Designation: E 803 – 91 (Reapproved 2002)

Standard Test Method for

Determining the L/D Ratio of Neutron Radiography Beams1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 803; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope and constitutes a numerical definition of the geometry of the

1.1 This test method defines an empirical technique for the neutron beam. The L/D ratio required for a specific neutron
measurement of the effective collimation ratio, L/D, of neutron radiographic examination is dependent upon the thickness of
radiography beams. The technique is based upon analysis of a the specimen and the physical characteristics of the particular
neutron radiographic image and is independent of measure- element of interest. Use of this test method allows the
ments and calculations based on physical dimensions of the radiographer and the user to determine and periodically check
collimator system. The values derived by this technique should the effective collimation ratio.
be more accurate than those based on physical measurements, 5. Apparatus
particularly for poorly defined apertures.
5.1 NU Device (see Figs. 2(a), 2(b), and 3) employs neutron
2. Referenced Documents absorbing rods positioned at various distances from the image
2.1 ASTM Standards: plane. In practice this device consists of cadmium and nylon
E 748 Practices for Thermal Neutron Radiography of Ma- rods located in V-grooves accurately machined in the surface of
terials2 an aluminum channel section set at a 45 6 1⁄4 ° angle to the side
E 1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations2 support plate. Near the image plane end the V-grooves are
machined on 0.283-cm centers. After 21 V grooves, counting
3. Summary of Test Method one on the end, the grooves are machined on 0.707-cm centers
3.1 Determination of neutron beam L/D ratio using the NU to the source end. The 0.64-mm diameter cadmium and nylon
(no umbra) technique3 is accomplished by radiographing the rods are laid into the V-grooves and secured with neutron
NU device with the neutron beam to be measured and transparent adhesive tape. The aluminum channel is supported
subsequently analyzing the radiograph by one of three meth- by side plates to maintain the 45 6 1⁄4 ° angle relative to the
ods. Each of the three methods is based upon the determination image plane. While cadmium rods with diameters other than
of that point at which the umbral shadow width reaches zero. 0.64 mm may be used, the exact rod diameter must be known
See Fig. 1. A key feature of the NU technique is that L/D can and the depth of the V grooves must be adjusted accordingly.
be determined accurately without the need for expensive 5.2 A single A unit as shown in Fig. 2(b) is used for L/D
instrumentation. Neutron radiography practices are discussed values expected to be less than 150. Alternately, a single A unit
in Practices E 748 and the terms are defined in Terminology used with appropriate spacers may be used to accommodate a
E 1316. wide range of L/D values.

4. Significance and Use 6. Procedure

4.1 The quality of a neutron radiographic image is depen- 6.1 Place the NU device against the cassette with the finely
dent upon many factors. The L/D ratio is one of those factors spaced rods nearest the cassette.
6.2 Align the plane of the cassette perpendicular to the axis
of the neutron beam.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee E07 on Nondestructive 6.3 Expose the single-emulsion film and NU device for a
Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.05 on Radiology
(Neutron) Method.
time span that will produce a nominal background film density
Current edition approved May 15, 1991. Published July 1991. Originally of 2.5 6 0.4.
published as E 803 – 86. Last previous edition E 803 – 86. 6.4 Process the exposed film in accordance with the manu-
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03. facturer’s recommendations.
3
Newacheck, R. L., and Underhill, P. E., “The NU Method for Determining L/D
Ratio Of Neutron Radiography Facilities,” Aerotest Operations, Inc., Report A.O. 6.5 Analyze the resultant image in accordance with one or
77-27, June 1977. more of the three methods outlined in Section 7.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 E 803 – 91 (2002)

FIG. 1 Diagram of Zero Umbra Image Configuration

NOTE 1—Rods at “A” positions are 1 cm each side of center line (22 ea.)
NOTE 2—Rods at “B” positions are 2 cm each side of center line (9 ea.)
NOTE 3—Rods at “C” positions are 2.5 cm each side of center line (1 ea.)
NOTE 4—All dimensions from base line to reduce accumulative errors
NOTE 5—Rod arrangement shown for single system device. For an add-on device, to form a double system, extend the 11 spaces for 7.78 cm to 19
spaces for 13.43 cm and eliminate the close spacing (20 for 5.65 cm)
NOTE 6—Rods held tightly in position with one layer of transparent tape

