About the Lab

The laboratory for non-destructive testing at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Technical University - Sofia was established in 1987. The laboratory team has considerable experience and expertise in the testing and evaluation of components for power plants, equipment for the chemical, aviation, shipbuilding and railway industries. The research activity includes the inspection and monitoring of products and structures and the study of the properties of new materials. Test methods such as ultrasonic testing, radiographic testing, eddy current testing, magnetic powder testing, liquid penetrant testing, and thermographic testing are covered. The results of the research are applied in the development of new and optimization of already existing technologies for the detection and identification of imperfections and foreign inclusions in products made of metal, ceramics and high-tech composite materials.

The applied methods of non-destructive testing ensure the quality of the products and their compliance with industrial and internal company standards. The laboratory provides consulting services for choosing a control method for specific and non-standard products and projects.

Activities

Non-destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E) is one of the most rapidly emerging areas of research and development within the manufacturing and construction sectors. To a large extent, this strong interest in NDT&E is in response to demands for better quality assurance in both materials and structures, for monitoring manufacturing and construction processes, and for operation and life extension of industrial plants.

Some of the research areas developed by the laboratory are:

Advanced thermography
Quantitative Non-destructive Evaluation
Condition and Structural Monitoring
Smart materials and structures
Guided waves inspection
Electromagnetic acoustic transducers
Digital radiography
Image processing for NDT
Automated ultrasonic testing
Eddy current testing
Non-destructive inspection reliability

The Laboratory mission is to develop novel methods of non-destructive testing and evaluation in collaboration/partnership with industry and also to provide students with a challenging environment that fosters their intellectual growth.

Projects and Partners

The laboratory successfully participates in international projects in the fifth, sixth and seventh EU Framework Programs. For full list of projects and additional information please visit our web page.

We are working with industrial and research organization including but not limited to:

Great Britain (The Welding Institute, Computerised Information Technology Ltd, X-Tek Ltd, KCC Ltd, Castings Technology International, Rolls Royce, Sonatest NDE PLC)
Germany (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, EON Kernkraft GmbH, Blohm & Voss Inspection Gervice GmbH, Applus RTD, DB System Technik, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Zerstorungsfreie Prufung EV)
France (CEA-The French Atomic Energy Commission, Total, EADS, Airbus Industries)
Italy (ISO Test Engineering S.R.L., I & T Nardoni Institute Srl, Associazone Italiana Prove Non Distruttive Monitoraggio Diagnostica)
Poland (Technic-Control, WSK "PZL RZESZOW")
Belgium (ICM, Balteau NDT, European Federation Of Non Destructive Testing)
Spain (Tecnitest, Asociacion Espanola de Ensayos No Destructivos)
Finland (Trueflaw, AJAT)
Denmark (INNOSPEXION)
Greece (Zenon Robotics And Informatics SA)
Lithuania (Kauno Technologijos Universitetas)
Portugal (INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE ASSOCIACAO)