Fusion of multi-view ultrasonic data for increased detection performance in non-destructive evaluation
File(s)Data fusion v9 (post review).pdf (2.81 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
State-of-the-art ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) uses an array to rapidly generate multiple, information-rich views at each test position on a safety-critical component. However, the information for detecting potential defects is dispersed across views, and a typical inspection may involve thousands of test positions. Interpretation requires painstaking analysis by a skilled operator. In this paper, various methods for fusing multi-view data are developed. Compared with any one single view, all methods are shown to yield significant performance gains, which may be related to the general and edge cases for NDE. In the general case, a defect is clearly detectable in at least one individual view, but the view(s) depends on the defect location and orientation. Here, the performance gain from data fusion is mainly the result of the selective use of information from the most appropriate view(s) and fusion provides a means to substantially reduce operator burden. The edge cases are defects that cannot be reliably detected in any one individual view without false alarms. Here, certain fusion methods are shown to enable detection with reduced false alarms. In this context, fusion allows NDE capability to be extended with potential implications for the design and operation of engineering assets.
Date Issued
2020-11-25
Date Acceptance
2020-10-21
Citation
Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2020, 476 (2243)
ISSN
1364-5021
Publisher
The Royal Society
Journal / Book Title
Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume
476
Issue
2243
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/N015533/1
Subjects
01 Mathematical Sciences
02 Physical Sciences
09 Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 20200086
Date Publish Online
2020-11-18