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Title: Calibration and error analysis approaches for optimum use of dual radiation gauges for on-line aluminum thickness measurement

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)
OSTI ID:5764901
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Aluminum Co. of America, Alcoa Center, PA (United States)
  2. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (United States)

In aluminum sheet metal production, it is essential to have the capability to measure sheet thickness with an accuracy of {approximately}0.1% for many commercial alloys. Nuclear gauges provide the primary means for these measurements, but they must be designed to be sufficiently insensitive to alloy composition (and density) variations, pass-line variations, temperature variations, and statistical counting rate fluctuations. It appears that properly designed dual radiation gauges may fill this need. A new generalized calibration and use approach is presented in this paper for dual radiation gauges that is capable of the required accuracy. Basically, it consists of using accurate semiempirical mathematical models of the gauges that include composition (and density) as well as thickness. Then the nominal (or best average) composition (and density) of the alloy being measured is used in the gauge models with experimental data on standards to provide the best possible calibration by appropriate least-squares methods. After these accurate semiempirical calibration models of the dual gauges are obtained, there are several possible methods of use in actual measurement.

OSTI ID:
5764901
Report Number(s):
CONF-910603-; CODEN: TANSA
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States), Vol. 63; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Orlando, FL (United States), 2-6 Jun 1991; ISSN 0003-018X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English