TY - JOUR A1 - Kolkoori, Sanjeevareddy A1 - Wrobel, Norma A1 - Hohendorf, Stefan A1 - Redmer, Bernhard A1 - Ewert, Uwe T1 - Mobile high-energy X-ray radiography for nondestructive testing of cargo containers JF - Materials evaluation N2 - Radiologic evaluation techniques are nondestructive testing (NDT) used to detect the bulk of explosives and contraband materials in large objects. As compared to conventional low-energy (<450 key) X-ray imaging, high-energy (>1 MeV) digital X-ray radiography is required for the NOT of large containers because of the need for high penetration through thick materials, sensitivity, and the ability to distinguish between low-and high-Z materials. Mobile, high-energy, and high-resolution radiologic techniques are useful to detect contraband and threat materials in digital radiographic images of containers with complex packing. This paper presents a mobile, high-energy X-ray radiographic technique for the in-field nondestructive inspection of cargo containers. The developed experimental technique consisted of a betatron as a high-energy (7.5 MeV) X-ray source and a high-resolution (400 mu m) matrix detector for the digital X-ray imaging. In order to evaluate the detection efficiency and image quality of the measurement technique, a test specimen was proposed that was made of a 3 mm thick steel container with an inner dimension of 60 x 30 x 40 cm(3) comprising different low-and high-Z materials. Image quality indicators were used to assess the essential image quality parameters such as image basic spatial resolution, effective attenuation coefficient, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Experimental investigations were performed on a 6.1 m sea freight container with mockup dangerous materials in complex packing. Preliminary experimental results showed that the proposed technique was able to distinguish between liquids and solids, as well as detect contraband materials. Furthermore, a remarkable SNR of 400 was achieved in the measured digital X-ray images. The influence of temperature on X-ray radiation dose rate at different X-ray energies was also investigated. Finally, important applications of the proposed technique in the context of maritime security are discussed. KW - Nondestructive testing KW - NDT KW - Digital radiography KW - High-energy X-ray imaging KW - Betatron KW - Digital detector arrays KW - Container inspection KW - Contraband detection KW - Image quality KW - SNR PY - 2015 SN - 0025-5327 VL - 73 IS - 2 SP - 175 EP - 185 PB - Society for Nondestructive Testing CY - Columbus, Ohio AN - OPUS4-32521 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -