X-ray imaging techniques for inspection of composite pipelines. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silva, Weslley; Lopes, Ricardo; Zscherpel, Uwe; Meinel, Dietmar; Ewert, Uwe
• Is Part Of: Micron. Volume 145(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Laminography -- Digital radiography -- Computed tomography -- Composite pipes -- Image quality -- Phantom; Microscopy -- Periodicals; Electron Probe Microanalysis -- Periodicals; Microscopy -- Periodicals; Microscopie -- Périodiques; Microscopy; Periodicals; 502.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-4328

Abstract

Highlights: Utilization of X-ray microtomography (microCT) to analyze composite pipelines according to ISO 14692-4. The laminographic technique shows its capacity to measure the depth information and to distinguish overlapping flaws. MicroCT showed the best detectability and image quality in comparison to digital radiography and laminography. Abstract: The literature has shown that the application of laminography provides advantages as 3D radiographic imaging with depth information for in house and mobile testing. This permits to distinguish between overlapping indications, measure the extension along radiation direction and classify indications as surface open or subsurface ones as required in critical engineering assessment. This work provides a comparative study and measurements of the three techniques Digital Radiography (DR) with Digital Detector Arrays (DDA), Coplanar Translational Laminography (CTL) and Computed Tomography (CT), applied for composite pipeline inspection. It is demonstrated that CTL and CT provide advantages for the evaluation of pipe-to-pipe connections and the evaluation of adhesive applications. They show indications of discontinuities with higher contrast sensitivity than radiography. Beyond it, two specimen, namely Phantom 1 and Phantom 2, were developed and manufactured by additive manufacturing to analyze the preferential detection sensitivity and the direction of features and depth information for laminographic measurements. Another goal was to show the laminographic capabilities to distinguish between overlapping discontinuities. CTL is especially suitable for mobile inspection. Special glass fiber reinforced polymer samples (GRP) were manufactured for further analysis and comparisons between the abovementioned techniques. Finally, Phantoms 1 and 2 show the capability of laminography to detect overlapping indications and also show that discontinuities oriented perpendicular to the scan direction have the highest contrast sensitivity for laminographic measurements.