A Novel Image Processing Algorithm for Enhancing the Probability of Detection of Flaws in X-Ray Images

Application of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques in x-ray radiography is a field that is gaining a rapidly growing interest. Dealing with digital x-ray images and enhancing these images using DSP techniques allow the automation of x-ray inspection, which offers several advantages over the traditional film-based inspection. These advantages include reducing the inspection time and cost requirements, obtaing a consistent decision regarding the integrity of the object under test, and allowing the use of real-time inspection [1]. Typically processing of x-ray images to detect and size flaws involves edge detection. In this paper, we primarily focus on an image processing algorithm that is based on a new Gaussian weighted image moment vector edge operator. Application of this operator enhances image edges and suppresses the noise, which results in a significant improvement in the probability of detection of flaws in x-ray images

The Remote Field Effect and Its Interpretation

The Remote Field Effect (RFE) and the testing method based on it have attracted considerable attention from the research community. The need to explain the apparent discrepancies between the effect and the known electromagnetic field behavior is the reason for this attention

Genomics of Divergence along a Continuum of Parapatric Population Differentiation

MM received funding from the Max Planck innovation funds for this project. PGDF was supported by a Marie Curie European Reintegration Grant (proposal nr 270891). CE was supported by German Science Foundation grants (DFG, EI 841/4-1 and EI 841/6-1)

Rotating field eddy current (RoFEC)-probe for steam generator inspection

A novel design of eddy current probe based on rotating magnetic fields is presented for the inspection of steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants. A major advantage of the rotating field probe is that it offers the same functionality as that of a rotating probe coil without the need for mechanical rotation, which in turn translates into higher operating speed. The probe design is also sensitive to cracks of all orientations in the tube wall

Morphological Processing for Crack Detection in Eddy Current Images of Jet Engine Disks

With the growing use of air transportation, aerospace industries are looking towards automated airplane inspection systems that can provide more rapid and economical services and achieve greater safety. Eddy current nondestructive testing technique is one of the most commonly used methods in aircraft inspection. One demanding application of the eddy current technique is the inspection of jet engine disks. In rotary fan disks in jet engines, cracks often occur in high stressed regions of blade slots such as chamfered edges. This presents problems in terms of flaw detection using the eddy current method since the crack signals are overwhelmed by the edge signals. Therefore, a fairly robust algorithm to extract flaw signals and eliminate contribution from other sources is needed. In this paper, a novel method based on morphological operations is proposed for crack detection in eddy current images of jet engine disks. The method is specially designed to eliminate contribution to the eddy current signals from the large scale geometry of the disk such as slot edges while preserving small scale signals such as indications due to cracks. Initial classification results demonstrate the capability of the proposed method in extracting flaw features of different scales. The algorithm is also simple, fast, and robust in presence of noise.</p