Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Noise Reduction Method for Ultrasonic TOFD Image Based on Image Registration

  • Published:
Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Influenced by random noises from inhomogeneous material scattering and fluctuation of detected electric signals, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ultrasonic time-of-flight-diffraction (TOFD) image decreases significantly. For the noise reduction of TOFD images, several D-scanned TOFD images with different distribution of noise characteristics are obtained through repeating detection and slightly and randomly changing the probe’s initial position each time. The registered images then are processed by shift-and-add (SAA) technique to reduce the noise level of the TOFD images. Besides, correlation image registration algorithm based on optimization method was established to avoid the shift of TOFD images due to slight change of probe’s initial position. Noises in the registered images show stochastic behavior at the same position. In order to verify reliability of the algorithm, an experimental TOFD detection system for weld defects has been designed to acquire and experiment with TOFD images. The experiment results have been evaluated in terms of cross correlation coefficient, SNR and standard variance of images. The results show that the proposed method could effectively enhance SNR of TOFD images and improve the ability to identify weld defects of materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Silk, M.G.: The rapid analysis of TOFD data incorporating the provisions of standards. In: 7th European Conference on NDT, Nice, France, vol. 1, pp. 25–29 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baby, S., Balasubramanian, T., Pardikar, R.J., et al.: Time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) technique for accurate sizing of surface-breaking cracks. Insight 45(6), 426–430 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Zuo, M.J., Wang, X.: Ultrasonic time-of-flight diffraction crack size identification based on cross-correlation. In: Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2008, CCECE 2008, 4–7 May 2008, pp. 1797–1800 (2008). doi:10.1109/CCECE.2008.4564854

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Nath, S.K., Balasubramaniam, K., Krishnamurthy, C.V., et al.: Detection and sizing of defects in complex geometry weld by manual ultrasonic time of flight diffraction inspection. J. Press. Vessel Technol. 131(5), 051501 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Al-Ataby, A., Al-Nuaimy, W., Brett, C.R., et al.: Automatic detection and classification of weld flaws in TOFD data using wavelet transform and support vector machines. Insight 52(11), 597–602 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhu, H., Yang, P., Cao, Y.: Local optimal threshold technique for the segmentation of ultrasonic time-of-flight diffraction image. Insight 53(4), 196–200 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kechida, A., Drai, R., Guessoum, A.: Texture analysis for flaw detection in ultrasonic images. J. Nondestruct. Eval. 31(2), 108–116 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Meksen, T.M., Boudraa, B., Drai, R., et al.: Automatic crack detection and characterization during ultrasonic inspection. J. Nondestruct. Eval. 29(3), 169–174 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Baskaran, G., Lakshmana Rao, C., Balasubramaniam, K.: Simulation of the TOFD technique using the finite element method. Insight 49(11), 641–646 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Baskaran, G., Balasubramaniam, K., Krishnamurthy, C.V., et al.: Ultrasonic TOFD flaw sizing and imaging in thin plates using embedded signal identification technique (ESIT). Insight 46(9), 537–542 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hoseini, M.R., Zuo, M.J., Wang, X.: Denoising ultrasonic pulse-echo signal using two-dimensional analytic wavelet thresholding. Measurement 45(3), 255–267 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen, T., Que, P., Zhang, O., et al.: Ultrasonic nondestructive testing accurate sizing and locating technique based on time-of-flight-diffraction method. Russ. J. Nondestruct. Test. 41(9), 594–601 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bates, R.H.T., Cady, F.M.: Toward true imaging by wideband speckle interferometry. Opt. Commun. 32(3), 365–369 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Labeyrie, A.: Attainment of diffraction limited resolution in large telescopes by Fourier analysing speckle patterns in star images. Astron. Astrophys. 6(1), 85–87 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jain, A.K.: Fundamentals of Digital Image Processing. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1989)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the China Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. SWJTU12CX088), and the authors wish to acknowledge them for their support. The authors also thank Southwest Jiaotong University NDT Research Center & Olympus NDT Joint Laboratory of Nondestructive Testing for their kind support in the experiment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Photoelectric Engineering Institute, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China

    Xiao-rong Gao, Yan Shen & Lin Luo

  2. Southwest Jiaotong University NDT Research Center & Olympus NDT Joint Laboratory of Nondestructive Testing, Chengdu, 610031, China

    Xiao-rong Gao & Yan Shen

Authors
  1. Xiao-rong Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yan Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lin Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Shen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gao, Xr., Shen, Y. & Luo, L. Noise Reduction Method for Ultrasonic TOFD Image Based on Image Registration. J Nondestruct Eval 32, 325–330 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10921-013-0185-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10921-013-0185-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation