Engineering design based on damage tolerance principles incorporates fracture mechanics as the basis for assuring structural integrity and for specification of both design life and required periodic inspection / maintenance during design life. Quantification of crack propagation and critical crack limits (unstable crack growth) in turn requires quantification of nondestructive inspection / acceptance capabilities used in materials, components and structures validation and in periodic inspection / maintenance.

The accepted metric for quantification of nondestructive inspection capabilities is known on the "Probability of Detection" at the 90/95 acceptance level. Mr. Rummel and his team originated the probability of detection metric in support of the development of the engineering materials parameters for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Shuttle. This metric now has world wide acceptance and use for the design and maintenance of modern engineering structures and systems.

The basis and methodology for establishing the capabilities of a nondestructive inspection procedure will be presented. In addition, references and sources of information for application of this method will be presented.

(This paper is a condensed version of a one day seminar that was conducted at the 14th World Conference on Nondestructive Testing. Paper was prepared for presentation to the Colorado Section of ASNT. Copyright (C) 2000 by D&W Enterprises, LTD. All rights reserved.)