sound Wave Interference - When two or more sound waves from different
sources are present at the same time, they interact with each other to produce a
new wave.
o (Basic Science/sound/interference.htm)
47 | P a g e
48 | P a g e
 Sound Wave Propagation - The way sound vibrations travel through different
mediums.
 Source - The origin of radiation; an x-ray tube or a radioisotope.
 Source-Film Distance - The distance between the focal spot of an x-ray tube or
radiation source and the film; generally expressed in inches.
 Source Material - In atomic energy law, any material, except special nuclear
material, which contains 0.05% or more of uranium, thorium, or any combination
of the two.
 Spalling - The cracking and flaking of particles out of a surface.
 Specific Acoustic Impedance - See acoustic impedance.
 Specific Activity - The activity, in curies, of 1 gram of any radioactive source.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/halflife1/comparing_radact_popup.htm)
 Specific Gravity - The ratio of the density of any substance to the density of
some other substance taken as standard
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/specificgravity.htm)
 Specific Ionization - Number of ion pair per unit length of path of the ionizing
particle in a medium, e.g. per cm of air or per micron of tissue.
 Spectrum - The amplitude distribution of frequencies in a signal.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/spreadspectrum.htm)
 Spectrum Response - The amplification (gain) of a receiver over a range of
frequencies.
 Spherical Wave - A wave in which points of the same phase lie on surfaces of
concentric spheres.
 Spline - A shaft with a series of longitudinal, straight projections that fit into slots
in a mating part to transfer rotation to or from the shaft.
 Spot Examination - Local examination of welds or castings.
 Spread Spectrum - A method of testing material using a correlation of
continuous signals rather than pulse-echo or pitch-catch techniques.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/MeasurementTech/spreadspectrum.htm)
 Spurious Echo - A general term used for any indication that cannot be
associated with a discontinuity or boundary at the location displayed.
 Squint Angle - The angle by which the ultrasonic beam axis deviated from the
probe axis.
 Squirter - See water column.
 Stable Isotope - A nuclide that does not undergo radioactive decay.
 Stacked Crystal - Several crystals cemented together with the daces of the
same polarity in the same direction.
 Stain Ratio - The ratio of the change in length to the original length.
 Standard - A reference object used as a basis for comparison or calibration.
- A concept established by authority, custom or agreement to serve as a model or
rule in the measurement of quantity or the establishment of a practice or
procedure.
 Standing Wave - A wave in which the energy flux is zero at all points. Such
waves result from the interaction of similar waves traveling in opposite directions
as when reflected waves meet advancing waves. A particular case is that of
waves in a body whose thickness is an integral multiple of half-wavelengths, as in
resonance testing.
 Stepped Wedge - A device which is used, with appropriate pentrameters on
each step, for the inspection of parts having great variations in thickness or a
complex geometry. The stepped wedge must be made of material
radiographically similar to that being radiographed.
 Stop Bath - A mild acetic acid solution used to arrest film development.
 Storage Container - A device in which sealed sources are transported or stored.
 Straight Beam - An ultrasonic wave traveling normal to the test surface.
 Strain - A measure of relative change in the size or shape of a body. “Linear
strain” is change (increase or decrease) in a linear dimension. Usually expressed
in inches per inch (in. /in.), or millimeters per millimeter (mm/mm).
 Stress - Force per unit area, often thought of as a force acting through a small
area within a plane. It can be divided into components, perpendicular and parallel
48 | P a g e
49 | P a g e
to the plane, called normal stress and shear stress, respectively. Usually
expressed as pounds per square inch (psi), or megapascales (MPa).
 Stress Concentration - Changes in contour, or discontinuities, that cause local
increases in stress on a metal under load. Typical are sharp-cornered grooves,
threads, fillets, holes, etc. Effect is most critical when the stress concentration is
perpendicular (normal) to the principal tensile stress. Same as notch or stress
raiser.
 Stress Corrosion - Preferential attack area under stress in a corrosive
environment, where such an environment alone would not have caused corrosion.
 Stress-Corrosion Cracking - Failure by cracking under combined action or
corrosion and a tensile stress, either external (applied) or internal (residual).
Cracking may be either intergranular or transgranular, de pending on the metal
and the corrosive medium.
 Stress Measurement - A measurement of the stress on a given object.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/ematstess.htm)
 Striations -Microscopic ridges or lines on a fatigue fracture that show the
location of the tip or the fatigue crack at some point in time. They are locally
perpendicular to the direction of growth of the fatigue crack. In ductile metals,
the fatigue crack advances by one striation with each load application, assuming
the load magnitude is great enough. Must not be confused with beachmarks,
which are much larger and are formed in a different way.
 Stringers - In metals that have been hot worked, elongated patterns of
impurities, or inclusions, that are aligned longitudinally. Commonly the term is
associated with elongated oxide or sulfide inclusions in steel.
 Subatomic Particles - Particles that are smaller than the atom (protons,
neutrons, electrons are the three main ones).
 Subionization - When low energy electrons interact with an atom giving the
orbital electrons a little excess energy.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/ionization/subionization_popup.htm)
 Substrate - Layer of metal underlying a coating, regardless of whether the layer
is basis metal.
 Subsurface Discontinuity - Any discontinuity which does not open onto the
surface of the part in which it exists. Not detectable by liquid penetrant
inspection.
 Surface-Breaking Cracks - Cracks formed on the surface of an object.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/ProbesAndApplication/breakingcracks.htm)
 Surface Probe - A probe for testing surfaces, which has a finite coverage. The
coil is usually pancake in shape.
 Surface Waves - See Rayleigh wave.
 Survey - An evaluation of the radiation hazards incident to the production, use,
release, disposal, or presence of radioactive materials or other sources of
radiation under a specific set of conditions. When appropriate, such evaluation
includes a physical survey of the location of materials and equipment, and
measurements of levels of radiation.
 Suspension - Liquid bath in which a solid is suspended in liquid.
 SV Wave - See shear vertical wave.
 Sweep - The uniform and repeated movement of a spot across the screen of the
cathode ray tube to form the horizontal baseline.
 Sweep Delay - A delay in time of starting the sweep after the initial pulse. Also
