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In this contribution, we discuss the influence of scattered radiation on materials’ effective attenuation coefficients at higher X-ray energies. The selected X-ray spectra for the dual-energy experiments correspond to 3 MV and 7.5 MV acceleration potential of the used betatron. Experiments were performed on a test phantom containing step wedges of different low- and high-Z materials. 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. Furthermore, the influence of scattered radiation is evaluated using an efficient Monte-Carlo simulation. The simulation results are compared quantitatively with experimental investigations. Finally, important applications of the proposed technique in the context of aviation security are discussed.
X-ray backscatter imaging is a well established NDT technique to inspect complex objects using only a single-sided access. In difference to conventional transmission X-ray radiography, the X-ray backscatter imaging utilizes the scattered radiation caused by the Compton scattering effect. In order to achieve high backscatter intensities from a test object, it is necessary to optimize the backscatter system parameters namely the angle between source and slit camera, the slit collimator system, the shielding between source and scatter camera, and the type of detector. In addition, the scatter phenomena in to the investigated object need to be understood.
In this contribution, we present a Monte Carlo model McRay which considers all relevant single and multiple interactions of photons and electrons. This model can be used to simulate back scatter techniques. It allows not only calculating the scatter image for a given experimental setup but also registering the spectrum of the detected scattered photons. Both aspects are important to understand the imaging process, to interpret the results, and to optimize the backscatter camera investigated here. Additionally experimental results will be presented and compared with simulations.
Electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 0.1 and 10 THz are described as THz-radiation (T-ray). The ability to penetrate dielectric materials makes T-rays attractive to reveal discontinuities in polymer and ceramic materials. THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy Systems (THz-TDS) are available on the market today which operates with THz-pulses transmitted and received by optically pumped semiconductor antennas. In THz-TDS the travelling time (ToF) and shape of the pulse is changed if it interacts with the dielectric material and its inherent discontinuities.
A tomogram of the object under the test can be reconstructed from time of flight diffraction (ToFD) scans if a synthetic focusing aperture (SAFT) algorithm is applied. Otherwise, planar discontinuities like cracks in plastics or delaminated layers in composites can be abstracted as layers located at any angle in relation to the outer sample surface direction. A tomogram from the scanned sample can then be reconstructed in case the interactions of electromagnetic pulses with the existing inherent interfaces are detectable and a model is assumed which describes the device under the test as multilayer structure composed of thin layers with different dielectric properties.
A short description of both the SAFT – and Optical Layer algorithm for the reconstruction of the inherent structure is initially given. Measurements on representative samples with a variety of artificially produced small and large scale. Reconstructed tomograms are presented to discuss and evaluate the benefits and limits of the two different reconstruction approaches.
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.
Since a few years the direct detection of X-ray photons into electrical signals is possible by usage of highly absorbing photo conducting materials (e.g. CdTe) as detection layer of an underlying CMOS semiconductor X-ray detector. Even NDT energies up to 400 keV are possible today, as well. The image sharpness and absorption efficiency is improved by the replacement of the unsharp scintillation layer (as used at indirect detecting detectors) by a photo conducting layer of much higher thickness. If the read-out speed is high enough (ca. 50 – 100 ns dead time) single X-ray photons can be counted and their energy measured. Read-out noise and dark image correction can be avoided. By setting energy thresholds selected energy ranges of the X-ray spectrum can be detected or suppressed. This allows material discrimination by dual-energy techniques or the reduction of image contributions of scattered radiation, which results in an enhanced contrast sensitivity. To use these advantages in an effective way, a special calibration procedure has to be developed, which considers also time dependent processes in the detection layer. This contribution presents some of these new properties of direct detecting digital detector arrays (DDAs) and shows first results on testing fiber reinforced composites as well as first approaches to dual energy imaging.
