By Uwe Ewert, Uwe Zscherpel: Radiographic Weld Inspection Radiographic Weld Inspection

The Conversion from Film to Digital Radiography
and
the New Standard EN ISO 17636-
17636-2:2013
for Radiographic Weld Inspection
www.bam.de
by Uwe Ewert, Uwe Zscherpel uwe.ewert@bam.de
1
1
8.3 ISO 17636: Radiographic Weld Inspection
Radiological
Methods
Ewert Stockholm - April 2013
Introduction
- The proof of minimum image quality in radiography is the basis for
technical safety and contractual agreements in industry.
- Film replacement
p byy digital
g radiography
g p y requires
q a different practice
p
compared to film radiography to guaranty the same image quality.
- EN ISO 17636 replaced EN 1435 in 2013!

- EN ISO 17636-2 defines the required practice to replace film by Digital
Radiology (DR) for weld inspection.
- EN ISO 17636-1
17636 1 is equivalent to EN 1435 with minor changes.
changes
- New requirements exist for digital detector selection on basis of the
detector unsharpness.
- The parameters “Signal to noise ratio” (SNR) and “Basic Spatial
Resolution” (SRb) have to be understood and controlled for
p
optimization of image
g quality
q y in DR.
- Minimum SNRN Values or Grey Values (CR only) substitute
requirements for the opt. density limits in film radiography.
- New
N exposure geometries
t i consider
id flat
fl t detectors
d t t and
d cassettes.
tt 2
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Radiological
Methods
Film Replacement Techniques in EN ISO 17636-2
Scanner
Imaging
for Imaging
g g
Pl t
Plates
Plates
Computed Radiography
CR: Mobile Orex Scanner
Radiography
with
Digital Detector Arrays
(DDA)
Flat Panel Hard Copy
C
Detector Grayscale
Agfa Printer
DDA: Amorphous Selenium Flat Panel, Agfa-NDT 3

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Radiological
Methods
Motivation for Film Replacement by
C
Computedt d Radiography
R di h andd DDA‘s
DDA‘
• Shorter test and interpretation time
• New application areas due to

higher inspection quality and wall Film ((D4))
thickness range
• No chemicals and dangerous

waste
• Less consumables
Flachdetektor ((Hamamatsu))
4
4
Radiological
Methods
Fuji IX25
SNRnorm~ 265
DDA
Technology
provides
Best (slowest) NDT film better image
quality than
film !
Images high pass
filtered for better
presentation
PerkinElmer 1620
SNRnorm~ 1500 5
5
8.3 exposureISO 17636: Radiographic Weld Inspection
Radiological
DDA Methods
Images after zoom, high paas filter Ewert Stockholm - April 2013
Basic Requirements for Radiography
g y
in all National and International Standards
B i standard
Basic t d d requirements
i t for
f film
fil and
d digital
di it l radiology
di l in
i comparison:
i
Film Digital Detector (CR)
• Exceed
E d minimum
i i optical
ti l Density
D it
• Do not exceed film system class  Exceed
E d minimum
i i SNRN
or calibrated minimum grey value
• Select right FFD  Select right SDD and

detector type with right SRb

• Prove minimum Image Quality (IQI visibility)
• Wires or, Use same IQIs to prove quality
• Step holes or Use optional duplex wire IQI
• Plate holes (USA)
FFD – Film Focus Distance SNR – Signal to noise ratio

S
SDD – Source D t t Distance
Detector Di t I
IQI – Image Q lit Indicator
Quality I di t 6
6
Radiological
Methods
Basics of Digital Radiography
and
Image Quality Parameter
7
7
Radiological
Methods
Influence of Image Noise on
Detail Visibility in Digital Radiography
Intensity
Intensity
Contrast Contrast
Signal Signal
(base material) (base material)
Length Length
Notch visible! Notch not visible!
Contrast/Noise is high Contrast/Noise is low

