Material Selection and Detailed Design – Requirements and Responsibilities of an Accredited and Qualified Test Laboratory

Abstract

For the characterisation and accreditation of materials the aeronautical industry accesses the expertise and the support of independent test laboratories.

The following paper outlines the requirements and responsibilities of a test laboratory. Those are referring to the performance of destructive and non-destructive tests as well as to the corresponding quality management system.

The field of testing is generally handling the requests of the test definitions and the optimisation of test methods and their influencing terms and conditions. The field of quality management system attends to the basics and the necessity of the certifying and accreditation process of a test laboratory.

For the execution of characterisation tests of materials (metals, composites or hybrids) it is important that the test laboratory can fulfil the requirements of the testing expertly and is able to perform enhancements and counsels to the test concepts as well as to the test rigs in front of the background of its accreditations and qualifications.