Portable On-Site NDT Testing & Inspection Equipment for Tensile, Yield, and Fracture Toughness
FRONTICS AIS series of nondestructive NDT inspection and testing machines test tensile strength, residual stress and fracture toughness of materials from micro/nano dimensions to large metal structures.
Our nondestructive NDT testing and inspection machinery can prevent industrial accidents, ensure compliance with government and technical standards, save time and money with on-site testing, and reduce asset downtime.
The AIS series of nondestructive inspection and testing machines are portable, in-field upgradeable, and include custom analysis and reporting software.
Contact one of LPR's consultants to learn more about the AIS non-destructive NDT inspection and testing machinery and equipment series.
Nondestructive Material Analysis, Inspection & Testing
Our nondestructive NDT inspection and testing machines and NDT tools help insure that materials used in high stress applications meet ever increasing technical standards and regulatory requirements when new, and remain stable throughout their service life.
As material ages, mechanical, chemical, and thermal effects cause its dimensions, shape, and internal structure to change. Unchecked, these changes degrade the safety of the material and shorten its useful life. Save time and money by being able to assess these changes on-site with portable, lightweight NDT testing and inspection equipment.
Our nondestructive NDT testing and inspection machines, equipment, and tools assist you in getting accurate data on the soundness of all materials. With automated operation and reporting users can acquire an accurate evaluation of all material property changes over time, to ensure that your plant, equipment, and everything you produce will run safely and economically for the expected design life.
NDT testing and inspection equipment provide you more flexibility to gather accurate, timely material data to lessen the likelihood of sudden, expensive, and potentially disastrous material failures.
AIS series nondestructive NDT testing and inspection equipment offer many advantages over competitive material analysis system offerings. Our nondestructive NDT testing and inspection machine offer functionality, internal sensors, and custom software that are field upgradeable; so setup and removal are easy and convenient. Testing methods and analytical results comply with ISO standards.
Our state-of-the-art nondestructive NDT inspection and testing machines are compact, portable, operate in-field, and easy to use. Our NDT inspection and testing machines provide information on material properties such as tensile strength, metal hardness, elasticity, transformation, fracture toughness, and residual stress. Specimens remain in place during testing and are undamaged at test completion.
Unlike conventional mechanical testing (which destroys the test sample), the AIS nondestructive inspection and testing machines leave only a tiny depth sensing indentation mark; the material’s properties and operating characteristics are unchanged. Frontics AIS nondestructive NDT testing and inspection machines help:
Eliminate costly test sample preparation
Prevent industrial accidents, regulatory and standards infractions
Maximize service life, reduce manufacturing costs, and reduce the weight of structures
Minimize or eliminate downtime
Accurately estimate material reliability and identify appropriate times to repair, rebuild, or exchange
Diagnose material degradation and aging, identify existing damage, and address conditions that may lead to future damage
Verify stress removal heat treatment results before/after construction and after repair
The AIS Nondestructive NDT Testing and Inspection Equipment series is:
Instrumented Indentation Technique
Onsite Usable
Reliable
Precise
Fast
Economical
Portable
Easy to use
Compared with expensive and disruptive destructive testing methods, our AIS series nondestructive NDT equipment and portable NDT tools generate accurate test results that meet ISO and KEPIC standards.
We offer two nondestructive NDT inspection and testing machines, the AIS3000 (Advanced Indentation System 3000) and the AIS2100 (Advanced Indentation System 2100).
Advanced Indentation System 3000 | Nondestructive NDT Inspection Machine
The AIS3000 nondestructive testing equipment uses the Instrumented Indentation Technique to obtain data for residual stress, yield strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus.
The AIS3000 nondestructive testing and inspection machine can evaluate residual stress from welds or structures and equipment. With an indentation of less than 100µm, the AIS 3000 provides non-destructive, accurate, and repeatable results.
With its portability, ease of use, and wireless communication capabilities, the AIS300 performs nondestructive, on-site evaluation quickly and efficiently. The many advantages of using the AIS3000 include:
Reproducible mechanical testing in the field
Evaluate welding residual stress of structures and equipment
Evaluate tensile properties of materials under development
Pre-qualification test for structures and equipment under construction
Onsite NDT Testing and Inspection of Structures
Instrumented indentation technique (IIT)
The AIS3000 nondestructive NDT testing and inspection machine package includes:
All testing components
Wide dovetail slider for multi-point indentation using one attachment point
Laboratory and field scales
Micro-positioning stage and swivel mount for laboratory use
All necessary analysis and reporting software
The AIS3000 portable nondestructive testing and inspection machine in action in laboratories and field sites:
AIS2100 NDT | Nondestructive Testing Equipment for Tensile Analysis
Testing for tensile properties can now be done accurately and non-destructively with the AIS2100. This nondestructive NDT inspection and testing machine is extremely easy to transport and use in the field, obtaining precise load and depth data continuously with real time reporting.
Advanced Indentation System 2100 | Nondestructive NDT Inspection Machine
This lightweight tool generates an indentation load depth curve used to show tensile properties such as flow curve, yield strength, tensile strength, and work hardening exponent. The advantages of the AIS2100 nondestructive NDT Inspection Machine include:
Nondestructive, reproducible field testing of tensile strength and hardness
Nondestructive testing of metal structures
Data accuracy for yield strength, tensile strength, and work hardening index surpasses other ndt testing methods
Tests do not require initial data input
Portable
The AIS2100 nondestructive NDT inspection and testing machine has a high power motor and high-strength decelerator and precisely controls moving parts and speed. It comes with multiple indenters for Rockwell A/C/D and Vickers hardness measurement.