Signal/Noise is high Signal/Noise is low
8
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Radiological
Methods
8Ewert Stockholm - April 2013
Noise Sources in Radiographic Images
Typical
yp noise sources in digital
g radiography:
g p y
1. EXPOSURE CONDITIONS: Photon noise, depending on exposure dose
(e.g. mAs or GBqmin). This is the main factor! SNR increases with
higher exposure dose.
2. Limitation for the maximum achievable SNR:
1 DETECTOR: Structural noise of DDAs and Imaging Plates also
1.
called fixed pattern noise (due to variations in pixel to pixel response
and inhomogeneities in the phosphor layer).
2. OBJECT:
1. Crystalline structure of material (e.g. nickel based steel, mottling)
2 Surface roughness of test object
2.
See new training

g course of DGZfP and IAEA!
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Radiological
Methods
Essential Parameters for Calculation of Just
Visible IQI 1 T Hole Diameter
The essential parameters are: µeff, SNR and SRb?
Depends on Hardware: effective pixel size

New (magic) Formula { Magnification
Focal spot
p size, source size
SNR - Signal to noise ratio
image
SR µeff – specific contrast,
d visible  PT  b effective attenuation coefficient
 eff  SNR SRb – effective pixel size in the image,
basic spatial resolution of image
Material,
M t i l
} {
Exposure time
keV, Source type Tube current, Activity
Scattered radiation Detector efficiency
Screens and filters S
Source-to-Detector
t D t t Distance
Di t
PT  2,8
, for 1T-holes ; slightly
g y dependent
p on
viewing conditions and operator 10
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Radiological
Methods
EN ISO 17636:2013
Radiographic Weld Inspection
Part 1:
Non-destructive testing of welds -- Radiographic testing -- Part 1: X- and
gamma-ray techniques
t h i with film
Part 2:
Non-destructive testing of welds -- Radiographic testing -- Part 2: X- and
gamma-ray techniques with digital detectors
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Radiological
Methods
EN ISO 17636-2
Radiographic testing of welds with digital detectors
detectors.
Most important parameters that are regulated by this standard:
I. Minimum value for wire type or step-hole type Image Quality

Indicators (IQI’s) in function of test technique (similar to ASME)
II. Maximum image/detector unsharpness requirements (using a duplex

wire gauge)
III. Choice of tube voltage or gamma source in function of object

composition, penetrated thickness and detector
IV. Exposure geometry

V. Minimum normalized Signal-to-Noise
g ratio ((SNRN) requirements
q
VI. Metal screens, type & thickness
VII. New compensation
p p
principles
p
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Radiological
Methods
EN ISO 17636: Image Quality Indicators (IQI)
Wires
EN 462-1
EN ISO 19232-1
Step holes
St h l
EN 462-1
EN ISO 19232-1
Step plates (USA)

ASME,, ASTM
Duplex wire for part 2

EN 462-5
EN ISO 19232-5
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Radiological
Methods
EN ISO 17636-1 and -2, Annex B: Minimum
Requirements for Wire Type or Step
Step-Hole
Hole Type IQIs
IQI values taken
from EN1435
New Exceptions for Gamma

• Same requirements
q for wire
type and step hole IQI’s as in
EN 1435 and ISO 19232-3
• New exceptions for
i t
isotopes for
f double
d bl wall ll
inspections
– 10 mm < w  25 mm : 1
wire or step
step-hole
hole value
less for Ir192
– 5 mm < w  12 mm: 1
wire or step-hole value
less for Se75
EN ISO 19232-3
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Radiological
Methods
Selection of X-Ray Tube Voltage and Influence of µeff
Compensation principle I:
Image Quality = f (µeff ▪ SNR)
Diagram on selection
Di l ti off
maximum tube voltage
applies for film only (ISO
17636-1)
Selection of maximum tube voltage for

application of digital detectors:
- CR, Class B: reduce kV by 20%
- Well calibrated DDAs: increase kV
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Radiological
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Requirements for Techniques and Opt. Density
EN ISO 17636
17636-1
1
Part 1 and 2
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Radiological
Methods
Equivalent to opt. Density of Part 1:
SNRN – Requirements in Part 2
• Concept for SNRN

requirement was
taken from
EN14784 1.
EN14784-1.
• Minimum values are
tabulated in function
of radiation energy
and object
thickness, similar to
table 2 of EN14784-
2.
• Front lead screens
are reduced to
maximum values
only except for high
energy.
gy
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8.3 ISO 17636: Radiographic
Radiological
Methods Weld Inspection
Higher SNRN requirements than in EN14784-2
Influence of SNRN on Image Quality
D
Dependence
d on E
Exposure Ti
Time:
Normalized at constant contrast
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Radiological
Methods
Contrast Sensitivity Limitation
EPS - equivalent penetrameter sensitivity in % of tickness
EPS vs.SNR method with 3/4" Fe
Contrast Sensitivity (EPS) vs. Grey Value for CR
4
st Sensittivity in %
3,5
Above a certain exposure level the
s (EPS)
contrast sensitivity changes only marginally