Applications of fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composites in modern industries are increasing due to their considerable advantages such as light weight and excellent mechanical properties. Accordingly, importance of operational safety of modern structures made of advanced composites by ensuring the material quality has led to increasing demands for development of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) systems. In the context of a European project entitled “Validated Inspection Techniques for Composites in Energy Applications” (VITCEA), the aim is to develop and validate traceable procedures for novel NDE techniques with contrasting damage detection capabilities in energy related applications such as wind and marine turbine blades, nacelles, oil and gas flexible risers. Accordingly, VITCEA focuses on optimization of ultrasonic tests (UTs) for quantitative defect detection and quality characterization of FRP structures. In this context, the present study describes the ultrasound field in heterogeneous composite materials. The theoretical predictions are compared with simulation results obtained from CIVA a software package dedicated to NDT simulations based on the asymptotic ray theory.
Rising importance of composite lightweight structures in aircraft and automobile industries increases the demand on reliable non-destructive testing methods for these structures. Air-coupled ultrasonic testing emerged to suit these requirements as it does not require any liquid coupling medium. In conventional air-coupled ultrasonic transducers, matching layers are used in order to decrease the impedance mismatch between transducer and air. Matching layers can be omitted by using ferroelectrets, which are charged cellular polymers having ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. Especially a low Young’s modulus, low density and low sound velocity of cellular polypropylene (cPP) are properties being required for well-matched air-coupled ultrasonic transducers.
In our contribution we show recent enhancements of cPP transducers resulting in focused sound fields and thus improved lateral sensitivity. The influence of different transmitter apertures was evaluated using measurements of the emitted sound field. Further we show a transmission of a test specimen of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) containing artificial damages. Results of focused transducers were compared to planar ferroelectret transducers, as well as to conventional air-coupled transducers.
Selecting a welding process for a given application is crucial with respect to the sustainability of part manufacturing. Unfortunately, since welding processes are evaluated by a number of criteria, preferences for one or the other process can be contradictory. However, the prevalent procedure of weight assignment for each criterion is subjective and does not provide information about the entire solution space. From the perspective of a decision maker it is important to be able to assess the entire set of possible weightings and answer the question which welding process is optimal for which set of weights. This issue is investigated by means of a weight space partitioning approach. Two welding processes are considered with respect to three criteria that reflect their economic and environmental performance. In order to find the most sustainable welding process the underlying weight space partition is evaluated.
Defect detection in concrete pile using impulse response measurements with sine sweep excitations
(2015)
For pile integrity inspection, a low cost and portable shaker was used to create the sine sweep signal for pile excitation. The impulse response function, calculated by the deconvolution of pile response from the sine sweep excitation, was proposed to identify the echoes in the piles due to the pile’s impedance changes. The proposed methodology has been evaluated and validated both numerically and experimentally. Based on the results from the simulations and experiments, it was found that the impulse response measurement with sine sweep excitation could be an effective tool to detect the echoes of the pile toe and the defects in the pile.
Ultrasonic echo testing is widely used in non-destructive testing in civil engineering to investigate concrete structures, to measure thickness, and to locate and characterise built-in components or inhomogeneities. Currently, synthetic aperture focusing techniques are mostly used for imaging. These algorithms are highly developed but have some limitations. For example, it is not possible to image the lower boundary of built-in components like tendon ducts or vertical reflectors. We adopted reverse time migration for non-destructive testing in civil engineering in order to improve the imaging of complicated structures in concrete. By using the entire wavefield, including waves reflected more than once, there are fewer limitations compared to synthetic aperture focusing technique algorithms. As a drawback, the required computation is significantly higher than that for the techniques currently used. Simulations for polyamide and concrete structures showed the potential for non-destructive testing. The simulations were followed by experiments at a polyamide specimen. Here, having acquired almost noise-free measurement data to test the algorithm, we were able to determine the shape and size of boreholes with sufficient accuracy. After these successful tests, we performed experiments at a reinforced concrete foundation slab. We obtained information from the data by reverse time migration, which was not accessible by traditional imaging. The imaging of the location and structure of the lower boundary of the concrete foundation slab was improved. Furthermore, vertical reflectors inside the slab were imaged clearly, and more flaws were found. It has been shown that reverse time migration is a step forward in ultrasonic testing in civil engineering.