NEVADA | PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Program Professional Framework

Acoustic Emission Testing Level I Training & Certification (SNT-TC-1A)

Program Overview

Acoustic emission (AE) testing detects stress waves released by active defects such as growing cracks, corrosion and leaks while a structure is under load. This entry-level programme prepares technicians to set up and run AE tests under written instructions: AE physics and source mechanisms, sensors and couplants, system set-up and verification with pencil lead breaks, threshold and timing parameters, data acquisition during pressure tests and basic signal features. Applications focus on pressure vessels, storage tank floors and piping common in Gulf petrochemical and utility plants.

Learning Outcomes

✓Explain how AE sources generate stress waves and why the Kaiser and Felicity effects matter during loading.
✓Mount sensors with suitable couplant and verify system sensitivity using pencil lead break checks.
✓Set threshold, gain and timing parameters according to a written test procedure.
✓Record AE hits and basic features such as amplitude, counts, duration and energy during a pressurisation sequence.
✓Identify common noise sources and apply simple noise control measures on site.

Target Audience

Trainee NDT technicians entering acoustic emission
Inspection technicians supporting pressure vessel and tank testing
Mechanical integrity and inspection team members
QA/QC personnel in petrochemical and utility plants

Detailed Program Modules

01Principles of Acoustic Emission

AE sources: crack growth, corrosion, friction and leaks
Wave propagation, attenuation and wave modes
Kaiser and Felicity effects

02AE Instrumentation

Resonant and wideband sensors
Preamplifiers, cables and acquisition channels
Couplants and sensor mounting methods

03System Set-Up and Verification

Pencil lead break as a reference source
Sensitivity checks and channel calibration
Threshold, gain and timing parameter settings

04Test Execution

Loading and pressurisation sequences
Background noise measurement and control
Data acquisition and real-time monitoring

05Signal Features and Source Location Basics

Hit-based features and their meaning
Linear and zonal location concepts
Recognising noise versus relevant activity

06Applications, Safety and Reporting

Pressure vessels, tank floors and piping
Safety during pressurised tests
Recording data and handing over to Level II

Training Methodology

Interactive expert-led sessions grounded in workplace examples

Case studies and practical exercises drawn from the region

Group workshops with peer review of decisions and deliverables

Formative feedback against clear performance criteria

Applied Project & Assessment

Applied Project

Participants prepare a set-up record for an AE test on a pressure vessel: sensor layout sketch, couplant and mounting method, pencil lead break verification results, parameter settings, background noise log and a completed data acquisition record.

Assessment

Short diagnostic at the start, practical tasks linked to each learning outcome, and evaluation of the applied project against published criteria.

University Certificate & International Accreditation

Professional Certificate accredited by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Acoustic Emission Testing Level I Training & Certification (SNT-TC-1A)

International accreditation: American Association of Innovation (AAI)