denotes the control for adjusting the time.
 Sweep Length - The length of time or distance represented by the horizontal
baseline on an A-scan.
 Swept Frequency Technique - An eddy current techniques the involves
collecting data at a wide range of frequencies and looking for signal changes as a
function of frequency.
o (Course Material/EddyCurrents/AdvancedTechniques/sweptfrequency.htm)
49 | P a g e
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T
 Tangential - See circumferential.
 Target - A material bombarded by any radiation, as the target is bombarded by
electrons in an x-ray tube.
 Temporary Magnet - A body of a soft steel or piece of iron which is readily
magnetized but retains only a very small field after the active power of the
external magnet field is removed.
 Tensile - Pertaining to forces on a body that tend to stretch, or elongate, the
body. A rope or wire under load is subject to tensile forces.
 Tensile Strength - In tensile testing, the ratio of maximum load to the original
cross-sectional area.
 Tenth Value Layer - That thickness of any material which will reduce radiation
intensity by a factor of 10.
 Test Coil - Coil coupled to test material. It senses geometric, electric and
magnetic changes in test material.
 Test Frequency - The frequency f vibration of the ultrasonic transducer
employed for ultrasonic testing.
 Test Surface - That surface of the test object at which the ultrasonic energy
enters or leaves.
 Thermal Cycles - Repetitive changes in temperature, that is, from a low
temperature to a high temperature, and back again.
 Thompson-Gray Model - A model that allows the approximate prediction of
ultrasonic scattering measurements made through liquid-solid interfaces.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/thompsongray.htm)
 Thomson Scattering (R) - When an x-ray photon interacts with the whole atom
so that the photon is scattered with no change in internal energy to the scattering
atom, nor to the x-ray photon.
 Three Phase Alternating Current - commercial electricity is commonly
transmitted as three single-phase currents, that is, these separate currents
following separate sine curves, each at 60 cycles (or other frequency) per second,
but with the peaks of their individual curves one-third of a cycle apart. At least
three (sometimes four) conductors are required for three phase alternating
current.
 Threshold - In reference to current or magnetic fields, the minimum strength
necessary to create a looked-for effect is called the threshold value. For example,
the minimum current necessary to produce a readable indication of a given defect
is the threshold value of current for the purpose.
 Threshold Dose - The minimum dose that will produce a detectable degree of
any given effect.
 Through Hardening - Hardening of a metal part, usually steel, in which the
hardness across a section of the part is essentially uniform; that is, the center of
the section is only slightly lower in hardness than the surface.
 Through-Transmission - A test method in which ultrasonic energy is
transmitted through the test object and received by a second transducer on the
opposite side. Changes in received signal amplitude are taken as indications of
variations in material continuity.
 3-2T Radiography - Quality level of radiography in which the finished
radiograph displays a discernible image of a penetrameter hole that has a
diameter equal to twice the penetrameter thickness. The penetrameter thickness
equals 3 percent of the material thickness.
 Thulium 170 - A radioisotope of the element thulium.
 Time Base - See sweep.
 Time Delay - See sweep delay.
 Time of Flight - The time for an acoustic wave to travel between two points, Fro
example, the time required for a pulse to travel from the transmitter to the
50 | P a g e
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receiver via diffraction at a discontinuity edge or along the surface of the test
object.
 Time Response - A means for describing radio frequency (RF) response of the
waveform.
 Toe Crack - a base-metal crack at the toe of the weld.
 Toe of Weld - the junction between the face of a weld and the base metal.
 Tolerance Dose - For industrial safety guidelines. 100 mr/week. (The word
"tolerance" should not be understood to have the meaning "allowable," e.g.
tolerance on machined parts.)
 Tone - The distinctive property of a complex sound.
o (Basic Science/Sound/components/tone007.htm)
 Tone Burst - A wave train consisting of several cycles of the same frequency.
 Torque - A measure of the twisting moment applied to a part under a torsional
stress. Usually expressed in terms of inch pounds or foot pounds, although the
terms “pound inches” and “pound feet” are technically more accurate for torsional
moments.
 Torsion - A twisting action applied to a generally shaft-like, cylindrical, or tubular
member. The twisting may be either reversed (back and forth) or unidirectional
(one way).
 Toughness - Ability of a material to absorb, energy and deform plastically before
fracturing. Toughness is proportional to the area under the stress-strain curve
from the origin to the breaking point. In metals, toughness is usually measured
by the energy absorbed in a notch impact test.
 Tracers - A radioactive element whose pathway through which a chemical
reaction can be followed.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/usesradioactivity.htm)
 Transducer - An electroacoustic or magnetoacoustic device containing an
element for converting electrical energy into acoustical energy and vice versa.
See search unit.
o (Course Material/EquipmentTrans/characteristicspt.htm)
 Transducer Element - The component in a transducer that actually converts the
electrical energy into acoustical energy and vice versa. The transducer element is
often made of a piezoelectric material or a magnetostrictive material.
 Transformer - A transformer is simple a device that transforms electricity form
one voltage to another.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/electroinduction/transformerpopup.htm)
 Transgranular Fracture - Through, or across, the crystals or grains of a metal.
Same as transcrystalline and intracrystalline. Contrasted to intergranular fracture.
The most common type of transgranular fracture are fatigue fractures. Cleavage
fractures, dimpled rupture fractures, and shear fractures.
 Transient Currents - These currents are of short duration, generated by sudden
changed in the electrical or magnetic conditions existing in an electrical or
magnetic circuit.
 Transmission Angle - The incident angle of a transmitted ultrasonic beam. It is
zero degrees when the beam is perpendicular (normal) to the test surface.
 Transmission Characteristics - Test object characteristics that influence the
passage of ultrasonic energy, including scattering, attenuation or surface
conditions.
 Transmission Technique - See through-transmission.
 Transmitter - The transducer that emits ultrasonic energy.
- The electrical circuits that generate the signals emitted by the transducer.
 Transmutation - The change of one element into another as a result of changes
within the nucleus.
51 | P a g e
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 Transverse - Literally “across,” usually signifying a direction or plane

