Establishment of a Digital Laminography facility at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency

Digital Laminography (DL) is a technique that enables the estimation of indication depth from a set of digital projection radiographs. It allows the engineers or researchers to visualize and measure the depth from the object’s surface. The technique applies to welded components and non-metal applications such as composite materials. The technique also allows users to understand engineering problems and further analyze the cause of failures. Malaysian Nuclear Agency is pursuing the building and establishment the DL system at its facility. A gantry is designed to hold a 225kVp X-ray tube that is mechanically moved slowly. A 100 µm pixel size Digital Detector Array (DDA) is used to capture the images. This paper highlights simulation and a preliminary assessment to understand the physics and appropriate steps to build a DL system. It discusses the simulation and experimental study of exposure parameters and setup by digital radiographic testing (RT-D) of known imperfections of a welded steel plate before performing the DL measurement. The radiographic images and their achieved contrast sensitivity and image quality are analyzed according to ISO 17636-2. The results of simulations and experiments demonstrate a good and consistent ability to measure the depth and extension of the reconstructed imperfections within ± 1 mm regarding the actual size and position.