The reliability investigations are dedicated to throw light on the performance of the NDE system with
respect to the required aim. This is especially of interest when digitized and processed signals are
involved where it becomes hard to assess whether the quality of the system has raised or not. Three
different ways to investigate reliability of NDE signals will be described. The first way of investigation,
the performance demonstration, is preferred e.g. in the US American nuclear power industry. This is an
integral consideration of the non destructive test as a system where the whole NDE system is packed in a
black box and only the input in terms of the real existing flaws in the component is considered and
compared to the output in terms of the indications of the human inspector or of the automated system.
The second the European tradition relies on a standardized description of physical/technical
parameters of the NDE system which are preconditions for successful system performance. An example
for such a standardized set of performance parameters is given in the recently released standard about Xray
film digitization CEN EN 14096. The third approach the modular conception is a marriage of
both: The signal chain is cut into main modules. Each module is assessed in a most appropriate
individual way e.g. via modeling calculations. The single results are joint together according to the
reliability of the subsystems. Separating criteria for the system were proposed through a reliability
formula developed during a series of European-American workshops on NDE reliability. Examples of
all three approaches will be given.
Within the framework of the European project PICASSO, the radiographic simulator aRTist (analytical Radiographic Testing inspection simulation tool) developed by BAM has been extended for reliability assessment of film and digital radiography. NDT of safety relevant components of aerospace industry requires the proof of probability of detection (POD) of the inspection. Modeling tools can reduce the expense of such extended, time consuming NDT trials, if the result of simulation fits to the experiment. Our analytic simulation tool consists of three modules for the description of the radiation source, the interaction of radiation with test pieces and flaws, and the detection process with special focus on film and digital industrial radiography. It features high processing speed with near–interactive frame rates and a high level of realism. A concept has been developed as well as a software extension for reliability investigations, completed by a user interface for planning automatic simulations with varying parameters and defects. Furthermore, an automatic image analysis procedure is included to evaluate the defect visibility. The radiographic modeling from 3D CAD of aero engine components and quality test samples are compared as a precondition for real trials. This enables the evaluation and optimization of film replacement for application of modern digital equipment for economical NDT and defined POD.