This section presents a small part of our latest work, in the form of posters that have been presented at different conferences and meetings.

X-Ray micro-tomografy applied for defectoscopy purposes

Cross section of a Nb3Sn multifilamentary wire and filaments strand within the wire

Assessment of the Structural Integrity of a Prototypical Instrumented IFMIF High Flux Test Module Rig by Fully 3D X-ray Microtomography

Goal: to provide an universal tool for the NDT analysis of fusion material samples (both structural and tritium breeders) before and after various tests (including irradiation).

Optimization of X-ray micro-tomography for crystalline and sand rock analysis

3D rendering of large reconstructed volumes is carried out in the highly optimized VGStudioMax environment (Volume Graphics GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany). This program is exclusively designed for the analysis of 3D voxel data. It supports raytracing of volume data (volume rendering) that proved to be superior to simple isosurface plotting for the analysis of tomography data. The 3D plot is synchronised to 2D slices in 3 planes and support most advanced data exchange formats.

X-ray micro-radiography along the 19 mm side of the package. One can see the interface between CFC and Cu plate. Its structure suggests that “gains/droplets” of metallic Cu penetrate into CFC substrate in a “finger-like” patern. Also one can see the density variations within CFC layer.

An example of the application of the EGCT method for the detection of failed rods will be given. Here we present two examples of tomographic reconstruction and radial profiles for two CANDU fuel pins. The radial profiles are clearly different. In the intact rod maximum emission is localized in the core region of the rod while the failed rod shows a significant migration of the volatile Cs137 isotope towards cooler regions, in this case the pellet-clad interfaces. Indeed, if a fuel rod failure does occur, this causes a release of fission products into the primary coolant system and penetration of the coolant in the pellet interfaces. Complex chemistry is taking place. Same information is displayed, in a more subtle way, in the reconstructed cross sections above. Most visible is the elevated concentration of Cs137 isotope at the clad perimeter.

Paleontology, Geology and Antropology are evolving as new markets where preservation of the sample is critical. Reconstruction of Sepia cuttlebone

Experiments conducted at high resolution (using X-ray source diamond target).

With the acquired knowledge of the geometrical and density accuracy, the cone beam prototype tomograph was used to determine the gas distribution in actual bubbly flow. The main goal of these measurements was to analyze a few known patterns in comparison with previous X-ray tomography studies [e.g. Cherdron 1998]. Here we present a typical example of upward bubbly flow. For the upward flow example the main interest was to generate a wallpeaked gas distribution and to determine its characteristics with the improved geometrical resolution of the present instrument.