On-site nondestructive inspection by upgraded portable 950 keV 3.95 MeV X-band linac x-ray sources

• Published in: Journal of physics. B, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 47; no. 23; pp. 234008 - 9
• Main Authors: Ueaska, Mitsuru, Dobashi, Katsuhiro, Fujiwara, Takeshi, Pei, Cuixiang, Wu, Wenjing, Kusano, Joichi, Nakamura, Naoki, Yamamoto, Masashi, Tanabe, Eiji, Ohya, Seiji, Hattori, Yukiya, Miura, Itaru, Honma, Hidetaka, Ishida, Masahiro, Kimura, Yoshitomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 14.12.2014
• Subjects: Computer programs; Infrastructure; Iron; Nondestructive testing; on-site high energy x-ray NDT; partial angle CT; portable 950 keV 3.95 MeV x-band linac x-ray sources; Software; Tubes; wavelet analysis; X-band; X-ray sources; X-rays
• ISSN: 0953-4075; 1361-6455
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-4075/47/23/234008

We have developed and upgraded portable 950 keV 3.95 MeV X-band (9.3 GHz) linac x-ray sources for on-site nondestructive testing (NDT) for social and industrial infrastructures. We integrated the hardware devices as well as software systems. For the hardware, we established all designed parameters including x-ray intensities of 0.05 2 Gy min−1 at 1 m for 950 keV 3.95 MeV systems, respectively. Concerning the software, we adopted the wavelet analysis for enhanced image contrast and partial angle computed tomography (CT) for a small region of interest. The wavelet analysis is effective to reduce scattered low energy x-ray noise in addition to using physical filters and collimators. The partial CT is inevitable to reconstruct an inner reinforced iron tube in concrete. We successfully performed on-site inspection three times, namely of a nitrogen acid distillation tower, a reinforced concrete pier and a large sample cut from a bridge. We obtained the x-ray images of the inner tube, determined the sizes of reinforced iron parts and evaluated the mechanical tolerance. Moreover, we are developing a new x-ray camera specified for MeV x-rays used for NDT of heavy objects. Then, our system will become a self-consisting and specialized high energy x-ray on-site inspection system. We are going to promote an application to NDT of social and industrial infrastructures in Japan and around the world.