This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: E1316 − 22a

Standard Terminology for

Nondestructive Examinations1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1316; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INDEX OF TERMS
Section
A: Common NDT Terms
B: Acoustic Emission (AE) Terms
C: Electromagnetic Testing (ET) Terms
D: Gamma- and X-Radiologic Testing (RT) Terms
E: Leak Testing (LT) Terms
F: Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) Terms
G: Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) Terms
H: Neutron Radiologic Testing (NRT) Terms
I: Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Terms
J: Infrared Testing (IRT) Terms
K: Optical Holographic Testing (HT) Terms
L: Visual Testing (VT) Terms

1. Scope component, or an ultrasonic measurement of velocity).

1.1 This standard defines the terminology used in the Additionally, the term test should be used when referring to the
standards prepared by the E07 Committee on Nondestructive NDT method, that is, Radiologic Testing (RT), Ultrasonic
Testing. These nondestructive testing (NDT) methods include: Testing (UT), and so forth. (Example: Radiologic Testing (RT)
acoustic emission, electromagnetic testing, gamma- and is often used to examine material to detect internal disconti-
X-radiology, leak testing, liquid penetrant testing, magnetic nuities.)
particle testing, neutron radiology and gauging, ultrasonic NOTE 1—The following sentences clarify this policy and illustrate its
testing, and other technical methods. use:
(a) Nondestructive testing methods are used extensively for the exami-
1.2 Committee E07 recognizes that the terms examination, nation or inspection of materials and components.
testing, and inspection are commonly used as synonyms in (b) The E07 Committee on Nondestructive Testing has prepared many
nondestructive testing. For uniformity and consistency in E07 documents to promote uniform usage of the nondestructive testing
nondestructive testing standards, Committee E07 encourages methods that are applied to examine or inspect materials and components.
(c) Radiologic Testing (RT) is often used to inspect material to detect
the use of the terms examination or inspection and their
internal discontinuities.
derivatives when describing the application of nondestructive (d) Magnetic Particle Testing (MT), Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT), and
test methods. In a specific standard, either examination or Visual Testing (VT) are often used to examine the surface of a component.
inspection shall be used consistently throughout the document. (e) The Bubble Leak Testing (BLT) method is sometimes used to leak
Similarly, E07 encourages the use of the term test and its test a pressure containing component to detect leaks.
(f) A guide for Nondestructive Testing of additively manufactured
derivatives when referring to the body of knowledge of a materials will describe several methods but a practice will focus on a
nondestructive testing method. There are, however, appropriate single inspection method.
exceptions when the term test and its derivatives may be used
1.3 Section A defines terms that are common to multiple
to describe the application of a nondestructive test, such as
NDT methods, whereas the subsequent sections define terms
measurements which produce a numeric result (for example,
pertaining to specific NDT methods.
when using the leak testing method to perform a leak test on a
1.4 As shown on the chart below, when a nondestructive
examination or inspection produces an indication, the indica-
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on tion is subject to interpretation as false, nonrelevant, or
Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.92 on relevant. If it has been interpreted as relevant, the necessary
Editorial Review.
subsequent evaluation will result in the decision to accept or
Current edition approved June 1, 2022. Published June 2022. Originally
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as E1316 – 22. DOI: reject the material. With the exception of accept and reject,
10.1520/E1316-22A. which retain the meaning found in most dictionaries, all the

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 E1316 − 22a
words used in the chart are defined in Section A. E94 Guide for Radiographic Examination Using Industrial
Radiographic Film
E1106 Test Method for Primary Calibration of Acoustic
Emission Sensors
E1781 Practice for Secondary Calibration of Acoustic Emis-
sion Sensors
NOTE 2—This standard defines the terminology used in the standards
prepared by Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing and published in
the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volumes 03.03 and 03.04.

3. Significance and Use

3.1 The terms found in this standard are intended to be used
uniformly and consistently in all nondestructive testing stan-
dards. The purpose of this standard is to promote a clear
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- understanding and interpretation of the NDT standards in
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- which they are used.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 4. Terminology
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. 4.1 Definitions—The definitions provided below have been
broken up into sections; each section is arranged in alphabeti-
2. Referenced Documents cal order.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2

2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

Section A: Common NDT Terms

The terms defined in Section A are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.92, Editorial Review.

acceptable quality level—the maximum percent defective or storage and transmission protocol that defines the organiza-
the maximum number of units defective per hundred units tion of NDT image data and associated metadata in a
that, for the purpose of sampling test, can be considered standard electronic format.
satisfactory as a process average. DISCUSSION—DICONDE is based on and inherits from the univer-
sally adopted medical standard, DICOM, which facilitates the interop-
calibration, instrument, n—the comparison of an instrument
erability of imaging equipment through data storage and network
with, or the adjustment of an instrument to, a known communication protocols.
reference(s) often traceable to the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST). (See also discontinuity, n—a lack of continuity or cohesion; an inten-
standardization, instrument.) tional or unintentional interruption in the physical structure
or configuration of a material or component.
cognizant engineering organization—the company, govern-
ment agency or other authority responsible for the design, or evaluation—determination of whether a relevant indication is
end use, of the material or component for which nondestruc- cause to accept or to reject a material or component.
tive testing is required. examination, n—a procedure for determining a property (or
DISCUSSION—In addition to design personnel, the cognizant engineer- properties) or other conditions or characteristics of a material
ing organization could include personnel from engineering, material or component by direct or indirect means.
and process engineering, stress analysis, nondestructive testing, quality DISCUSSION—Examples include utilization of X-rays or ultrasonic
assurance and others, as appropriate. waves for the purpose of determining (directly or by calculation) flaw
content, density, or (for ultrasound) modulus; or detection of flaws by
defect, n—one or more flaws whose aggregate size, shape, induction of eddy currents, observing thermal behavior, AE response,
orientation, location, or properties do not meet specified or utilization of magnetic particles or liquid penetrants.
acceptance criteria and are rejectable.
false indication, n—an NDT indication that is interpreted to be
Digital Imaging and Communication for Nondestructive caused by a condition other than a discontinuity or imper-
Evaluation (DICONDE)—a vendor-neutral digital data fection.

