Thermography Imaging

Based on Equivalent
Wave Field Transform

Dr. Meir Gershenson

FOUNDER of DIFFUSION RESEARCH GROUP
OLEG VOLF P.ENG.
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, NDE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, EWI
[email protected]
(657) 203-4702

1
Equivalent Wave Field Transform
• Equivalent Wave Field Transform is unique mathematical algorithm which simplified imaging with
such as thermal propagation.
• By using relationships between wave propagation and thermal diffusive propagation, it was shown
that one can transform from diffusive propagation into an equivalent wave field. The transformation
results in sharper reflections with time delay proportional to the distance.
• US patent 10,089,734 “Equivalent wave field processing of thermal images”.
Dr. Meir Gershenson – Diffusion Research
• A thermal imaging were sample is heated and temperature sequence is recorded using IR camera.
Images are processed to obtain depth information.
• It is a noncontact method.
• Resolving the main holdback of current systems as flaw resolution, computation time, cost and
weight.

2
Equivalent Wave Field Transform

• The term equivalent wave field was introduced by the electromagnetic

geophysical community.
• Equivalent wave field is a wave solution sharing the same geometry and
boundary conditions as the thermal equivalent. If we have the equivalent
wave field corresponding to the observed heat pattern, we can analyze it
instead of the observed heat and taking advantage of the simple propagating
properties of the wave.

3
Some Math
The thermal heat equation is given by:
𝜕
k∇2 𝑇 𝒓, 𝑡 − 𝜌𝐶 𝑇 𝒓, 𝑡 = ℎ𝑑 𝒓, 𝑡
𝜕𝑡
2 𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2
∇ = 2 + + 2 (2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧
K is the thermal conductivity 𝜌𝐶 the heat capacity and ℎ𝑑 the thermal excitation. The
scalar wave equation is given by:
2 1 𝜕2
∇ 𝑥 𝒓, 𝑡 − 𝑥 𝒓, 𝑡 = ℎ𝑤 𝒓, 𝑡 (3)
𝑣 2 𝜕𝑡 2
The two equations are very similar, the difference is the order of the time derivative,
first order in the heat diffusion equation and second order in the wave equation

4
Some Math
Based on to Morrison at all3, when comparing equation 2 and 3
∞
𝑥𝑑 𝑡 = ‫׬‬0 𝑥𝑤 𝜏 × 𝑊 𝑡, 𝜏 𝑑𝜏 (4a)
𝑒 − 𝑠 𝜏 𝐻𝑑 𝑠
𝑊 𝑡, 𝜏 = ℒ −1 ,𝑡 (4b)
𝐻𝑤 𝑠

Were Hd(s) and Hw(s) are the Laplace transform of hd(t) and hw(t) and ℒ −1 is the inverse Laplace
transform operator. In discreet time domain equation 4 become a matrix multiplication.
𝒙𝒅 = 𝑾 ∙ 𝒙𝑤 (5)
In principle 𝒙𝒅 can be calculated from 𝒙𝑤 by inverting the matrix W, but the condition number of W
is extremely large and the inversion is an ill-posed problem. Ill posed problem is characterized by
high sensitivity to noise, small noise in the input will result in nonphysical big change in the output.
In such a case one uses either truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) or Tikhonov
regularization to invert the matrix W.

5
Common Analysis Methods
TSR - time domain (proprietary).
Lock-in – Frequency domain (most common).

PCT – Principal Component Thermography (computationally intensive).

EWFT – Equivalent wave field transform (Low Cost High Resolution Transient Thermography Imaging)

6
EWFT is a thermal NDT method
• EWFT is a thermal NDT method. It has a great potential to replace current most wide
used Magnetic Particle, Liquid Penetration and Eddy Current Testing methods for many
applications.

• Thermal NDT methods involve the measurement or mapping of surface temperatures as

heat flows to, from and/or through an object. The simplest thermal measurements
involve making point measurements with a thermocouple. This type of measurement
might be useful in locating hot spots, such as a bearing that is wearing out and starting to
heat up due to an increase in friction. In its more advanced form, the use of thermal
imaging systems allow thermal information to be very rapidly collected over a wide area
and in a non-contact mode. Thermal imaging systems are instruments that create
pictures of heat flow rather than of light. Thermal imaging is a fast, cost effective way to
perform detailed thermal analysis.

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 7

EWFT will resolve all following disadvantages of ET:
Eddy current inspection (ET) is one of several NDT methods that use the principal
of “electromagnetism”as the basis for conducting examinations. Eddy currents are created
through a process called electromagnetic induction. When alternating current is applied to
the conductor, such as copper wire, a magnetic field develops in and around the conductor.
Eddy currents are induced electrical currents that flow in a circular path.

EWFT will resolve all following Disadvantages Eddy Current testing:

• There is no real permanent record of testing.