This complete nondestructive NDT inspection machine package includes mounting hardware for various test sites including: mechanical chain, u-block, v-block, and flat and curved magnets. All indentation components and custom software for analysis and reporting are also provided.
The AIS2100 Nondestructive Testing and NDT Inspection Machines in action in laboratories and in-field sites:
AIS 2100 Nondestructive Testing & Inspection Equipment | Field and Laboratory Use | Instrumented Indentation Technique
AIS2100 Nondestructive Testing & Inspection Machine| Instrumented Indentation Technique ITT
AIS2100 Non Destructive Testing and Inspection Machine Hardware | NDT Testing Machines
Some AIS Nondestructive Testing and NDT Inspection Equipment clients:
Precise X-Y axis stage Various vises (plate / clamping jig)
Precise X-Y axis stage Various vises (plate /c lamping jig)
Model
Tensile Properties
Residual Stress
Hardness
Fracture Toughness
AIS2100
Yes
N/A
Extra payment Required for this Option
Extra payment Required for this Option
AIS3000
Yes
Yes
Extra payment Required for this Option
Extra payment Required for this Option
The AIS Nondestructive Testing and Inspection Equipment | NDT Software Program
The AIS Series of Nondestructive NDT Inspection Machines vs. ABI (Automated Ball Indentation)
NDT Instrumented Indentation Technique vs. Automated Ball Indentation
Automated Ball Indentation (ABI)
Instrumented Indentation Technique Test (IIT) or depth-sensing indentation / nanoindentation
Instrumented Indentation Technique Test (IIT)
/ Microindentation / Macroindentation
(Micro AIS / AIS 2100 or AIS3000)
Computer Control
Automated - computer-controlled motion is mandatory for intermediate partial unloadings, continuous load-depth sensing (1) (2)
Instrumented - instrumented does not equal automated continuous depth-sensing (10)
Everything's controlled using computer, continuous indentation test. User selects the method of load control and displacement control then tests with it.
continuous indentation test invented back in 1977 (7)
Load Range (F)
Macroscopic (2N ≤ F ≤ 5000 N)
Ultra-low load, nano-indentation (0.05 N≤ F ≤0.50 N) (4) (5)
Micro-indentation: 0.1 mN ≤ F ≤ 20 N
Macro-indentaiton: 10 mN ≤ F ≤ 3000 N
Depth Range (h)
40μm ≤ h ≤ 400 μm
Nano range: h ≤ 0.2 μm (4) (5)
Micro-indentation: 0.01 μm ≤ h ≤ 15 μm
Macro-indentaiton: 0.1 μm ≤ h ≤ 40000 μm
Indenter Geometry
Ball (≥250μm)
Pyramidal Berkovich, (4) (5)
Small ball indenter (<50μm) rarely used due to unacceptable geometry
Spherical (Not weld & not housing, The gap doesn't exist between indenter and body)
Microindentation: ≥25μm
Macroindentation: ≥250.μm
Micro Vickers / Vickers
Load/Displacement Shape
Linear
Curve
Linear
Partial Unloading Technique
Yes (1) (2)
No
Yes
Indent Measurement
Analytical
Analytical and optical
Analytical
Calibration
Load cell calibrated per ASTM E4 and E74
LVDT calibrated with traceable micrometer
No calibration blocks exist for Martens hardness or indentation modulus
Load cell calibrated per ASTM E4 and E74
Depth sensor calibration: Cycle is every 250 years (Optical type)
Vibration Table Required
No
Yes
No
Load Frame Springs
N/A
Yes
N/A
True-Stress vs True-Plastic-Strain Curve Comparable to Conventional Tension Test
Yes
Nondestructive (1) (2)
No
Yes (No need of reference)
Nondestructive (6) (8)
Yield Strength
Yes
Nondestructive (1) (2)
No
Yes (No need of reference)
Nondestructive (6) (8)
Strain-Hardening Exponent (n) (uniform ductility)
Yes
Nondestructive (1) (2)
No
Yes (No need of reference)
Nondestructive (6) (8)
Strength Coefficient (K)
Yes
Nondestructive (1) (2)
No
Yes (No need of reference)
Nondestructive (6) (8)
Precision Values
Yes, complete 6-lab ILS per ASTM E691, ILS report submitted to ASTM E28
Limited 1-lab, 1-machine (nano range), Berkovich indenter. No demonstrated inter-laboratory precision values. Machine was not verified and no calibration blocks used.
Yes, complete 6-lab ILS per ASTM E691, ILS report submitted to ASTM E28
Fracture Toughness of Metals - Haggag Toughness Method (HTM)
Yes, nondestructive
Determined from ball indentation deformation energy of metallic materials
No
Yes (9)
Elastic Modulus
Yes,
Nondestructive (2)
Indentation Modulus (3)
* Indentation Modulus may or may not correlate to elastic modulus
Yes (No need of reference) (3)
Nondestructive
Hardness
ABI Hardness
Yes - Martens Hardness from quasi-destructive pyramidal Berkovich indenter.
Martens hardness cannot be obtained from spherical indenter (3)
Vickers hardness using Instrumented Indentation Technique - IIT (3)
Instrumented microindentation study on long-term aged materials