2
 E1316 − 22a
flaw, n—an imperfection or discontinuity that may be detect- flaws; to assess integrity, properties and composition; and to
able by nondestructive testing and is not necessarily reject- measure geometrical characteristics.
able. nonrelevant indication, n—an NDT indication that is caused
flaw characterization, n—the process of quantifying the size, by a condition or type of discontinuity that is not rejectable.
shape, orientation, location, growth, or other properties, of a False indications are non-relevant.
flaw based on NDT response. reference standard, n—a material or object for which all
imperfection, n—a departure of a quality characteristic from relevant chemical and physical characteristics are known and
its intended condition. measurable, used as a comparison for, or standardization of,
equipment or instruments used for nondestructive testing.
indication—the response or evidence from a nondestructive (See also standardization, instrument.)
examination. relevant indication, n—an NDT indication that is caused by a
DISCUSSION—An indication is determined by interpretation to be
condition or type of discontinuity that requires evaluation.
relevant, non-relevant, or false.
standard—(1) a physical reference used as a basis for com-
inspection, n—see examination. parison or calibration; (2) a concept that has been established
interpretation—the determination of whether indications are by authority, custom, or agreement to serve as a model or
relevant or nonrelevant. rule in the measurement of quality or the establishment of a
practice or procedure.
interpretation, n—the determination of whether indications
standardization, instrument, n—the adjustment of an NDT
are relevant, nonrelevant, or false.
instrument using an appropriate reference standard, to obtain
Nondestructive Evaluation—see Nondestructive Testing. or establish a known and reproducible response. (This is
Nondestructive Examination—see Nondestructive Testing. usually done prior to an examination, but can be carried out
Nondestructive Inspection—see Nondestructive Testing. anytime there is concern about the examination or instru-
Nondestructive Testing (NDT), n—the development and ap- ment response.) (See also calibration, instrument.)
plication of technical methods to examine materials or test, n—see preferred terms examination or inspection.
components in ways that do not impair future usefulness and
serviceability in order to detect, locate, measure and evaluate

Section B: Acoustic Emission (AE) Terms

The terms defined in Section B are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.04 on Acoustic Emission Method.

acoustic emission (AE)—the class of phenomena whereby primary AE mechanism while a resulting crack surface friction can be
transient stress/displacement waves are generated by the considered as a secondary AE mechanism.
rapid release of energy from localized sources within a acoustic emission sensor—see sensor, acoustic emission.
material, or the transient waves so generated.
acoustic emission signal amplitude—see signal amplitude,
DISCUSSION—Acoustic emission is the recommended term for general
acoustic emission.
use. Other terms that have been used in AE literature include: (1) stress
wave emission, (2) microseismic activity, and (3) emission or acoustic acoustic emission signal (emission signal)—see signal, acous-
emission with other qualifying modifiers. tic emission.
acoustic emission signature (signature)—see signature,
acoustic emission channel—see channel, acoustic emission. acoustic emission.
acoustic emission count (emission count) (N)—see count, acoustic emission transducer—see sensor, acoustic emission.
acoustic emission. acoustic emission waveguide—see waveguide, acoustic emis-
acoustic emission count rate—see count rate, acoustic emis- sion.
sion (emission rate or count rate) (Ṅ). acousto-ultrasonics (AU)—a nondestructive examination
acoustic emission event—see event, acoustic emission. method that uses induced stress waves to detect and assess
acoustic emission event energy—see energy, acoustic event. diffuse defect states, damage conditions, and variations of
acoustic emission mechanism or acoustic emission source mechanical properties of a test structure. The AU method
mechanism—a dynamic process or combination of pro- combines aspects of acoustic emission (AE) signal analysis
cesses occurring within a material, generating acoustic with ultrasonic materials characterization techniques.
emission events. AE source mechanisms can be subdivided active source—one which exhibits increasing cumulative AE
into several categories: material and mechanical, macro- activity with increasing or constant stimulus.
scopic and microscopic, primary and secondary.
DISCUSSION—Examples of macroscopic material AE source mecha- adaptive location—source location by iterative use of simu-
nisms in metals are incremental crack advancements, plastic deforma- lated sources in combination with computed location.
tion development and fracture of inclusions. Friction and impacts are
examples of mechanical AE. A crack advancement can be considered a AE activity, n—the presence of acoustic emission during a test.