perpendicular to the axis of a part.
 Tritium - A radioactive isotope of hydrogen with two neutrons and one proton in
the nucleus. It is heavier than deuterium (heavy hydrogen). Tritium is used in
industrial thickness gages, as a label in tracer experiments and in controlled
fusion experiments.
 Tungsten - A metal commonly used to make the plugs used for connecting metal
wires to one another or to the devices in integrated circuits.
 Two-crystal Method - Use of 2 crystals for sending and receiving. May be pulse-
echo or through transmission method.
 Two-Film Technique - A procedure wherein two films of different relative
speeds are used simultaneously to radiograph both the thick and the thin sections
of an item.
 2.2 T Radiography - Quality level of radiography displays a discernible image of
a penetrameter hole that has a diameter equal to twice the penetrameter
thickness. The penetramenter thickness equals 2 percent of the material
thickness.
U
 UT - Abbreviation for the ultrasonic method of nondestructive testing.
 Ultrasonic - A term referring to acoustic vibration frequencies greater than about
20,000 hertz.
 Ultrasonic Absorption - The damping of ultrasonic waves as they pass through
a medium. See attenuation coefficient.
 Ultrasonic Simulation (UTSIM) - A user interface integrating a CAD model
representing a part under inspection and an ultrasound beam model.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/CalibrationMeth/utsim.htm)
 Ultrasonic Spectrum - Usually, the frequency range from 20,000 to 107 hertz.
But may extend much higher in special applications.
 Ultrasonic Spectroscopy - Analysis of the frequency content of an acoustic
wave. Generally performed mathematically using a fast Fourier transform.
 Ultrasonic Testing - The transmission of high-frequency sound waves into a
material to detect imperfections or to locate changes in material properties.
o (Course Material/cc_ut_index.htm)
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/Introduction/presentstate.htm)
 Ultrasonic Vibrations - Vibrational waves of a frequency above the hearing
range of the normal human ear are referred to as ultrasonic, and the term
therefore includes all those waves of a frequency of more than approximately
20,000 cycles per second. Also known as ultrasonic waves.
 Ultrasonic Waves - Sound waves too high in frequency for humans to hear.
o (Basic Science/Sound/components/pitch007.htm)
 Ultrasonically Sound Material - A material having no discontinuities which
cause discernible ultrasonic indications at the required test sensitivity level.
 Ultrasound - A test using ultrasonic waves to create an image of the inside of an
object.
o (Basic Science/sound/ultrasound.htm)
 Ultraviolet Light - Light lying just beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum
and having wavelengths shorter than approximately 4,000 angstroms.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/Introduction/history.htm)
 Underbead Crack - A subsurface crack in the base metal near a weld.
 Undercut - In welding, a groove melted into the base metal adjacent to the toe,
or edge, of a weld and left unfilled.
 Unrestricted Area - Any area, entry into which is not controlled.
52 | P a g e
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 Unsharpness, Geometrical - The fuzziness or lack of definition in a radiographic

