The adoption of advanced welding inspection technologies offers several benefits, including:
: Flipbooks and online modules for the Welding Inspection Technology series became more widely available in 2021, emphasizing digital content creation and interactive learning. Inspection Standards & Guidelines
Note: This review synthesizes trends commonly found in journals such as the NDT & E International, Welding Journal, and conference proceedings from the IIW (International Institute of Welding) during the 2020-2021 timeframe. welding inspection technology 2020 pdf 2021
The 2020–2021 period firmly established several trajectories that continue to shape welding inspection:
During 2020 and 2021, industry features focused on digitizing inspection and advancing automation: The LU system, comprising a pulsed laser and
The benefits of non-contact inspection were particularly evident in the 2020 work on for wire + arc additive manufactured (WAAM) samples, published in Ultrasonics . The LU system, comprising a pulsed laser and a laser interferometer, achieved non-contact inspection of artificial defects—cracks, flat-bottom holes, and through-holes—without requiring surface machining. This approach is ideal for additively manufactured components and high-value parts where surface preparation is impractical. Research on finite element simulation of laser-generated ultrasonic waves for quantitative detection of internal weld defects, published in Optik (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2020.165361), enabled detailed analysis of the interaction between laser-generated Rayleigh waves and internal defects.
The pandemic restrictions of 2020 forced the welding inspection industry to replace paper-based asset management with digital workflows. Mobile Inspection Apps and Electronic Tablets The pandemic restrictions of 2020 forced the welding
Environmental regulations and the need for immediate feedback accelerated the decline of film-based radiography. 2020 manuals emphasized Computed Radiography (using storage phosphor plates) and Direct Digital Radiography (using flat-panel detectors).