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X-ray topography is a well known imaging technique to characterise strain and extended defects in single crystals. Topographs are typically collected on X-ray films. On the one hand such photographic films show a limited dynamic range and the production of films will be discontinued step by step in the near future. On the other hand new imaging detectors improved for X-ray tomography become more and more attractive even for topography because of increasing resolution, dynamic range, speed and active area. In this paper we report about the upgrade of the TOPOTOMO beamline at the synchrotron light source ANKA, Research Centre Karlsruhe, with a high resolution digital camera for the topography use.
The new standard ISO 176362:2013 'NDT of welds: Radiographic testing - Part 2: X- and gamma ray techniques with digital detectors' describes a complex procedure for film replacement by phosphor imaging plates and digital detector arrays. RT modeling software should consider these detector types, X-ray film, and the standard requirements for image quality. Practitioners expect the same visibility of image quality indicators (IQI) in the simulated radiographs as in the experimental exposures. The proposed benchmark test is based on the comparison of experimental radiographs taken at BAM with modeled ones of participants. The experimental setup and the determination of the equivalent penetrameter sensitivity (EPS) as described in the procedure of ASTM E 746 are used for quantitative evaluation of the achievable contrast sensitivity for step hole IQIs as considered in Annex B of ISO 17636-2. System classification data for Computed Radiography (CR) and film systems will be provided by BAM according to ISO 116991 for selected film systems and according to ASTM E 2446 for selected CR systems. The classification of films and digital detectors is based on the measurement of the dose response function, the basic spatial resolution (SRb) of the image, and the measured image noise, which depends on the detector efficiency, the quantum statistics, and the detector fixed pattern noise.
This work presents an investigation of the accuracy of a radiographic simulation model applied to subsea pipeline inspections. Experimental measurements of a sample in a water tank are used to develop a set of calibrated simulation parameters for the modelling software aRTist. Image quality parameters such as signal-tonoise ratio, contrast and basic spatial resolution are compared with the aim of matching simulated values to experimental results. With this method signal-to-noise ratio was successfully matched while differences were still found in contrast-to-noise ratio comparisons. This means that measurements depending on absolute intensity are not accurate enough, however wall thickness measurements in tangential images, which are not based on absolute intensity, were found to produce similar results in simulated and experimental cases. The differences in contrast and intensity are thought to be due to detector backscatter and additional scatter from out-of-setup objects within the exposure bay, due to a lack of source collimation. These would affect the experimental results but were not included in the simulated setup. This was investigated by including different proportions of peripheral water and other objects in the modelled setup and examining the effect on Image quality parameters. Results show that this additional scatter has a significant impact on the radiograph, particularly on image contrast, and is therefore the likely cause of differences between experimental and simulated images. This implies that it will be very difficult to completely match simulated to experimental results, as including all possible scattering objects in the model would be very complex. An improvement could be made by using real subsea data to estimate this additional scattering, which could then be used to calibrate the model. However there would still be significant uncertainty in the ability of the model to accurately produce realistic intensity and contrast.
The quality of additively manufactured (AM) parts is determined by the applied process parameters used and the properties of the feedstock powder. The influence of inner gas pores in feedstock particles on the final AM product is a phenomenon which is difficult to investigate since very few non-destructive measurement techniques are accurate enough to resolve the micropores.
3D X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is increasingly applied during the process chain of AM parts as a non-destructive monitoring and quality control tool and it is able to detect most of the pores.
However, XCT is time-consuming and limited to small amounts of feedstock powder, typically a few milligrams. The aim of the presented approach is to investigate digital radiography of AM feedstock particles as a simple and fast quality check with high throughput. 2D digital radiographs were simulated in order to predict the visibility of pores inside metallic particles for different pore and particle diameters. An experimental validation was performed. It was demonstrated numerically and experimentally that typical gas pores above a certain size (here: 3 to 4.4 µm for the selected X-ray setup), which could be found in metallic microparticles, were reliably detected by digital radiography.
