2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a critical component of modern industrial practices, yet it remains underrepresented in many undergraduate mechanical engineering curricula. To bridge this gap, this paper presents the introduction of ultrasonic NDT techniques into a sophomore-level materials testing lab. The lab was designed to familiarize students with ultrasonic testing and to reinforce key concepts related to wave propagation and material properties.
Students engaged with an ultrasonic testing system equipped with longitudinal and transverse wave transducers, a pulser/receiver, and an oscilloscope. By generating and analyzing waveforms, they were able to calculate material properties through the time delay between the pulse and its echo. This allowed them to measure the velocities of longitudinal and transverse waves in tensile testing specimens, from which material properties such as Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and shear modulus were determined.
In parallel, the same specimens underwent traditional tensile testing, providing students with a valuable opportunity to compare Young’s modulus values obtained via both ultrasonic NDT and conventional testing methods. This direct comparison deepened students' comprehension of the material properties and highlighted the practical applications of NDT in evaluating the integrity and characteristics of materials without causing damage.
The effectiveness of incorporating ultrasonic NDT into the curriculum was assessed through detailed student reports and reflections. These assessments demonstrated that the lab significantly enhanced students' understanding of both NDT principles and their relevance to industry, particularly in the context of material testing and evaluation. The hands-on experience provided by the lab offers an essential educational experience, preparing students for the demands of modern engineering practices where NDT plays a pivotal role in ensuring material quality and safety.