Quantitative Non-Destructive Testing: The integration of non-destructive testing and probabilistic fracture mechanics

Nowadays, the non-destructive evaluation of structural components allows the detection of cracks and other types of flaws with a high resolution. When cracks are involved in mechanical failure events, fracture mechanics provides concepts for lifetime prediction of components when component geometry, material characteristics and load intensity under steady state or impact loading are known. Under fatigue loads additionally material laws have to be observed. Bringing together these disciplines, quantitative non-destructive testing for lifetime prediction is possible.