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Title: Method for thermal tomography of thermal effusivity from pulsed thermal imaging

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1531553

A computer-implemented method for automated thermal computed tomography includes providing an input of heat, for example, with a flash lamp, onto the surface of a sample. The amount of heat and the temperature rise necessary are dependent on the thermal conductivity and the thickness of the sample being inspected. An infrared camera takes a rapid series of thermal images of the surface of the article, at a selected rate, which can vary from 100 to 2000 frames per second. Each infrared frame tracks the thermal energy as it passes from the surface through the material. Once the infrared data is collected, a data acquisition and control computer processes the collected infrared data to form a three-dimensional (3D) thermal effusivity image.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
Assignee:
UChicago Argonne, LLC (Chicago, IL)
Patent Number(s):
7,365,330
Application Number:
11/522,757
OSTI ID:
1531553
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2006-09-18
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Synthetic reference thermal imaging method patent April 2002
Method and apparatus for detecting normal cracks using infrared thermal imaging patent May 2004
System for generating thermographic images using thermographic signal reconstruction patent-application January 2005
Method for determining defect depth using thermal imaging patent April 2003
Material analysis patent March 2006
Synchronized electronic shutter system and method for thermal nondestructive evaluation patent March 2004
Method and apparatus for automated thermal imaging of combustor liners and other products patent February 2003
Nondestructive testing: transient depth thermography patent January 1998

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