• Sensitive for surface conditions

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 8

EWFT will resolve all following disadvantages of MPI:
Magnetic particle inspection (MPI) is a nondestructive testing method used for defect detection. MPI is one of
the most widely utilized nondestructive testing methods. MPI uses magnetic fields and small magnetic particles
(i.e.iron filings) to detect flaws in components. The method is used to inspect a variety of product forms
including castings, forgings, and weldments.
EWFT will resolve all following Disadvantages of Magnetic Particle Inspection
• Can be messy, especially in confined spaces
• Paint will have to be removed prior to inspection
• Demagnetization and post cleaning is a requirement
• Only surface and very near surface indications may be seen
• No permanent record of the inspection
• No tool for accurate flaw measurement
• Only flaw length can be measured
• Not sensitive to defects below surface
• User dependent

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 9

EWFT will resolve all following disadvantages of LPI
Liquid penetrant inspection (LPI) is a method that is used to reveal surface breaking flaws by bleedout of a
colored or fluorescent dye from the flaw. The technique is based on the ability of a liquid to be drawn into a
"clean" surface breaking flaw by capillary action Colored (contrast) penetrants require good white light while
fluorescent penetrants need to be used in darkened conditions with an ultraviolet "black light".

EWFT will resolve all following Disadvantages of Liquid penetrant testing:

• Extensive, time-taking pre-cleaning critical—surface contaminants can mask defects

• Sensitive to surface-breaking defects only
• Direct connection to the surface under test necessary
• No depth sizing
• Time-taking; post-cleaning also necessary
• No recordable data handy for progress monitoring
• User dependent

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 10

Pulse Eddy Current
Thermography with
Equivalent Wave Field
Transform

11
Pulse Eddy Current Thermography (PECT)

Induced eddy current in the

sample interacts with the
fault to divert the current
flow and affect the
temperature. Long wave IR
camera monitor the
temperature.

PECT isn’t new, but never

left the lab.

If Eddy Current can see it, Eddy Current Thermography can see it even better 12
Pulse Eddy Current Thermography

Current flow around the crack Early heat distribution cross section

13
System Components

ThermApp Hz $1700. 25Hz is marginal.

Compact Generator Flir Boson $3500. 60Hz. The leading brand.

14
Proof of Concept
Weld Sample:

• V bevel Carbon Steel Weld

• ¼” (6.35mm) wall thickness

• Two surface breaking flaws

• Lack of Sidewall Fusion
• Centerline Crack

15
Test Results - Lack of Side Wall Fusion
Sequence of images at equal time intervals

16
Test Results - Crack
Sequence of images at equal time intervals

17
Test Results - Crack
Sequence of images at equal time intervals

18
Test Results - Crack
(play short movie)

19
Length and Depth
• The length and depth of
the indications can be
measured.

• The depth can be

established as function of
time

• The flaw profilometry

potentially could be
achieved

20
Equivalent Wave Field
Transform Method on
Polycarbonate Sample

21
Modelling

TSR - time domain EWFT – Equivalent wave field transform

5mm
10mm

EWF + Synthetic Aperture 22

Experimental Setup
The goal was to build a low-cost system to demonstrate the capability of the EWFT method

Camera - Opgal Therm App Hz, highly reviewed smartphone add on long wave infrared
camera. Properties of the camera are: 384 x 288 pixels, 25Hz frame rate and NETD <0.07°C.

Heat Source - two 500W quartz halogen lamps with Arduino relay driver and a small
photographic studio lamp holder.

A low-end gaming laptop with Linux operating system was used for data collection and
processing

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 23

Experimental Setup
• To test the performance of the
method without complication
due to inhomogeneity of
composites material
polycarbonate sheet 3mm thick
with flat bottom holes has been
used.
• Test started with recording of
two seconds prior to excitation
of 10sec followed by additional
30sec of post recording.

24
Sequence of back projected images at 0.5mm intervals

Layout of flat bottom holes in 3mm polycarbonate sheet.

Viewed from the blank tested side

25
Conclusion
• Equivalent Wave Field Transform is a true 3D method.
• Principal components thermography (PCT) is known for its high resolution. PCT
suffer from few disadvantages, it is extremely computational intensive.
• Equivalent Wave Field Transform analysis results are very similar to PCT in
resolution.
• Equivalent Wave Field Transform is extremely efficient in term of computation, it
requires only single matrix multiplication.
• Taking advantage of the known depth it is possible to apply enhancement
developed for wave field such as delay and sum back projection.

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 26

Q&A
• How crack depth will be measured?
• Using delay and sum back projection (synthetic aperture), I used it for composite.
•
• What is potential accuracy?
• About 10%-30% of depth. There is an Austrian group they do the math quite good and that their
conclusion.
•
• What is the smallest and largest crack depth can be measured?
• smallest depends on camera speed my guess 0.5 mm with current camera.
• Largest will take few seconds to penetrate. It is not an issue.
•
• How much time will be required to complete the inspection of the single location?
• 5 seconds now
•
• What is the area (length, width) of the single location that could be inspected at the one time?
• 100 X 70 mm^2 now. Based on size of available ferrite core.

Insert confidentiality message here, if-needed 27

Oleg Volf P.Eng.
Principal Engineer,
NDE Technology Group, EWI
[email protected]
(657) 203-4702

28