image resulting from the source size, object to film distance and the source to
object distance.
 Unstable Atom - The nuclei of some atoms where the binding energy is not
strong enough to hold the nucleus together.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/stableunstableatoms.htm)
 Unstable Nucleus - When an imbalance of protons and neutrons causes the
nucleus to change.
 Uranium 238 (Depleted Uranium) - spend uranium, an isotope of uranium
used for shielding sources. It is slightly radioactive, but its activity is slightly
radioactive, but its activity is insignificant and does not add to any radiation
leakage from the shielded source
V
 V-Path - In angle beam tests of plate or cylindrical sections, the path of the
ultrasonic beam in the test object from point of entry on the front surface to the
back surface and reflecting to the front surface again. See also skip distance.
 Valence Shell - The outer electron ring of any atom.
 Van de Graaf generator - an electrostatic type x-ray generator in the million
and multimillion volt category.
 Vector - A quantity having amplitude (magnitude) and direction. Normally
represented as a line whose length represents the quantity’s magnitude and the
angular position the phase (relative to some reference).
 Vector field - See resultant.
 Velocity - Distance traveled per unit time.
 Vertical Limit - The readable level of vertical indication on an A-scan.
 Vertical Linearity - See linearity, amplitude.
 Vibration - A rapid back and forth motion of a particle or solid.
o (Basic Science/Sound/vibration.htm)
 Vibrational Motion - Moving backward and forward, like a pendulum.
 Video Presentation - A cathode ray tube presentation in which radiofrequency
signals have been rectified and usually filtered.
 Virgin curve - The original magnetizing curve of a material.
 Viscosity - Resistance to flow of a liquid.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/PTMaterials/viscosity.htm)
 Visible dye penetrant - An intensely colored (usually red) highly penetrating
liquid which will provide maximum contrast with the white developer when used
for detection of surface discontinuities.
 Visual Acuity - The space visible to an eye in a given position of gaze.
o (Course Material/PenetrantTest/Introduction/visualacuity.htm)
 Volt (V) - (1) The unit of electromotive force or potential difference that will
cause a current of one ampere to flow through a conductor whose resistance is
one ohm. (2) The unit of electromotive force or potential difference between two
points when one joule of energy is used to move one coulomb of charge from one
point to the other.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/voltage/thevoltpopup.htm)
 Voltage - Electromotive force or difference in electrical potential. Expressed in
volts.
o (Basic Science/Electricity/voltage.htm)
53 | P a g e
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 Voltmeter - The instrument used to measure voltage.
W
 Water Break - the ability of the rinse to cover the entire surface in an unbroken
film.
 Water Column - A tube filled with water and attached to the front of a
transducer to couple an ultrasonic beam to a test object. A delay line between the
initial pulse and the front surface signal. Also serves as a coupling device. See
also delay line.
 Water Jet - An unsupported stream of water carrying ultrasonic signals between
the transducer and the test object surface. Also called a squirter.
 Water Path - In immersion testing or with a water column, the distance from the
transducer face to the test object’s front surface.
 Water Soluble - The ability to be dissolved in water.
 Water Suspendible - Particles that will not dissolve in water.
 Water Washable Penetrant - A penetrant containing emulsifying such that it
does not require the allocation of a separate emulsifying agent to facilitate
removal by eater rinsing.
 Wavefront - In a wave disturbance, the locus of points having the same phase.
 Wave Interference - The production of a series of maxima and minima of sound
pressure as a consequence of the superposition of waves having different phases.
 Wave Propagation - The way in which a wave travels through a medium.
 Wave Train - A Series of waves or groups of waves passing along the same
course at regular intervals.
 Wavelength - The distance needed in the propagation direction for a wave to go
through a complete cycle.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/characterradiation/wavelength_popup.htm)
 Weldments - Welded joints.
o (Course Material/Ultrasonics/SelectedApps/weldments.htm)
 Wear - The undesired removal of material from contacting surfaces by
mechanical action.
 Wear Face - A protective material on the face of a transducer to prevent wear of
the piezoelectric element.
 Wedge - A device used to direct ultrasonic energy into a test object at an acute
angle. See also shoe.
 Wedge Testing - the use of a wedge between crystal and surface of test pieces
where it is not possible to direct waves in the desired direction using straight
contact methods. The wedge directs the wave into the test piece at an angle,
enabling the wave to reach surfaces, otherwise inaccessible.
 Weld Bead - a deposit of filler metal from a single welding pass.
 Weld Crack - A crack in weld metal.
 Weld Line - The junction of the weld metal and the base metal, or the junction
of the base-metal parts when filler metal is not used.
 Weld Metal - That portion of a weld which has been melted during welding.
 Weld Nugget - The weld metal in spot, seam or projection welding.
 Wet Developer - A developer in which the developing powder is applied as a
suspension or solution in a liquid, usually water.
 Wetting Agent - A substance that will reduce the surface tension of a liquid,
thereby reducing the formation of air bubbles.
54 | P a g e
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 Wheel Transducer - A device that couples ultrasonic energy to a test object

