Developpement and Use of Nde Methods on Pressure Equipement: Industrial Experience in Applying Acoustic Emission

The European regulation regarding pressure equipment (i.e. Pressure Equipment Directive PED 97/23/CE) is applicable since May 2002. The member states have since adopted regulations enabling the use of innovative NDE methods such as acoustic emission as a global method associated to a local method such as TOFD technique which permits an accurate characterization and precise sizing of flaw indications. These NDE methods have been studied, tested and assessed by CETIM since several years. Their development leans on various R & D studies that CETIM conducts along with industrial partners whose main preoccupations are to guaranty the safety and the fitness for service of their pressure equipment.