Textbooks, landmark papers, software, standards, and online tools for ultrasonic NDE
The definitive reference for conventional UT. Covers wave physics, transducers, testing techniques, and defect evaluation. Often called "the bible of UT."
Comprehensive treatment of guided wave theory and applications. Essential for Lamb waves, pipe inspection, and phased-array analysis. Rose is at Penn State.
Systematic treatment of phased-array beam modeling, focal laws, and imaging. Includes MATLAB code. Schmerr is at Iowa State (CNDE).
Rigorous mathematical treatment of elastodynamics. Required reading for anyone working with wave scattering, diffraction, and anisotropic media.
Free PDF from Olympus. Very practical — covers probe selection, wedge angles, S-scan setup, and weld inspection. Good starting point before the Schmerr book.
The ASNT handbook series. Vol. 7 covers the full spectrum of UT methods, from pulse-echo basics to TOFD and advanced imaging. Standard reference for Level III certification.
NDT&E International. The landmark paper introducing FMC/TFM. Essential reading for anyone working with array imaging.
Reviews techniques for measuring β using harmonic generation and resonance methods. Key reference for nonlinear UT / early damage detection.
NDT&E International. Broad survey of array imaging methods, beam forming, signal processing, and applications. Excellent overview paper.
Foundational paper on coherent grain noise statistics, frequency scaling laws, and SNR prediction. Invaluable for inspection planning in coarse-grained materials.
IEEE T-UFFC. Introduces the Warped Frequency Transform for dispersion compensation in guided wave inspection. Widely cited in the GW community.
Industry-standard simulation platform for UT, ET, and RT. Models beam propagation, defect response, and phased-array imaging. Free academic licenses available.
FEM/FEA for modeling wave propagation, transducer resonance, and piezoelectric coupling. Very flexible; steep learning curve. Purdue has a campus license.
Open-source Python libraries for UT data processing: A-scan filtering, TFM reconstruction, dispersion curve calculation (scikit-signal, arim). Community-maintained.
Software for computing dispersion curves of guided waves in layered media (plates, pipes, coatings). The standard tool for guided wave mode selection. Free for research.
MathWorks toolbox with functions for array design, beam forming, and signal simulation. Useful for prototyping focal laws and evaluating grating lobes.
Covers verification of phased-array systems: beam steering, focal depth, sensitivity calibration. Reference for qualifying PA UT setups.
Establishes procedures for time-of-flight diffraction UT of welds. Covers probe placement, calibration, and defect sizing.
Governing code for UT of pressure vessels and piping. Required knowledge for anyone inspecting ASME-coded components.
International standard for defect sizing by UT: 6 dB drop, 20 dB drop, DGS, and TOFD methods. Widely used in European aerospace and power generation.
ASNT's online learning portal with UT Level I & II study materials, quizzes, and reference data. Good supplement to formal training.
Comprehensive online reference by the Center for NDE at Iowa State. Covers all major NDE methods with diagrams, equations, and interactive applets.
The primary journal for UT and acoustics research. Open access articles available. Subscribe for new publication alerts relevant to your research area.
Large archive of conference proceedings, journal articles, and technical reports on NDE. Many papers are freely downloadable. Good for industry-practice literature.