through the rolling contact area of a wheel containing a liquid and one or more
transducers.
 Workload - The output of a radiation machine or a radioactive source integrated
over a suitable time and expressed in appropriate units.
 Worm Holes - Elongated or tubular cavities due to entrapped gas.
 Wrap Around - the display of misleading ultrasonic reflections from a previously
transmitted pulse due to the use of excessive pulse repetition frequency. See
ghost.
X
 X-rays - A form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than those
of ultraviolet light.
o (Basic Science/Radiography/discoveryxrays.htm)
o (Basic Science/Radiography/introxrays.htm)
 X-ray Inspection Simulation (XRSIM) - A program that simulates
radiographic inspections using a computer aided design (CAD) model of a part to
produce physically accurate simulated radiographic images.
o (Course Material/Radiography/AdvancedTechniques/xrsim.htm)
 X-ray Sources - An object that produces x-rays.
Y
  Yield Point - The first stress in a material, less than the maximum attainable
stress, at which an increase in stress. Not a general term or property; only
certain metals exhibit a yield point.
  Yield Strength - The stress at which a material exhibits a specified deviation
is usually 0.2% for most metals. A general term or property, preferred to yield
point.
  Young's Modulus - Same as modulus of elasticity.
55 | P a g e

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 Algorithm - A set of steps for solving a specific problem. Algorithms can be