3
hickness
2,5 Measured EPS, UR 1, DynamIx HR
qrt(SNR)
2
Measured EPS, ST VI, HD‐CR 35
of ThEEPS
Contras
PT/sq
15
1,5
Calc. EPS from SNR, ST VI, HD‐CR 35
1
Calc. EPS from SNR, UR 1, DynamIx HR
0,5
0
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 PT ' SRbimage
EPS 
Min. Grey Values
Min Grey Value
Pixel value
Pixel value ttestplate µeff  SNR
(Working range)
 PT’ is about 2 for visibility of the 2 T hole of IQIs corr. to ASTM E 1025
 EPS by ASTM E 746 with 200 kV, t = 19 mm Fe plate and µeff = 0.05 mm-1
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Radiological
Methods
Exposure Chart for CR on basis of Grey Values, not part
of ISO 17636-2
Exposure chart 7.5MV‐Betatron
100,0
2.5MV
.65mA]
7.5MV
B [min @ 0.
10,0
7.5MeV‐Betatron
IP = STVI SNRmin=100
GV = 17000
GV = 17000
B
Filter = Cu 4mm/ no
Screen = Fe 0.8/ 0.8 mm
SDD = 1000 mm
Material = Fe
1,0
,
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
t [mm]
Exposure chart for IP ST VI, Dürr scanner CR35NDT and its setting.
 Measure the exposure time and mA for different tube voltages which are required to
achieve a reference grey value GVreference!
 Make a plot as shown

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Radiological
Methods
Selection of Detector Before Testing
Maximum Acceptable
p Image
g Unsharpness
p ((or SRb) of Detector
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Radiological
Methods
Measurement of Unsharpness and Basic Spatial Resolution
Duplex wire IQI
EN 462-5
EN ISO 19232-5
ASTM E 2002
• Determination of the basic

spatial resolution in each
production radiograph is not
required but recommended.
• SNRN controls
l sufficiently
ffi i l QI, 90 kV,
DD, smalll focus
the image quality at a given
pixel size.

ex Wire IQ
• The detector unsharpness

udetector shall be controlled
by reference exposures
1m SD
Duple
SRb  12  utotal
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Radiological
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Compensation Principle (II)
Compensation of high detector unsharpness by increased SNR
This is required if no detector is available with sufficient inherent unsharpness!
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Radiological
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Compensation Principle II
Interesting for detectors with higher unsharpness
Compensate missing spatial resolution by increased single

wire sensitivity:
• A lower spatial resolution i.e. a lower double wire value (D)
may be compensated by a higher single wire sensitivity i.e.
ie
higher single wire value (W).
• Max. two (or three) single/double wire values may be exchanged.
Not Required: OK: OK OK

