Visual testing

methods, principles and

applications

Visual testing
History of visual inspection
source: US Air Force

Change of perspective

Many concepts are still the same:

source: ge-energy.com
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Visual testing
History of visual inspection

Visual inspection is

source: en.allexperts.com

source: stormthecastle.com

In modern days
source: 2physics.com

Visual testing
NDT definitions

some NDT terminology:

Indication
The response or evidence from an examination, such as a blip on the screen of
an instrument. Indications are classified as true or false. False indications are
those caused by factors not related to the principles of the testing method or by
improper implementation of the method, like film damage in radiography,
electrical interference in ultrasonic testing etc. True indications are further
classified as relevant and non relevant. Relevant indications are those caused by
flaws. Non relevant indications are those caused by known features of the tested
object, like gaps, threads, case hardening etc.
Interpretation
Determining if an indication is of a type to be investigated. For example, in
electromagnetic testing, indications from metal loss are considered flaws because
they should usually be investigated, but indications due to variations in the
material properties may be harmless and nonrelevant.
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Visual testing
NDT definitions

some NDT terminology:

Flaw
A type of discontinuity that must be investigated to see if it is rejectable. For
example, porosity in a weld or metal loss.
Evaluation
Determining if a flaw is rejectable. For example, is porosity in a weld larger than
acceptable by code?
Defect
A flaw that is rejectable i.e. does not meet acceptance criteria. Defects are
generally removed or repaired.

Visual testing
detection devices

The human eye:

source: mycustomeyecare.com

source: ocw.mit.edu

As a detector the human eye is extraordinary:

Visual testing
detection devices

The human eye - dark adaption:

source: www.yorku.ca/eye/darkadap.htm

Visual testing
detection devices

The human factor:

eye fixation of trained inspectors about 200 ms
when the same chip was judged more than once by
an individual inspector the consistency of judgment
was very high
consistency between inspectors was somewhat less
source: techpowerup.com

Schoonahd et al. Ergonomics 16:4 365379 (1973)

Visual testing
detection devices

Machine vision:

source: acquris.se

source: nomenclaturo.com
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Visual testing
detection devices

CCD-cameras:

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Visual testing
detection devices

CCD-cameras:

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Visual testing
detection devices

CCD-cameras:

source: edmundoptics.com

source: ocw.mit.edu

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Visual testing
detection devices

CCD-cameras:

source: edmundoptics.com

source: edmundoptics.com

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Visual testing
Light sources

Intensity spectra of light sources

Light bulb

source: inventorartist.com

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Visual testing
Light sources

Influence of colour on detectability:

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Visual testing
Light sources

Further options using light sources:

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Visual testing
inspection methods

devices used to magnify:

source: cacitches.com

source: tedpella.com

source: es.medwow.com

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Visual testing
inspection methods

Borescopes / fiberscope / endoscope:

source: expertgear.de
source: globalspec.com

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Visual testing
inspection methods

Structured-light 3D scanners:

source: wikipedia.com/Vanessaezekowitz

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Visual testing
inspection methods

Structured-light 3D scanners:

source: Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology's (CCAT)

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Visual testing
inspection methods

Structured-light 3D scanners:

P. Fechteler et al. ICIP2007 (2007)

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Visual testing
inspection methods

Structured-light 3D scanners:

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Visual testing
image analysis

Possible techniques from digital image processing:

Method

Example

Image rendering
Feature extraction

Pattern recognition

Classification

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Visual testing
Challenges

Some open challenges to machine vision:

source: University of Pennsylvania / J. Shi

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Visual testing
Challenges

Application to composite materials

Minakuchi et al. Comp. A 38:12 (2007)

Krger et al. Comp. Struc. 79:4 (2007)

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