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.
X-ray compton tomography
(2014)
The potentials of incoherent X-ray Scattering (Compton) tomography are investigated. Imaging materials of very different density or atomic number at once is a perpetual challenge for X-ray tomography or radiography, in general. In a basic laboratory set-up for simultaneous perpendicular Compton Scattering and direct beam attenuation tomographic scans are conducted by single channel photon counting. This results in asymmetric distortions of the projection profiles of the scattering CT-data set. ln a first approach corrections of Compton scattering data by taking advantage of rotational symmetry yield tomograms without major geometric artefacts.
A cylindrical sample composed of PE, PA, PVC, glass and wood demonstrates similar Compton contrast for all the substances, while the conventional absorption tomogram only reveals the two high order materials.
Compärison to neutron tomography reveals astonishing similarities except for the glass component (without hydrogen). Therefore, Compton CT bears the potential to replace neutron tomography, which requires much more efforts.
Modelling becomes more and more important in modern NDE. It is increasingly used to optimize techniques for complex applications, to support the preparation of written procedures, and for education purposes. To describe the complete chain of RT, the model includes simulating all necessary properties of X- or Gamma-ray sources, the interaction of photons with material with special attention to scattered radiation, the detection process, and the complete geometrical RT setup handling arbitrary parts or constructions. Depending on the given inspection problem and the influencing factors that should be addressed by the simulation, an appropriate physical model has to be chosen to describe the underlying interaction mechanisms. The simulator aRTist combines analytical and Monte Carlo methods to efficiently model the radiation transport such that transmission as well as scatter techniques can be modelled. In this contribution we Focus on Monte Carlo Simulation of scatter contribution within aRTist. Examples for RT/tomographic applications and back-scatter techniques are presented to demonstrate the usability of the presented simulation tool for a broad range of radiological applications.
The potentials of incoherent X-ray scattering (Compton) computed tomography (CT) are investigated. The imaging of materials of very different atomic number or density at once is generally a perpetual challenge for X-ray tomography or radiography. In a basic laboratory set-up for simultaneous perpendicular Compton scattering and direct beam attenuation tomography are conducted by single channel photon counting line scans. This results in asymmetric distortions of the projection profiles of the scattering CT data set. In a first approach, corrections of Compton scattering data by taking advantage of rotational symmetry yield tomograms without major geometric artefacts. A cylindrical sample composed of PE, PA, PVC, glass and wood demonstrates similar Compton contrast for all the substances, while the conventional absorption tomogram only reveals the two high order materials. Comparison to neutron tomography
reveals astonishing similarities except for the glass component (without hydrogen). Therefore, Compton CT offers the potential to replace neutron tomography, which requires much more efforts.