Analysis and Visualization of Large X-ray CT Data of Composite Aeronautic Parts
Praktikum/BA/DA
Advanced composite components in aeronautics: The next generation of aircrafts aims to be made of more than 50% of composite materials. Therefore also structural and highly loaded propulsion components are increasingly manufactured using composites.
Top: A380 Horizontal Tail Plane (HTP) shell (images courtesy of Airbus);
Middle: composite rotor of a small aircraft (image courtesy of LA Composites);
Bottom: Characterization example of composites: Internal geometry of textile reinforcement + evolution of XCT image into a geometrical model (A. Vanaerschot, B. N. Cox, S. V. Lomov, D. Vandepitte et al Statistical description of the internal geometry of a polymer textile composite using micro-computed-tomography, ECCM-15, submitted)
Description
Recent years have seen a rapidly growing demand from aeronautic industry regarding function-oriented, highly integrated, energy-efficient and lightweight structures. In advanced composites a promising material was found, which integrates these characteristics allowing for continuously elevating the complexity of new components concerning shape and internal structure. The consequences of this increasing complexity are tremendously raising efforts in quality control, as conventional nondestructive testing methods are reaching their limits and become either extremely time-consuming or unusable for a full inspection.
The QUICOM project aims at taking the next big step in the development of aeronautic components by developing a new technology platform of highly detailed inspection methods in combination with advanced composite modeling and simulation. The project generates new concepts and methods based on cutting edge X-ray techniques, which aim to escalate conventional nondestructive techniques in aeronautics on the short run and to replace them on the long run. The QUICOM technology platform will allow a full characterization of all kinds of aeronautic specimens concerning material decomposition and geometric features within short time. The results are integrated into a feedback cycle, to boost composite development in the direction of saving weight without losing the demanded characteristics. In detail the following high level goals are targeted:
- Escalate and replace commonly used NDT techniques (e.g. ultrasonic inspections, micro cuts) by using X-ray computed tomography in aeronautics
- Develop and apply advanced X-ray computed tomography techniques for characterizing aeronautic composites and components
- Provide highly detailed, qualitative and quantitative 3D characterizations of inner and outer structures
- Advanced application specific simulation and modeling of composites materials and parts.
Open topics
Together with our company and research partners you will work on the creating and implementing the QUICOM technology platform. This comprehensive platform will contain all algorithms for data analysis and visualization. It is envisaged to develop methods and techniques for analysis and visualization of industrial XCT data in the following domains, which your topic will also come from:
- Topic 1) Visual analysis and data quantification for identification and measuring of irregularities, e.g. cracks, pores or inclusions. To achieve these characterizations, precise segmentation techniques are applied to identify and separate the surfaces between the phases present in the data. This includes morphological analysis, as well as surface and volume reconstruction for precise measurements. Techniques such as uncertainty visualization or statistical classification, as well as multidimensional transfer functions will be employed in order to provide insight into the data.
- Topic 2) Multi-modal data visualization and comparative visualization: For multi-modal data visualization the QUICOM technology platform will merge the data generated by XCT for structural analysis, the information calculated by multi energy XCT for material decomposition or reference input data from other domains (e.g., ultrasonic testing, microcuts, thermography). Furthermore individual concepts for data analysis will be developed, e.g. magic lenses, grey value profiles, parallel coordinated as well as blending or focus and context techniques.
- Topic 3) Advanced visualization and clustering concepts: Uncertainty visualization, multidimensional transfer functions, exploration of large parameter spaces as well as high dimensional feature spaces will be addressed in the context of porosity analysis, void or flaw detection. In addition, for classification of the generated data fuzzy classification methods and statistical analysis will be employed.
- Topic 4) Large data analysis and visualization: Novel concepts are required for very large dataset handling. Some of the topics addressed in this context are sparse grids and multi-resolution grids, allowing for efficiently representing a dataset consisting of areas with different resolutions, as well as GPU technology for efficient computations. Multiscale visualizations will be facilitated from the macro- to micro-domain. In the context of an overview of the complete part the envisaged visualization will allow to dig deeper to a region of interest, down to high resolution characterizations of the inner structure including inhomogeneities e.g., voids or pores.
What we offer...
- Interesting topics, applied research on real world problems
- Cooperation with our company and research partners
- Supervision and mentoring together with the CG Institute
What we expect...
- Good skills in C++ and software engineering
- Interested in scientific visualization
- Some experience in parallel programming, CUDA or OpenCL is advantageous
Additional Information
If you are interested, just contact me and we will find an interesting topic for you:
Christoph Heinzl
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria - Research & Development Ltd.
Stelzhamerstraße 23
4600 Wels/Austria
Tel : ++43-50804-44406
Fax : ++43-50804-944406
christoph.heinzl(at)fh-wels.at
http://www.3dct.at
http://www.fh-ooe.at
