X-ray beam hardening correction for measuring density in linear accelerator industrial computed tomography

Due to X-ray attenuation being approximately proportional to material density, it is possible to measure the inner density through Industrial Computed Tomography (ICT) images accurately. In practice, however, a number of factors including the non-linear effects of beam hardening and diffuse scattered radia-tion complicate the quantitative measurement of density variations in materials. This paper is based on the linearization method of beam hardening correction, and uses polynomial fitting coefficient which is obtained by the curvature of iron polychromatic beam data to fit other materials. Through theoretical deduction, the paper proves that the density measure error is less than 2% if using pre-filters to make the spectrum of linear accelerator range mainly 0.3 MeV to 3 MeV. Experiment had been set up at an ICT system with a 9 MeV electron linear accelerator. The result is satisfactory. This technique makes the beam hardening correction easy and simple, and it is valuable for measuring the ICT density and making use of the CT images to recognize materials.     

基于分段硬化曲线的X射线CT射束硬化校正方法

研究了X射线CT射束硬化的形成机理,分析了射束硬化校正的常用方法,建立了以投影灰度为自变量的射束硬化校正模型,从而降低了射束硬化校正的计算难度。分析了采用多项式拟合射束硬化曲线的优缺点,提出一种基于多项式的分段硬化曲线表达新方法。该方法首先采用过原点的多项式曲线拟合硬化数据,然后通过所得多项式曲线的曲率变化,判断该曲线在拟合区间两端是否出现振荡,并对振荡部分的多项式曲线采用幂函数曲线进行替换,同时保证各段曲线在连接点处C1连续(曲线的C1连续定义为, 两条曲线交于一点且在交点处的一阶导数相等)。计算机CT仿真实验结果表明,该方法对理想CT图像和含噪CT图像的射束硬化校正,均表现出良好的稳定性,并可基本消除射束硬化造成的伪影。     

X射线TICT在复合材料工件检测中的射束硬化拟合校正研究

X射线TICT中,X射线透射物质时,发生了能谱硬化现象。使图像重建时出现伪影。因此必须进行修正。文中对X射线硬化现象进行了分析,探讨了X射线TICT在检测复合材料工件中, X射线射束和与透射厚度的关系, 并根据Beer定律和X射线与物质作用的特点, 通过获取X射线射束和数据,首先拟合出射束和与透射厚度的关系式, 然后推导出X射线射束和校正为单色射线射束和的等效厚度与透射厚度的关系及其等效方法, 最终得出X射线TICT在检测复合材料工件中X射线等效单色射线的衰减系数的射束硬化拟合值, 再对此衰减系数拟合值进行卷积反投影重构, 即可有效消除X射线TICT在检测复合材料工件中射束硬化造成的影响。     

CT重构中射线硬化的校正研究

在工业CT(ComputedTomography)重构中,由于射束硬化使得重建图像中出现"杯状"伪影。为了消除这种影响,提出了一种校正方法。该方法基于Beer理论,根据多色射束和数据,首先拟合出等效单色射束和数据,然后进行卷积反投影重构。这种方法不仅较好地消除了射线硬化的影响,同时也使重构图像的信息损失不大。     

硬化伪影的新型表现形式及其校正

X射线硬化是导致工业CT重建图像质量下降的物理原因之一。硬化伪影通常表现为两种形式,即杯状伪影和带状伪影。描述并证实了硬化伪影的一种新型表现形式,这种伪影与真实结构相关,且分布规则,容易造成伪影与真实结构的混淆。采用线性化校正方法对该伪影进行抑制,提高了重建图像质量,改善了通过CT重建图像进行几何测量的精度。     

基于重投影的多项式拟合校正射束硬化

在X射线工业CT(ICT)中,射束硬化会导致重建的图像出现伪影,甚至产生变形。为了消除这种影响,提出了一种基于重投影的多项式拟合校正射束硬化的方法。该方法对原始CT图像进行阈值分割二值化,将物体目标区域的像素值设为1;重投影此二值图像以获取X射线贯穿物体的长度集合;利用多项式拟合此长度集合与多色投影间的关系来建立射束硬化校正模型,用该模型对多色投影进行校正。与传统的多项式拟合校正方法相比,该方法不需要楔状模体(用于测量不同厚度下的衰减值,以此来建立射束硬化校正模型)。研究表明,该方法能有效地抑制射束硬化的影响。     

Beam hardening correction for a cone-beam CT system and its effect on spatial resolution

In this paper, we present a beam hardening correction (BHC) method in three-dimension space for a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system in a mono-material case and investigate its effect on the spatial resolution. Due to the polychromatic character of the X-ray spectrum used, cupping and streak artifacts called beam hardening artifacts arise in the reconstructed CT images, causing reduced image quality. In addition, enhanced edges are introduced in the reconstructed CT images because of the beam hardening effect. The spatial resolution of the CBCT system is calculated from the edge response function (ERF) on different planes in space. Thus, in the CT images with beam hardening artifacts, enhanced ERFs will be extracted to calculate the modulation transfer function (MTF), obtaining a better spatial resolution that deviates from the real value. Reasonable spatial resolution can be obtained after reducing the artifacts. The 10% MTF value and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the point spread function with and without BHC are presented.     