 Antinode - A point in a standing wave where certain characteristics of the wave

 Contaminant - Any foreign substance that interferes with a process or measurement.

 Creep - Time-dependent strain occurring under stress, or the change of shape

 Damping Material - A highly absorbent material used to cause rapid decay of

 Depth Compensation - See distance amplitude correction.

 Distance-Amplitude Response Curve - A curve showing the relationship

 Dual Element Transducers - An ultrasonic transducer that has two active

 Elastic Constants - The factors of proportionality that relate elastic

 Electrical Impedance - The total opposition that a circuit presents to an

 Electromagnetic Field - A field that is created when energy from a power

 Electrostatic Generator - This device accelerates electrons to produce high

 Flash Point Interference - A method used to reconstruct a flaw based on an

 Fluorescence, Radiographic - The emission of electromagnetic radiation by a

 Fractograph - Descriptive treatment of fracture, especially in metals, with

 Fretting Wear - Surface damage to a metal part resulting from microwelding

 Grinding Cracks - Shallow cracks formed in the surface of relatively hard

 High-conductivity copper - Copper which, in the annealed condition, has a

 Hydrogen Embrittlement - A condition of low ductility in metals resulting from

 Induced Radioactivity - Radioactivity that is created by bombarding a

 Interface - The boundary between two contacting parts or regions or parts.

 Interpretation - The determination of the source and relevancy of an ultrasonic

 Ionization - This process of radiation absorption.

 Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics - method of fracture analysis that can

 Lox-safe penetrant - A penetrant material or system specifically designed to be

 Magnetic Behavior - When two materials attract or repel each other.

 Magnetic Field Strength - The measured intensity of a magnetic field at a

 Magnetic Testing (MT) - A nondestructive testing method used for defect

 Magnetically Hard Alloy - A ferromagnetic alloy capable of being magnetized

 Malleability - The characteristic of metals which permits plastic deformation in

 Matter - Anything that has mass and occupies space.

 Micrograph - A graphic reproduction of the surface of a prepared specimen,

 Neutron source - A source that emits neutrons, e.g. a poloniumberyllium

 Particle Motion - Movement of particles of material during wave propagation.

 Plastic Deformation - Deformation that remains after removal of the load or

 Post-Emulsification Penetrant - A type of penetrant containing no emulsifier,

 Protons - A fundamental particle usually found in the nucleus of an atom with a

 Pulse Repetition Frequency - See repetition rate.

 Radioactive - Atoms which are energetically unstable and decay to a stable

 Radiofrequency Display - The presentation of unrectified signals on a cathode

 Radium - A radioactive element with the atomic number 88 and an atomic

 Reference Standards - A reference object containing known reflectors

 Roentgens - A measure of radiation intensity of X-rays or gamma rays.

 Semi-Infinite Conductor - A crystalline solid, such as silicon or germanium,

 Transverse - Literally “across,” usually signifying a direction or plane

 Unsharpness, Geometrical - The fuzziness or lack of definition in a radiographic

 Voltmeter - The instrument used to measure voltage.

 Wheel Transducer - A device that couples ultrasonic energy to a test object

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