Advances in Signal Processing for Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials

Book excerpt: Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) is now playing an increasing role in our modern global economy; in security sensitive industries, for instance. The complexity of the inspection task and either large or limited lot runs now require more operator-assisted or fully- automated signal processing. This book deals with both fields of expertise: NDE and signal processing. On the signal processing side, in the particular context of NDE applications, the following topics are discussed: sensor fusion, signal knowledge representation, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, computer vision, integration of numeric and non-numeric informations, parallel decomposition, noise processing and calibration of sensor devices as well as reliability of detection. Some hardware considerations are introduced as well, to discuss platforms on which processing is done. On the NDE side, applications include advances in holographic interferometry, microwave resonance or shearography and also on more traditional NDE techniques such as ultrasonics, infrared techniques, X-ray, computed tomography, Eddy currents. Inverse problems are also discussed. This book is required reading for those who already have some experience in one or both fields (signal processing and/or NDE).