Physicomechanical properties of the surface of a zirconium alloy modified by a pulsed ion beam

The physicomechanical properties of the surface of the Zr-1% Nb zirconium alloy modified by a pulsed carbon ion beam with a pulse duration of 80 ns, an energy of 200 keV, and a current density of 120 A/cm² are studied at four regimes having different numbers of pulses. Irradiation by a carbon ion beam results in hardening of the surface layer to a depth of 2 μm, grain refinement to 0.15–0.8 μm, zirconium carbide formation, and a decrease in the hydrogen permeability of the zirconium alloy.     

Change in structure and properties of carbon steels bombarded by a 10−5 to 10−4 second high-energy electron beam

We consider the hardening characteristics and features of the structural and phase transformations in carbon steel (0.7% C) quenched from the melt using an electron beam with electron energy 130–180 keV, pulse duration 10–200 msec and power density 10⁶ to 10⁷ W/cm². We have observed that maximum hardening is achieved for pulse duration 40 msec. The nonmonotonic character of the dependence of the degree of hardening on the pulse duration is connected with the substantial effect of the beam parameters on the phase composition and morphology of the rapidly quenched structures.Institute of Power Electronics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Tomsk State Architectural Design Academy. Institute of the Physics of Strength and Materials Science, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, p. 42–50, October, 1995.     

基于蒙特卡罗模拟的射束硬化校正方法

传统的射束硬化校正方法, 通常需要针对每一种材料测量该材料对射线的吸收曲线. 由于吸收曲线对实验条件有很大的依赖性, 每当改变X光机电压或者被测工件的材料等条件时,需要重新测量吸收曲线才能完成硬化校正过程. 这种方法费事费时. 本文提出了基于蒙特卡罗模拟计算物质吸收曲线的硬化校正方法. 实验中, 分别用本方法和传统的硬化校正方法对铝工件进行硬化校正, 经过比较, 确认本方法是有效的. 然后用该方法对不同材料(铝、铁和铜)的工件进行校正. 实验结果表明, 本方法能有效消除各种材料工件图像中的硬化伪影, 是快速的和切实可行的.     

Beam Hardening Correction Base on Monte Carlo Simulation Method

For the empirical beam hardening correction in computerized tomography (CT), it is necessary to measure an attenuation curve for the material. The attenuation curve depends on the X ray machine operation parameters and object material, etc. If any measuring condition changes, a new attenuation curve has to be measured. This approach is time consuming and difficult to implement. A new method of beam hardening correction is presented in this paper, which is based on Monte Carlo simulation of the attenuation characteristic. An aluminium object is scanned and the projection data is corrected by the empirical beam hardening correction and by the simulation based correction. The results of the reconstructed images confirm the correctness of the simulation based method. The simulation based correction has been applied successfully to CT projection data of several test samples, with the material of aluminum, steel and copper.     

工业CT在工件检测中X射线硬化校正

X射线工业CT中,由于X射线能谱具有多色性,X射线在透射物质时,能量较低的射线优先被吸收,X射线能量越高,衰减系数越低。也即较高能量的X射线的衰减系数比较低能量的X射线的衰减系数小。射线随透射厚度增大,变得更易穿透,也就是发生了能谱硬化现象。由于射线硬化现象使图像重建时出现伪影,因此必须修正。文中对X射线硬化现象进行了分析,探讨了在均匀物质中,X射线射束和与透射厚度的关系。并根据Beer定律和X射线与物质作用的特点,通过获取X射线射束和数据,拟合出射束和与透射厚度的关系式。然后得出在同一透射厚度时,X射线射束和校正为单色等效射束和的关系及其等效方法。最终得出X射线等效单色射线的衰减系数的拟合值。再对此衰减系数拟合值进行卷积反投影重构,即可有效消除X射线射束硬化的影响。     

局部扫描情况下多项式拟合的X射线硬化校正

在进行X-CT成像时,容易诱发射束硬化效应。通过多项式拟合建立起多色投影同透射距离的数学模型,然后将多色投影校正为单色投影,是一种简单高效的射束硬化校正方法。对于局部扫描的情况,在重建图像域通过正投影方法计算得到的透射距离不再代表真实的射线穿过长度,拟合数据不再有效。因此借助一圆柱模体,根据圆柱自身的几何特性,通过解析的方法计算得到射线真实的透射距离,并用于射束硬化校正。实验结果表明,该方法能够有效抑制射束硬化引起的图像伪影,提高CT重建图像质量。     

工业CT图像均匀性校正

在工业CT图像重建过程中,射束硬化使得图像出现“杯状”伪影,阵列探测器响应不一致使得图像出现环状伪影、带状伪影和点伪影,影响图像均匀性.本文分析了射束硬化的原理和探测器响应不一致的数学模型,并通过实验,对探测器响应进行多挡板定标得到校正系数表.利用查表插值的方法对投影数据进行均匀性校正,消除上述伪影.     