In this contribution, we present a dual high-energy X-ray imaging technique for cargo container inspection using the 'spectral high-energy X-ray attenuation method'. This method is based on attenuation of continuous highenergy spectra. The developed experimental technique consists of a betatron as high-energy (up to 7.5 MeV) X-ray source and a matrix detector with high spatial resolution (400 ìm) for digital X-ray imaging. In order to evaluate the material discrimination capability using dual high-energy X-ray imaging, a test specimen is proposed, comprising step wedges of different low and high atomic number (Z) materials. The selected X-ray spectra for the dual-energy experiments correspond to 3 MV and 7.5 MV acceleration potential of the betatron. We evaluated the ratio between low- and high-energy X-ray attenuation coefficients quantitatively based on simulated poly-energetic high-energy X-ray source spectra and the detector sensitivity using the 'analytical Radiographic Testing inspection simulation tool' (aRTist) developed at BAM. The simulated effective attenuation coefficients are compared with corresponding experimental results in order to establish a method for identification of low- and high-Z materials in the container. Finally, important applications of the proposed technique in the context of aviation security are discussed.
In order to enhance the supply chain security at airports, the German federal ministry of education and research has initiated the project ESECLOG (enhanced security in the air cargo chain) which has the goal to improve the threat detection accuracy using one-sided access methods. In this paper, we present a new X-ray backscatter technology for non-intrusive imaging of suspicious objects (mainly low-Z explosives) in luggage's and parcels with only a single-sided access. A key element in this technology is the X-ray backscatter camera embedded with a special twisted-slit collimator. The developed technology has efficiently resolved the problem related to the imaging of complex interior of the object by fixing source and object positions and changing only the scanning direction of the X-ray backscatter camera. Experiments were carried out on luggages and parcels packed with mock-up dangerous materials including liquid and solid explosive simulants. In addition, the quality of the X-ray backscatter image was enhanced by employing high-resolution digital detector arrays. Experimental results are discussed and the efficiency of the present technique to detect suspicious objects in luggages and parcels is demonstrated. At the end, important applications of the proposed backscatter imaging technology to the aviation security are presented.
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.
This paper presents a new X-ray backscatter technique (XBT) for non-destructive imaging of aerospace materials with only a single-sided access. It uses a special twisted slit collimator to inspect the whole object by changing the viewing direction of the X-ray backscatter camera. For the first time, the X-ray backscatter measurements were conducted using high-energy (>500 keV) X-ray sources. Experiments were performed on thick complex structured aluminium components, stringers and honeycomb structures to validate the applicability of the present technique to image small changes in the material properties and also to detect low-density material inclusions. In order to reduce the inspection time from hours to several seconds and to improve the image quality of the X-ray backscatter image, the backscattered signals were measured using a digital detector array with high spatial resolution (200 µm). The influence of the energy of the X-ray source and the slit width of the camera on the X-ray backscatter image were also investigated. In the proposed technique, the whole object is irradiated by an un-collimated X-ray beam resulting in a low image acquisition time of 3 min that facilitates the use of XBT for the real time NDT&E of aerospace materials.
Micro-gap formation at the implant-abutment interface of two-piece dental implants was investigated in vitro using high-resolution radiography in combination with hard X-ray synchrotron radiation. Images were taken with the specimen under different mechanical loads of up to 100 N. The aim of this investigation was to prove the existence of micro-gaps for implants with conical connections as well as to study the mechanical behavior of the mating zone of conical implants during loading. Synchrotron-based radiography in comparison with classical laboratory radiography yields high spatial resolution in combination with high contrast even when exploiting micro-sized features in highly attenuating objects. The first illustration of a micro-gap which was previously indistinguishable by laboratory methods underlines that the complex micro-mechanical behavior of implants requires further in vitro investigations where synchrotron-based micro-imaging is one of the prerequisites.
Purpose: The implant-abutment connection of a two-piece dental implant exhibits complex micromechanical behavior. A microgap is evident at the implant-abutment interface, even in the virgin state, and its width varies when an external mechanical load is applied. Materials and Methods: This study used high-resolution synchrotron-based radiography in combination with hard x-ray phase-contrast mode to visualize this gap and estimate its size. Commercially available implants with different internal conical implant-abutment connections were imaged. Pairs of implants were imaged as manufactured (new) and after fatigue loading (5 million cycles up to 120 N). Then, different static loads were applied at different angles relative to the implant-abutment assemblies, and the implant-abutment microgaps were measured and compared. Results: Microgaps existed in all systems. Fatigue loading extended the size of the microgap and increased the possibility of micromovement of the implant-abutment complex. The cone angle of the connection also influenced the stability of the abutment, with flatter cones appearing to be more stable. Conclusion: Cyclic loading at medium force (120 N) induces plastic deformation of titanium implants and abutments.