Basics

Non-Destructive Methods

Visual Inspection
- Fairly Straightforward, just check that it is straight and consistent, also check for Porosity / Slag Inclusions
Dye Penetrant Inspection
- Involves cleaning the surface, applying a dyed fluid that seems into cracks etc, drying the surface with a cloth, then displacing the fluid with another, thus showing any cracks via the dye re-emerging from them
Magnetic Particle Inspection ( Eddy Current Inspection )
- Similar to Dye Penetrant, but uses magnetic dust and electrically induced magnetism in the welded piece
Ultrasonic Testing
- Essentially the same concept as what is done for the medical procedure and/or Ground Penetrating Radar but with a welded joint
- Can get similar quality to radiography (citation needed though for this claim, add in later), but without the radiation source, associated precautions, and film developing (if not using a Digital X-Ray Process )
- Can either be manual "blip" on an oscilloscope based, assisted oscilloscope, or even a generated 3D Model (often done with Phased Arrays )
Radiography
- Often referred to as "x-ray testing" but i think most use Gamma Rays (citation needed)
- Same concept as the medical procedure, most seem to be film based however.
- Has the deepest depth of field (may not be best term, also compare to ultrasonic

Bend Test (Uses a Universal Test Machine , or even just a pneumatic / hydraulic press based jog to bend a weld joint. If it is up to the specified pressure it will bend, and the weld line should be clean/near nonexistent, if not it will deform and/or snap