This project establishes a "Non-Destructive Testing Facility" at Maine Maritime Academy comprising of non-destructive testing equipment commonly used in the marine construction industry. The object of this project is the development of a teaching tool which will assist in the understanding of material flaws and the importance of proper welding techniques. All engineering students at Maine Maritime academy are required to complete a sequence of courses in welding theory and practice. The Non-Destructive Testing Facility will include liquid-dye penetrant, ultrasonic, magnetic-particle and x-ray equipment. Laboratory projects will include not only weld defect detection, but also corrosion assessment on board the Academy's training vessel, effects of stress and fatigue and changes in anisotropic material structure during fabrication. The operation of the test-bench facility will provide students with an additional hands-on capability in which the Maine Maritime Academy graduating engineer excels.
