Open Access

Absorption edge tomography is a method which exploits the sudden change of the attenuation coefficient, when the photon energy crosses the absorption edge of an element. The beamline BAMline at BESSY II, which is operated by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, can provide a monochromatized beam in a photon energy range from 5 keV up to 80 keV with a bandwidth of 2%. Together with the microtomography setup, this enables differential tomography sensitive to any element with N >= 24 (Cr) by using an appropriate K- or L-edge in this range. Here, absorption edge tomography at the Yttrium edge is employed to perform a non-destructive 3D characterization of the microstructure of a high strength Mg-Y-Zn alloy. The long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase which forms fibres in this material was extracted based on the Yttrium content and the fibre length distribution was analysed.

Absorptionskantentomographie, auch bekannt als differentielle Tomographie an Kanten, ist ein Verfahren, bei dem ausgenutzt wird, dass sich die Schwächung von Röntgenstrahlen beim Übergang der Photonenenergie über die Absorptionskanten sprunghaft ändert. Die Verwendung von Synchrotronstrahlung ermöglicht die Anwendung der Absorptionskantentomographie für nahezu jedes Element, da sie eine intensive, durchstimmbare Strahlenquelle mit kleiner Bandbreite darstellt. Der Mikrotomographieaufbau der BAM am Elektronenspeicherring BESSY II eignet sich mit einem Energiebereich von 5 keV bis über 60 keV und einer Ortsauflösung besser als 0.5 µm zur differentiellen Tomographie an den K-Kanten der Elemente von Chrom bis zu den Lanthaniden, bei Einbeziehung der L-Kante bis zu Uran. In dieser Arbeit wird die Absorptionskantentomographie ausgenutzt, um das Gefüge von Legierungen dreidimensional und nichtdestruktiv zu vermessen. Als Beispiel wird eine Legierung zwischen Magnesium, Yttrium und Zink analysiert, die sich gegenüber unlegiertem Magnesium durch größere Festigkeit und geringere Korrosionsanfälligkeit auszeichnet. Der Grund dafür liegt in der Bildung einer kristallographisch hochgeordneten Phase (long period stacking ordered - LPSO) der Legierungsbestandteile, die die Matrix in Form von Fasern durchzieht. Anhand ihres Yttriumgehaltes wird die dreidimensionale Verteilung der LPSO-Phase in der Matrix für verschiedene Proben bestimmt und mit Schnittbildern und Korrosionstests verglichen. Die Absorptionskantentomographie erweist sich als eine geeignete Methode, um die dreidimensionale Mikrostruktur von Legierungen zu charakterisieren.

This work presents attenuation and sensitivity measurements of radiographic imaging plates (IPs) with quasimonoenergetic X-rays in the 8–60 kiloelectronvolt range. The measurements are used to validate theoretical predictions. A short overview of the theoretical model is given. The model can be used to describe the sensitivity of different detector types to a wide range of X-ray energies.

Computer simulation of radiography can be used for different purposes in NDT, such as qualification of NDT systems, optimization of radiographic parameters, feasibility analysis, model-based data interpretation, and training of NDT/NDE personnel. BAM has been working on modeling in the field of radiographic testing for many years. With the gathered theoretical background and the familiarity with practical requirements of industrial application the simulation software aRTist has been developed. This analytical simulator includes a 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 radiology. It features high processing speed with nearinteractive frame rates and a high level of realism. Here we focus on the recent developments of the simulator, notably the release of aRTist version 2. Extended functionality regarding automated virtual computed tomography now allows for arbitrary scan paths. Another program extension supports reliability investigations and provides a user interface for planning automatic simulations with varying parameters and defects.

Simulation becomes more and more important in modern CT imaging. It is increasingly used to optimize techniques for complex applications, to support the preparation of written procedures, and for educational purposes. The radiographic simulator aRTist is a modelling tool which simulates X-ray imaging using a hybrid analytical and Monte Carlo method to efficiently model the radiation transport. In addition to the relevant physical effects such as absorption, scattering and fluorescence, simplified fast models are employed to describe the characteristics of the X-ray source and the detector. aRTist is well equipped to model realistic X-ray imaging setups due to the ability to load exported CAD object descriptions. A simple CT scan module is contained in aRTist which allows the simulation of standard (circular cone beam) scanning trajectories. TomoSynth is a module for aRTist which allows to set up more complex scanning trajectories by attaching geometrical modification functions to the objects in the radiographic scene. In this way, advanced scanning modes can be realized, for instance helical CT as an overlay of a rotation and a linear motion, or laminography as a motion of the source point. In addition to deterministic motion, also random variations can be introduced. By combining random variations with deterministic motion, non-ideal (realistic) CT scan geometries can be simulated, e.g. focal spot drift and mechanical instability of the axis of rotation. The TomoSynth module conveniently allows to construct these scenarios in a graphical interface and provides a preview before starting the (potentially long running) batch job. Therefore, deviations from ideal CT scan trajectories can be easily adjusted which is a necessary step towards uncertainty determination from simulation.