2600W偏振耦合高效率半导体激光光源

将两个中心波长为808 nm,输出功率为1500W的半导体激光叠阵,经过快慢轴准直后,利用半波片将其中一个叠阵的偏振方向旋转90°,使用偏振分光平板的耦合功能,将两个偏振方向相互垂直的激光耦合到一个光路.扩束后再通过焦距为100 mm的聚焦镜组聚焦,提高激光器的亮度.在工作电流为75 A时,输出功率达到了2600 W,...     

Orientation sensitivity of focused ion beam damage in pure zirconium: direct experimental observations and molecular dynamics simulations

A high-purity predominantly single crystalline zirconium was subjected to controlled focused ion beam (FIB) damage. Damage estimates were obtained from electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and nano-indentation measurements on exactly the same area/orientation. The damage kinetics, between different crystallographic orientations, differed by one order of magnitude and a clear hierarchy of orientation sensitive ion damage emerged. Use of a simple geometric approach, linear density of atoms and corresponding scattering cross-sections to impinging gallium ions, could differentiate between extreme damage kinetics; but failed when such differences were relatively minor. Numerically intensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, on the other hand, were more effective. However, MD simulations or direct EBSD observations failed to justify anisotropic irradiation hardening (AIH): 3–8 times more hardening for near basal. Though explanation for AIH is indirect, evidence and rationalization for orientation-sensitive radiation damage appears clear and statistically reproducible.     

Atomistic simulation of the stacking fault energy and grain shape on strain hardening behaviours of FCC nanocrystalline metals

ABSTRACT

Ultra-fine grained copper with nanotwins is found to be both strong and ductile. It is expected that nanocrystalline metals with lamella grains will have strain hardening behaviour. The main unsolved issues on strain hardening behaviour of nanocrystalline metals include the effect of stacking fault energy, grain shape, temperature, strain rate, second phase particles, alloy elements, etc. Strain hardening makes strong nanocrystalline metals ductile. The stacking fault energy effects on the strain hardening behaviour are studied by molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the uniaxial tensile deformation of the layer-grained and equiaxed models for metallic materials at 300?K. The results show that the strain hardening is observed during the plastic deformation of the layer-grained models, while strain softening is found in the equiaxed models. The strain hardening index values of the layer-grained models decrease with the decrease of stacking fault energy, which is attributed to the distinct stacking fault width and dislocation density. Forest dislocations are observed in the layer-grained models due to the high dislocation density. The formation of sessile dislocations, such as Lomer–Cottrell dislocation locks and stair-rod dislocations, causes the strain hardening behaviour. The dislocation density in layer-grained models is higher than that in the equiaxed models. Grain morphology affects dislocation density by influencing the dislocation motion distance in grain interior.     

Theoretical and experimental analysis of high power diode laser (HPDL) hardening of AISI 1045 steel

Laser surface hardening makes use of the rapid and cooling cycles produced on metals surfaces exposed to a scanning laser beam without affecting the bulk of the sample. Mechanical and chemical properties of the surface can be enhanced through the metallurgical transformations that take place during the mentioned thermal cycles. Steels and cast irons are the usual materials to be hardened by laser and recently the high power diode lasers (HPDL) became the appropriate tool to carry out this process. In this work, some systematic experiments have been carried out to harden AISI 1045 surface samples by a cw (HPDL) working at different power levels (470, 760 W). The main processing parameters (scanning velocity and density power of the laser beam) were tuned from the prediction realized by the numerical (ANSYS) analysis of the heat conduction involved in the process. Such analysis allowed us to put in evidence the variation of the temperature and the cooling rate of the steel sample surface, affecting the uniformity of the demanding mechanical properties of the surface. In this way, a close-loop temperature control of the surface was justified in order to keep the hardness value within the range required. The formation of martensite phase in the laser treated superficial zone confirmed the hardening of the steel.     

X射线TICT在复合材料工件检测中的能谱硬化修正模型

X射线TICT中,由于X射线能谱具有多色性, X射线在透射物质时,能量较低的射线优先被吸收,也即较高能量的X射线的衰减系数比较低能量的X射线的衰减系数小,射线随透射厚度增大,变得更易穿透,也就是发生了能谱硬化现象。如不加修正,必引起赝像。文中对能谱硬化现象进行了分析,探讨了X射线TICT在复合材料工件检测中, X射线的衰减系数与透射厚度的关系, 并根据Beer定律和X射线与复合材料作用的特点, 推导出X射线TICT在复合材料工件检测中, 严谨精确的能谱硬化修正模型及其修正方法。对修正后的衰减系数再做卷积反投影重构, 即可有效消除能谱硬化造成的影响。     

Model of crystallization of a melt containing nonsoluble particles

A mathematical model of the electron beam hardening of carbon steels irradiated with a relativistic electron beam is proposed which takes into account the change in crystallization conditions as a result of ingress of inert particles into the melt. The model is based on an analogy with the two-phase zone theory. The problem is solved numerically.