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Evaluation of Welding Imperfections with X-ray Computed Laminography for NDT Inspection of Carbon Steel Plates

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Abstract

X-ray computed laminography is a depth-resolving non-destructive testing technique well suited for the non-destructive examination of large and flat structures where traditional computed tomography is impractical. This technique provides 3D radiographic imaging and characterization with depth information of welding imperfections in welded components, ensuring component quality meets the standard criteria and safety purposes. Furthermore, determining the welding imperfection’s location in fabrication, in-service and maintenance is crucial for welding repair, resulting in the areas where the repair work needs to be started. This work highlights the characterization of welding imperfections by experimental digital radiography with digital detector array (RT-D with DDA) and coplanar translational laminography (CTL) techniques applied to welded carbon steel plates. A test specimen was tested, specially prepared with artificial planar and volumetric flaws like lack of fusion, clustered porosities and slag inclusions with varying dimensions and the approaches were analyzed. Additionally, a test phantom was fabricated with known geometry features that access the CTL system’s optimal detection accuracy to demonstrate a broad functionality and acceptance of the CTL system for depth information in the plate-like structures. The coplanar translational laminography technique provides advantages for characterizing welding imperfections and testing phantom features with high contrast and acceptable image quality. The result is confirmed by the phased array ultrasonic testing and RT-D with DDA. The exposure conditions, image sensitivity, and quality are analyzed according to ISO 17636-2 to ensure compliance with industry standards in digital radiography.

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Acknowledgements

Institutional Fund Projects funded this research work under grant IFPIP_2006-135-1443. Therefore, the authors gratefully acknowledge the technical and financial support from the Ministry of Education and King Abdulaziz University, DSR, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

Institutional Fund Projects funded this research work under grant IFPIP_2006-135-1443.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Emad E. Ghandourah, Essam Mohammed Banoqitah & Abdulsalam Mohammed Alhawsawi

  2. Fabrication and Joining Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia France Institute (UniKL-MFI), 43650, Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia

    Shahfuan Hanif A. Hamidi & Mahamad Noor Wahab

  3. Radiographic Testing Digital (RT-D) Laboratory, Leading Edge NDT Technology (LENDT) Group, Industrial Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Malaysia

    Khairul Anuar Mohd Salleh

  4. Center for Training and Radiation Prevention, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Emad E. Ghandourah, Essam Mohammed Banoqitah & Abdulsalam Mohammed Alhawsawi

  5. Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Essam B. Moustafa

Authors
  1. Emad E. Ghandourah
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  2. Shahfuan Hanif A. Hamidi
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  3. Khairul Anuar Mohd Salleh
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  4. Mahamad Noor Wahab
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  5. Essam Mohammed Banoqitah
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  6. Abdulsalam Mohammed Alhawsawi
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  7. Essam B. Moustafa
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Contributions

The manuscript was authored by SH and KA and reviewed by all authors. All shown figures are part of the laminography work performed at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, funded by the Institutional Fund Projects under grant IFPIP_2006-135-1443, the Ministry of Education and King Abdulaziz University, DSR, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Correspondence to Khairul Anuar Mohd Salleh.

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Ghandourah, E.E., Hamidi, S.H.A., Mohd Salleh, K.A. et al. Evaluation of Welding Imperfections with X-ray Computed Laminography for NDT Inspection of Carbon Steel Plates. J Nondestruct Eval 42, 77 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10921-023-00989-z

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