Best Practices for the Use of Simulation in POD Curves Estimation

This book provides best-practice guidance and practical recommendations on the use of numerical simulation for probability of detection (POD) curve estimation in the study of non-destructive testing reliability. It focuses on ultrasonic testing (UT) weld inspection but many of the principles can be applied to a broader range of techniques and situations.

The first part lists and briefly describes the principal documents that establish the recommended statistical framework adapted for POD curve estimation. It also presents the most important initiatives on the model assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) approach in recent years. The second part provides details of the advantages and limitations of the simulation in this context. The third part then describes the prerequisites for the use of simulation (validation of the software, expertise of the user), and the fourth and main part offers the methodology and guidance as well as possible applications for using POD curves determined using simulation.



Bastien Chapuis received his PhD degree in 2010 for his work prepared at the French Aerospace Lab (ONERA). Since then, he is research engineer at CEA LIST where he coordinates several industrial and academic research projects on NDT. In 2015 he has been nominated as CEA expert in NDT and is the current Chair of IIW sub-commission V-D 'Structural Health Monitoring'. His research includes performance demonstration using simulation, signal processing for ultrasonic defect detection and development of structural health monitoring technologies.

Pierre Calmon received in 1990 the PhD in Physics at the University of Paris Sud, France and joined the NDE department of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). Since then his research activity is devoted to NDE. His main areas of interest are NDE simulation, imaging and diagnostics and reliability assessment. Nominated Senior Researcher in 2008, he is now scientific director of the NDE department. He is vice-president of the scientific hub of COFREND (French NDT Society) and he is the current Chair of IIW sub-commission V-F 'NDE Reliability including simulation'. Frédéric Jenson (Engineering Degree, Ph.D) is head of the Non Destructive Testing (NDT) research team at Safran Tech. The team develops innovative NDT methods relying on ultrasonic, thermography, electromagnetics and computed tomography techniques. Before joining the Safran Group in 2015, he worked for ten years at the CEA, first as a research engineer specialized in ultrasonic techniques, then as the project manager for the development of the NDT simulation software CIVA, and finally, as head of the team dedicated to the development of NDT solutions for the industry. He also initiated and developed the Model Assisted POD (MAPOD) approach within CEA, in collaboration with the Airbus Group.