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

Abstract

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.