PTT System Performance Evaluation in 3-D Imaging of Calibrated Defects: Pulsed Thermal Tomography Nondestructive Examination of Additively Manufactured Reactor Materials and Components
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Nuclear Science Engineering Division
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Nuclear Science Engineering Division; Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Nuclear Science Engineering Division; DePaul Univ., Chicago, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics
- Westinghouse Electric Company, Hopkins, SC (United States)
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology Nuclear Reactor Lab., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Research activity in this project is aimed at developing pulsed thermal tomography (PTT) architecture and algorithms for in-service non-destructive examination (NDE) of additively manufactured (AM) reactor components and materials. Recent advances in AM technology could allow cost-efficient fabrication of parts for operating reactors. However, because of stringent safety requirements, long-term performance of AM reactor components needs to be investigated before AM is widely accepted. Because of the complex shapes and significant surface roughness of components due to layer-by-layer welding process in AM, conventional methods might not be useful for in-service NDE of AM components. PTT is ideally suited for in-service NDE of AM metallic components because the method is non-contact, and offers high resolution #-D imaging of material flaws. The objective of this report is to provide initial evaluate of PTT performance sin detecting calibrated flaws in reactor structural materials. Preliminary COMSOL models were developed to conduct super computing simulations of PTT. In the experimental studies, high strength Stainless Steel 316 and Inconel 718 alloys were considered, as well as lower grade Stainless Steel 304, Nickel 200, and Hastelloy C276. Specimens investigated in this report consisted of approximately 1/4in-thick plates made out of these alloys using conventional manufacturing methods. The calibrated defects were created in the form of flat bottom holes (FBH) drilled in metallic plates. The diameters of FBH's varied from 1mm to 8mm, and their depths below the plate flat surface varied between 1mm and 6mm. The size of the smallest FBH was limited to 1mm because conventional mechanic drills were used for creating the holes. PTT imaging results have shown that 1mm-diameter FBH located 1mm and 2mm below the surface were detectable. Larger size FBH were detectable at greater depth. For example, 6mm-diameter FBH could be detected at 8mm depth. Image contrast varied slightly between the specimens, with the best reconstructions obtained in SS316 and C276 plates. In addition, a 2/3in-thick Inconel 718 nozzle plate produced with additive manufacturing method was imaged with PTT. It was shown that PTT can scan through the plate in approximately 20s. Several modes of 3-D data visualization were explored, including using ImageJ and MATLAB software packages.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies (NEET)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1508637
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-19/12; 151963
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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