Training course on the application of non-destructive testing in civil engineering at the National Centre for Non-Destructive Testing (NCNDT) in Islamabad
23 February 2023
After the successful training of four Pakistani engineers carried out last September in Italy by AIPnD, Dario Foppoli and Roberto Felicetti were invited, in early February 2023, to deliver a one-week course on the application of non-destructive testing in civil engineering at the National Centre for Non-Destructive Testing (NCNDT) in Islamabad, as part of the national project PAK 2008.
The course was organized over five days, covering the main issues related to the application of NDT for the assessment of seismic vulnerability of existing buildings, infrastructure safety, and the conservation of monuments.
The theoretical principles were presented and the practical application of several commonly used testing methods was demonstrated, including the rebound hammer, electromagnetic and field-based methods such as the cover meter and GPR, and sonic or ultrasonic pulse-based techniques such as UPV and Pulse Echo. Particularly appreciated was the hands-on session, in which participants applied the testing methods to reinforced concrete columns in the laboratory, providing them with a practical understanding of the skills required to operate the equipment.
The course was conducted under the coordination and supervision of Harri Varjionen, Technical Officer (TO) of the IAEA, with local support from Shabbir Ahmed, Director of NCNDT, and Miraj Muhammad Jan, Area Manager of NCNDT. It was attended by 47 technicians from various Pakistani research institutions and government agencies, including NCNDT and organizations involved in construction, nuclear plant inspection and maintenance, and other industrial and civil sectors.
