Contribution of NDT to the safety of pressurized components in power stations

In the eyes on the MPA Stuttgart, the nondestructive testing has a very high weight relating to the safety of pressure components in power stations (concept of basis safety). In this connection, the performance verification by NDT has a special significance. A qualification of NDT-techniques can be, indeed, executed in the initial stage at test bodies with artificial faults, known with respect to position, size and type. Even theoretical (modelling) considerations can be integrated. For a performance verification in a closer sense however, this is not sufficient. The performance verification should be effected for the overall system, composed of hardware, software and examination personnel at components having the scale of 1:1 (Full Scale) under realistic boundary conditions and given times. The components must have natural or quasi-natural faults in a certain quality. The informative value of performance verifications is considerably increased, when executed as authenitic dry runs, and when the fault state is subsequently verified by destructive (metallographical) methods. (orig.)