DEPARTING MD88 RUNS INTO SEVERE TURB ABOUT 7 MI SE OF PIT; FROM 3000-4000 FT. PIREPS INDICATED POSSIBLE PRESENCE BUT RADAR SHOWED NOTHING. VISUALLY; VIRGA WERE SEEN IN THAT LOCATION.

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DURING ARR INTO PIT (PREVIOUS LEG) A CONVECTIVE SIGMET FOR MODERATE TURB BELOW 12000 FT WAS ISSUED. NO SIGNIFICANT TURB WAS EXPERIENCED. DURING TAXI OUT (NEXT LEG); TWR ADVISED OF A PIREP FROM A COMMUTER ACFT OF SEVERE TURB ON DEP. WE TOOK OURSELVES OUT OF THE DEP SEQUENCE TO STUDY THE RADAR AND OTHER VISIBLE WX CONDITIONS. NO SIGNIFICANT RADAR DATA WAS INDICATED FOR OUR DIRECTION OF FLT. WINDS ON THE SURFACE WERE DOWN THE RWY (RWY 14); LESS THAN 10 KTS. WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED TWR FOR RPTED WINDSHEAR AND DIFFERENCES IN FIELD BOUNDARY WINDS. THERE WERE NONE. NO OTHER PIREPS FOR SEVERE TURB EXISTED. SOME VIRGA WAS NOTED 5-10 MI OFF THE DEP END OF THE RWY. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT DEPARTED AND ISSUED PIREPS OF MODERATE TURB. WE THEN ACCEPTED TKOF CLRNC. DURING DEP; BTWN 3000-5000 FT MSL; WE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB. OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS TO 5000 FT; BUT DEP STOPPED OUR CLB AT 4000 FT FOR TFC. THIS PROBABLY PROLONGED OUR EXPOSURE TO THE TURB. WE MADE SEVERAL HDG CHANGES TO AVOID THE WORST OF THE VIRGA. ALTHOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN ALT AND HDG AND EVEN READ THE INSTS; THE ACFT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. ALL PAX WERE SEATED WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED. NO INJURIES WERE RPTED. A MAINT INSPECTION WAS REQUESTED ON ARR AT DEST. DAMAGE WAS FOUND AROUND THE CARGO DOORS IN THE FORM OF WRINKLED SKIN.