Thermographic detection and quantitative characterization of corrosion by application of thermal line source

K. Elliott Cramer; William P. Winfree; Dan Reid; Jane Johnson

doi:10.1117/12.339947

5 February 1999 Thermographic detection and quantitative characterization of corrosion by application of thermal line source

K. Elliott Cramer, William P. Winfree, Dan Reid, Jane Johnson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3588, Nondestructive Evaluation of Utilities and Pipelines III; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339947
Event: Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques for Aging Infrastructures and Manufacturing, 1999, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

Wall thinning in utility boiler waterwall tubing is a significant inspection concern for boiler operators. Historically, conventional ultrasonics has been used for inspection of these tubes. This technique has proved to be very labor intensive and slow. This has resulted in a `spot check' approach to inspections, making thickness measurements over a relatively small percentage of the total boiler wall area. NASA Langley Research Center has developed a thermal NDE technique designed to image and quantitatively characterize the amount of material thinning present in steel tubing. The technique involves the movement of a thermal line source across the outer surface of the tubing followed by an infrared imager at a fixed distance behind the line source. Quantitative images of the material loss due to corrosion are reconstructed from measurements of the induced surface temperature variations. This paper will present a discussion of the development of the thermal imaging system as well as the techniques used to reconstruct images of flaws. The application of the thermal line source, coupled with this analysis technique, represents a significant improvement in the inspection speed for large structures such as boiler waterwalls while still providing high-resolution thickness measurements. A theoretical basis for the technique will be presented thus demonstrating the quantitative nature of the technique. Further, results of laboratory experiments on flat panel specimens with fabricated material loss regions will be presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the technique. Additionally, the results of applying this technology to actual waterwall tubing samples will be presented.

Citation Download Citation

K. Elliott Cramer, William P. Winfree, Dan Reid, and Jane Johnson "Thermographic detection and quantitative characterization of corrosion by application of thermal line source", Proc. SPIE 3588, Nondestructive Evaluation of Utilities and Pipelines III, (5 February 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339947

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