Handbook of Nondestructive Evaluation 4.0

This handbook, now as second edition, continues to comprehensively cover the cutting-edge trends and techniques essential for the integration of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) into the changing face of the modern industrial landscape. In particular, it delves into the marriage of NDE with new techniques in e.g. data mining, cloud computing and autonomous operation, highlighting the potential for cyber-physical controlled production and discussing the myriad possible applications across many different industries.

The Handbook of NDE 4.0 centers around the Industry 4.0 philosophy – the next generation of industrial production encompassing all aspects of networking across all industrial areas. It discusses the adaptation of existing NDE techniques to emerging new technological areas, such as 3D printing, via the introduction of cyber systems into the inspection and maintenance processes. In addition, the handbook covers topics such as the management and processing of big data with respect to real-time monitoring of structural integrity and reliable inspection of individual components. Remote NDE to include competence not available on-site will be a potential technique to increase reliability of NDE inspections by integrating additional specialist inputs into the decision process by methods such as telepresence, thereby better leveraging the scarce resources of senior inspectors into industrial inspections at multiple sites. The handbook also includes non-technical topics of direct relevance to leadership, management, and adoption of this new philosophy.

The handbook houses a wealth of essential information to help academics, industry professionals, regulatory bodies, and entrepreneurs navigate through this burgeoning new field. The material in this handbook is presented with the intention of ultimately improving human safety through reliable inspections and dependable maintenance of critical infrastructure, while also enhancing business value through reduced downtime, affordable maintenance, and talent optimization. The content is positioned to inspire NDE professionals to think broadly in terms of their role as continuous value add rather than discrete decision support.

This second edition contains many new chapters, and half of all chapters were revised from the 1^st edition, based on engagement of authors through global platforms such as ICDNT special interest group and International conferences on NDE 4.0.

Dr. Norbert Meyendorf retired in fall 2018 as Deputy Director of the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) and Professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Before joining ISU in 2016 he was Branch Director at the Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing IZFP and later IKTS. Additionally, he was Director of the International University of Dayton / Fraunhofer Research Center at the School of Engineering at the University of Dayton, and Founder and Program Director of the Master Program “Nondestructive Testing, M. Sc. (NDT)” at the Dresden International University (DIU) between 2011 and 2015.

Norbert Meyendorf continues to be active as Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Materials Engineering Program at the University of Dayton and as Professor for Micro- and Nano-NDE at the University of Dresden. He is the author or co-author of more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributions to edited proceedings, technical reports, and numerous oral presentations at international venues. He was Editor in Chief and is now member of the Advisory Board of the Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation and is member of the International Advisory Board of the RCNDE (the UK Research Center in NDE). He has edited several books and conference proceedings. Additionally, Meyendorf is the founder and chair of two expert committees of the German Society for Non-Destructive Testing (DGZfP); namely, “Structural Health Monitoring” and “Materials Diagnostics”.

Dr. Nathan Ida is Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Emeritus) at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio where he has been since 1985. His current research interests are in the areas of electromagnetic nondestructive testing and evaluation of materials at low and microwave frequencies with particular emphasis on theoretical issues, on all aspects of modeling and simulation and on related issues stemming from research in NDE. He received his B.Sc. in 1977 and M.S.E.E. in 1979 from the Ben-Gurion University in Israel, and his Ph.D. from Colorado State University in 1983. He has held visiting and/or adjunct positions at various institutions including Nasa Glen Research Center, The Federal University of Santa Catarina, in Florianopolis, Brazil, McGill University in Montreal, Canada, Electricite De France, Paris, France, The University of Lille, Lille, France and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. 

Dr. Ida has published extensively, in over 400 publications, on electromagnetic field computation, nondestructive testing of materials, surface impedance boundary conditions, and sensing. He has written 12 books, amongst them a textbook on engineering electromagnetics, now in its fourth edition, and a textbook on sensing and actuation, now in its second edition in addition to monographs on microwave NDT and  computational electromagnetics.He is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Fellow of the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), a Fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES). Dr. Ida teaches Electromagnetics, Antenna Theory, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Sensing and Actuation as well as Computational Methods and Algorithms.

Dr. Ripi Singh is a freelance innovation and strategy coach, specializing in digital transformation. He got here after 20 years of developing digital solutions to engineering problems followed by 15 years of organization transformation experience.  He has learned from decades of creating new technologies and products, and fostering a culture of innovation through academia, small business, and Fortune 500 companies in Asia, Europe, and the USA. He holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Thinking from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Post Doctorate in Aerospace from Georgia Tech. His has shared his work through 100+ research publications, 300+ lectures, 20 books, number of visiting faculty roles, and several advisory board assignments. His notable voluntary roles as of late include serving on the US delegation on ISO 56000 for Innovation Management, and as Chair of the NDE 4.0 committee for the ASNT. The body of knowledge created by him over the years has been recognized with the President of India Cash Prize for Research, the National Technical Education award, US citizenship for extraordinary abilities. In 2022, his work on NDE 4.0 together with Dr. Johannes Vrana received the Robert C McMaster Gold Medal from ASNT.

Dr. Johannes Vrana: physicist, consultant, speaker, and trainer with 15+ years’ experience in NDE and 20+ in data science. His work ranges from applied ultrasonic testing to quantum optics, from quality assurance to science, and from large-scale industries to start-ups. Some of the highlights of his work: Ph.D. on Induction Thermography, former Chairman of the Siemens NDE Council, and implementation of SAFT into serial production.

Dr. Vrana is leading multiple groups in national and international societies, mainly regarding NDE 4.0 and automated ultrasonic testing. He is well-published, editor of the Journal of NDE, editor-in-chief of the Handbook of  NDE 4.0, and received multiple awards. In 2023 he was identified by Onalytica as one of the Top 50 Influencers on Industry 4.0.
His company “Vrana GmbH” specializes in NDE and digital transformation consulting and solutions, R&D, training, and software development. Vrana GmbH offers holistic cyber-physical solutions including IIoT integration, digital twin design, and value creation from data.