ASTM E1441-00
(Guide)Standard Guide for Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging
Standard Guide for Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging
SCOPE
1.1 Computed tomography (CT) is a radiographic method that provides an ideal examination technique whenever the primary goal is to locate and size planar and volumetric detail in three dimensions. Because of the relatively good penetrability of X rays, as well as the sensitivity of absorption cross sections to atomic chemistry, CT permits the nondestructive physical and, to a limited extent, chemical characterization of the internal structure of materials. Also, since the method is X-ray based, it applies equally well to metallic and non-metallic specimens, solid and fibrous materials, and smooth and irregularly surfaced objects. When used in conjunction with other nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods, such as ultrasound, CT data can provide evaluations of material integrity that cannot currently be provided nondestructively by any other means.
1.2 This guide is intended to satisfy two general needs for users of industrial CT equipment: (1) the need for a tutorial guide addressing the general principles of X-ray CT as they apply to industrial imaging; and (2) the need for a consistent set of CT performance parameter definitions, including how these performance parameters relate to CT system specifications. Potential users and buyers, as well as experienced CT inspectors, will find this guide a useful source of information for determining the suitability of CT for particular examination problems, for predicting CT system performance in new situations, and for developing and prescribing new scan procedures.
1.3 This guide does not specify test objects and test procedures for comparing the relative performance of different CT systems; nor does it treat CT inspection techniques, such as the best selection of scan parameters, the preferred implementation of scan procedures, the analysis of image data to extract densitometric information, or the establishment of accept/reject criteria for a new object.
1.4 Standard practices and methods are not within the purview of this guide. The reader is advised, however, that examination practices are generally part and application specific, and industrial CT usage is new enough that in many instances a consensus has not yet emerged. The situation is complicated further by the fact that CT system hardware and performance capabilities are still undergoing significant evolution and improvement. Consequently, an attempt to address generic examination procedures is eschewed in favor of providing a thorough treatment of the principles by which examination methods can be developed or existing ones revised.
1.5 The principal advantage of CT is that it nondestructively provides quantitative densitometric (that is, density and geometry) images of thin cross sections through an object. Because of the absence of structural noise from detail outside the thin plane of inspection, images are much easier to interpret than conventional radiographic data. The new user can learn quickly (often upon first exposure to the technology) to read CT data because the images correspond more closely to the way the human mind visualizes three- dimensional structures than conventional projection radiography. Further, because CT images are digital, they may be enhanced, analyzed, compressed, archived, input as data into performance calculations, compared with digital data from other NDE modalities, or transmitted to other locations for remote viewing. Additionally, CT images exhibit enhanced contrast discrimination over compact areas larger than 20 to 25 pixels. This capability has no classical analog. Contrast discrimination of better than 0.1% at three-sigma confidence levels over areas as small as one-fifth of one percent the size of the object of interest are common.
1.6 With proper calibration, dimensional inspections and absolute density determinations can also be made very accurately. Dimensionally, virtually all CT systems provide a pixel resolution of roughly 1 part in 1000 (since,...
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Designation: E 1441 – 00
Standard Guide for
1
Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1441; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope cific, and industrial CT usage is new enough that in many
instances a consensus has not yet emerged. The situation is
1.1 Computed tomography (CT) is a radiographic method
complicated further by the fact that CT system hardware and
that provides an ideal examination technique whenever the
performance capabilities are still undergoing significant evo-
primary goal is to locate and size planar and volumetric detail
lution and improvement. Consequently, an attempt to address
in three dimensions. Because of the relatively good penetra-
generic examination procedures is eschewed in favor of
bility of X rays, as well as the sensitivity of absorption cross
providing a thorough treatment of the principles by which
sections to atomic chemistry, CT permits the nondestructive
examination methods can be developed or existing ones
physical and, to a limited extent, chemical characterization of
revised.
the internal structure of materials. Also, since the method is
1.5 TheprincipaladvantageofCTisthatitnondestructively
X-ray based, it applies equally well to metallic and non-
provides quantitative densitometric (that is, density and geom-
metallic specimens, solid and fibrous materials, and smooth
etry) images of thin cross sections through an object. Because
and irregularly surfaced objects. When used in conjunction
of the absence of structural noise from detail outside the thin
with other nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods, such as
plane of inspection, images are much easier to interpret than
ultrasound, CT data can provide evaluations of material integ-
conventionalradiographicdata.Thenewusercanlearnquickly
rity that cannot currently be provided nondestructively by any
(often upon first exposure to the technology) to read CT data
other means.
because the images correspond more closely to the way the
1.2 This guide is intended to satisfy two general needs for
human mind visualizes three-dimensional structures than con-
users of industrial CT equipment: (1) the need for a tutorial
ventional projection radiography. Further, because CT images
guide addressing the general principles of X-ray CT as they
are digital, they may be enhanced, analyzed, compressed,
applytoindustrialimaging;and(2)theneedforaconsistentset
archived, input as data into performance calculations, com-
of CT performance parameter definitions, including how these
pared with digital data from other NDE modalities, or trans-
performance parameters relate to CT system specifications.
mitted to other locations for remote viewing.Additionally, CT
Potential users and buyers, as well as experienced CT inspec-
images exhibit enhanced contrast discrimination over compact
tors, will find this guide a useful source of information for
areas larger than 20 to 25 pixels. This capability has no
determining the suitability of CT for particular examination
classicalanalog.Contrastdiscriminationofbetterthan0.1%at
problems, for predicting CT system performance in new
three-sigma confidence levels over areas as small as one-fifth
situations, and for developing and prescribing new scan pro-
of one percent the size of the object of interest are common.
cedures.
1.6 With proper calibration, dimensional inspections and
1.3 This guide does not specify test objects and test proce-
absolute density determinations can also be made very accu-
dures for comparing the relative performance of different CT
rately. Dimensionally, virtually all CT systems provide a pixel
systems;nordoesittreatCTinspectiontechniques,suchasthe
resolution of roughly 1 part in 1000 (since, at present,
bestselectionofscanparameters,thepreferredimplementation
1024 31024 images are the norm), and metrological algo-
of scan procedures, the analysis of image data to extract
rithms can often measure dimensions to one-tenth of one pixel
densitometricinformation,ortheestablishmentofaccept/reject
or so with three-sigma accuracies. For small objects (less than
criteria for a new object.
4 in. in diameter), this translates into accuracies of approxi-
1.4 Standard practices and methods are not within the
mately 0.1 mm (0.003 to 0.005 in.) at three-sigma. For much
purview of this guide. The reader is advised, however, that
larger objects, the corresponding figure will be proportionally
examination practices are generally part and application spe-
greater. Attenuation values can also be related accurately to
material densities. If
...
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