OK by agreement
D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
Duplex wire score
W13 W14 W15 W16 W17
Single wire score
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Radiological
Methods
Test sample BAM 5
Proof of Compensation Principle (II) 8 mm steel
Detection of fine flaws with subpixel resolution
highpass
filtered
13
3 14 15
5 16
6 17 18
8 19
9 Wire O
EN 462-1
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
C1 film: W13 200µm
wire ~16 visible W14 160µm
100µm contrast resolution W15 130µm DDA (magnification
( ifi ti = 1):
1)
W16 100µm W19 = 50µm contrast resolution
W17 80µm
class B W18 63µm 200µm pixel size!
W19 50µm 25
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Radiological
Methods
Minimum Distance fmin
Class B Class A
f b
Class A: a = 7,5
Class B: a = 15
 a  1/ 3
d t
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Radiological
Methods
Conclusions
• Digital radiography with CR and DDAs is on the way to substitute film radiography, similar to
digital photography.
• Image quality depends on the essential parameters for digital radiography:
• This are: (specific) contrast µeff, SNR and basic spatial resolution SRb.
• SNR and contrast sensitivity improve with exposure time, but above a detector specific
value the contrast sensitivity does not change significantly anymore.
• The new practice for Computed Radiography (CR) and Digital Radiography with DDA’s is
proposed in one standard document for weld inspection: EN ISO 17636-2.
• Wire and step
p hole value requirements
q are taken from EN 1435 for EN ISO 17636 p
part
1 and 2.
• SNRN or grey value (CR only) are used as equivalent value for film system class
selection and opt. density limits.
• Usage of duplex wire for system qualification and system selection is mandatory.
• Usage of flat cassettes and DDAs for curved objects with a new formula for calculation
of SDD is accepted.
• New revised unsharpness tables enable correct hardware selection.
• New compensation principles are described in the standard practice.
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Radiological
Methods
New Standards on Digital Industrial Radiology
EN 13068 Radioscopy
EN 14096, ISO 14096 Film Digitisation
EN 14784 CR ((2005)) Part 1: Classification of Systems,
y , Part 2: General
Goes to ISO, revision required principles, becomes ISO 16371
ISO 10893-7 (2010) Steel tubes – NDT of welds with DDA and (CR)
New ISO/DIS 17636-2 NDT of welds: CR and DDA to substitute EN 1435
prEN 16407 (2012): Practice with film, CR and DDA for double wall and
corrosion and wall thickness tangential technique
ASME (BPVC,S.V, Article 2) Radiography (film, CR, DDA and more)
ASTM CR (2005) Classification (E 2446-05), Long term stability (E2445-
Revision required 05), Guide (E 2007-10), Practice (E 2033-06)
ASTM DDA (2010) Characterisation (E 2597-07), Guide (E 2736-10),
Practice
act ce (E
( 2698-10),
698 0), Long
o g Term
e Stab
Stability
ty ((E 2737-10)
3 0)
ASTM DICONDE (2010) Standard Practice for Digital Imaging and Communication
(data format) Nondestructive Evaluation (DICONDE)
2663 08 E 2699
(E 2663-08, 10 E 2669
2699-10, 10 E 2738
2669-10, 10 E 2767
2738-10, 10 )
2767-10
28
ASTM E 2422-05, E 2660- Digital reference image catalogues, 28
8.3 ISO 17636:
Radiological
10, E 2669-10
Methods Radiographic Weld Inspection
light alloy, titanium and steel castings Ewert Stockholm - April 2013
End
uwe.ewert@bam.de
Uwe.zscherpel@bam.de
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Radiological
Methods

By Uwe Ewert, Uwe Zscherpel: Radiographic Weld Inspection Radiographic Weld Inspection

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The Conversion from Film to Digital Radiography

- EN ISO 17636 replaced EN 1435 in 2013!

CR: Mobile Orex Scanner

DDA: Amorphous Selenium Flat Panel, Agfa-NDT 3

• Shorter test and interpretation time

• New application areas due to

• No chemicals and dangerous

• Select right FFD  Select right SDD and

FFD – Film Focus Distance SNR – Signal to noise ratio

Notch visible! Notch not visible!

Contrast/Noise is high Contrast/Noise is low

See new training

Depends on Hardware: effective pixel size

Most important parameters that are regulated by this standard:

I. Minimum value for wire type or step-hole type Image Quality

II. Maximum image/detector unsharpness requirements (using a duplex

III. Choice of tube voltage or gamma source in function of object

IV. Exposure geometry

Step plates (USA)

Duplex wire for part 2

New Exceptions for Gamma

Selection of maximum tube voltage for

• Concept for SNRN

Normalized at constant contrast

contrast sensitivity changes only marginally

 Make a plot as shown

• Determination of the basic

• The detector unsharpness

Compensation of high detector unsharpness by increased SNR

This is required if no detector is available with sufficient inherent unsharpness!

Interesting for detectors with higher unsharpness

Compensate missing spatial resolution by increased single

Not Required: OK: OK OK

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