Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) is an interdisciplinary field of study which is concerned with the development of analysis techniques and measurement technologies for the quantitative characterization of materials, tissues and structures by noninvasive means. Ultrasonic, radiographic, thermographic, electromagnetic, and optic methods are employed to probe interior microstructure and characterize subsurface features. Applications are in non-invasive medical diagnosis, intelligent robotics, security screening, and on-line manufacturing process control, as well as the traditional NDE areas of flaw detection and materials characterization. Research focuses on questions such as:

How do fabrication, growth, and/or processing methods contribute to the microstructural character of a particular material or tissue, and, in turn, how do microstructural properties affect overall mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical behavior?

What measurement technologies can be employed to make quantitative assessments of micro- and macro-structural properties, and what analysis techniques can be used to more fully understand and interpret measurements of the interaction of probing mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical radiation with materials, tissues and structures?

The focus of our work is to implement new and better measurements with both novel instrumentation and embedded artificial intelligence that automates the interpretation of the various (and multiple) imaging data streams. Thus, at W&M the term nondestructive evaluation is taken to mean many seemingly different things for which this is the underlying theme.

Each student’s research typically has application to several seemingly quite different areas, in order to gain meaningful experience in multiple industries. Our graduates have gone on to work in a wide variety of jobs, and many of our current research projects are being done in close collaboration with our former students.

The NDE group in Applied Science is headed by Professor Mark Hinders. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Prof. Hinders directly via email with any questions about the graduate program in NDE.
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Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) is an interdisciplinary field of study which is concerned with the development of analysis techniques and measurement technologies for the quantitative characterization of materials, tissues and structures by noninvasive means. Ultrasonic, radiographic, thermographic, electromagnetic, and optic methods are employed to probe interior microstructure and characterize subsurface features. Applications are in non-invasive medical diagnosis, intelligent robotics,... (read more)