Finite element approach to Bragg edge neutron strain tomography

Abstract

A number of techniques and applications in neutron imaging that exploit wavelength resolved measurements have been developed recently. One such technique, known as energy resolved neutron imaging, receives ample attention because of its capability to not only visualise but to also quantify physical attributes with spatial resolution. The objective of this article is to develop a reconstruction algorithm for elastic strain tomography from Bragg edge neutron transmission strain images obtained from a pulsed neutron beam with high resolution. This technique has several advantages over those using monochromatic neutron beams from continuous sources; for example, finer wavelength resolution. In contrast to the conventional radon based computed tomography, wherein neutron transmission revolves around the inversion of the longitudinal ray transform that has uniqueness issues, the reconstruction in the proposed algorithm is based on the least squares approach, constrained by an equilibrium formulated through the finite element method.

References

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