2(a) Support Channel Subassembly with Rod Spacing

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2(b) L/D Apparatus Assembly

7. Data Analysis 7.2 Microdensitometric Analysis—The second data analysis

7.1 Visual Analysis—A visual determination of the L/D ratio method is based on a microdensitometric scan across the
can be made directly from the neutron radiograph. When cadmium rod images beginning with the “0” position rod
observing the individual rod images, the umbral image can be nearest the film. A typical scan is shown in Fig. 4. A
recognized as the “white” line along the center of the rod densitometer aperture of 20 3 300 µm and no horizontal
image. This “white” line will decrease in width for the rods expansion is suggested for this method. The value of b is
located farther and farther from the film. At some point the obtained from the intersection of a straight line originating
umbral images will disappear. Beyond this point a less intense from the tip (low film density) of the scan of the “0” rod and
white line will appear and increase in width with increasing rod a curved line through the tips of the remaining wave forms as
distance. Use of a 5 to 10-power magnifier will aid in shown in Fig. 4. This method gives the best results for L/D
determining the point at which the “white” line disappears and ratios up to a few hundred. Higher L/D ratios cannot be
then increases in width with a decreased intensity. Based on the determined by this method due to the inability to obtain a stable
visual observation, determine the rod with zero umbral width wave form for large values of b.
and then determine its distance (b) from the cassette. The L/D 7.3 Alternative Microdensitometric Analysis—This method
ratio is as follows: also uses scanning microdensitometric traces for L/D ratio
L/D 5 ~b/rod diameter! determinations and is applicable for both high and low L/D
ratios. For this method the recommended microdensitometer

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FIG. 3 NU Device Pictorials

settings are: 20 3 300-µm aperture and 503 (or more) chart where:
recording expansion. These settings will produce individual U1 = umbral width of a rod near the image plane,
wave forms as shown in Fig. 5. At least two wave forms must U2 = umbral image width of a rod near the distance where
be scanned, one near the film plane and one other near the point the umbra disappears,
where the umbra disappears. Care must be taken not to go X0 = distance from the film to the rod chosen for U1, cm,
beyond the point where the umbral image disappears. Mi- and
crodensitometer settings must remain the same for all scans. X1 = distance between the two rods chosen for analysis,
For L/D ratios above 100, the “0” centimetre rod image should cm.
not be used because the unsharpness due to the film/conversion Since L/D = b⁄rod diameter , it is possible to determine L/D
screen combination overrides the unsharpness due to the L/D directly as follows:
ratio. For the lower L/D ratios (under ;100), the simplified
equation using X2 and U0 for the “0” rod image may be used FU1X1
G
L/D 5 U 2 U 1 X0 / rod diameter
1 2
with good results. For low L/D ratios (<100) the following equation may be
7.3.1 To determine the value of b it is necessary to measure used:
the umbral image width for the two rods selected. This
dimension is measured along a horizontal line (parallel to
background) through the average of the low-density scan of the
FU0X2
G
L/D 5 L/D 5 U 2 U / rod diameter
0 2

individual wave form. The desired dimension is the distance where:

between the intersections of this horizontal line with lines U0 = umbral image of a rod adjacent to the cassette
drawn through the two sides of the wave form. The measure- window and
ment may be centimetres or inches and need not be converted X2 = distance from cassette to rod U2.
to the unmagnified value. 7.3.3 The highest degree of accuracy can be obtained by
7.3.2 Using this dimension, determine the value of b as measuring the umbral width of several rods. These measure-
follows (see Fig. 6): ments and their respective distances from the image plane are
b 5 ~U1X1!/~U1 2 U2! 1 X0 analyzed by a linear regression technique (or alternatively by a
best-fit curve of the plotted data) to determine the x-axis

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FIG. 4 Microdensitometer Scan 1:1

FIG. 5 Film Density Scans of Individual Cadmium Rods 50:1

intercept that is the value of b. L/D ratio is simply b/rod

diameter. This technique is recommended for L/D ratios above
200.
8. Keywords
8.1 beam collimation; L/D ratio; neutron radiography; ra-
diographic unsharpness; umbral shadow

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FIG. 6 Diagrammatic Math Model

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. THEORY

X1.1 The collimation ratio of a neutron radiography beam shadow will be cast as shown in Fig. X1.1.
is defined as the distance between the source and the image
plane (L) divided by the diameter of the source (D). Since the X1.2 For a given source diameter (D) and a given rod
source diameter (D) is typically large (>2 cm), and because diameter (d), there will be a rod to image plane distance (b)
materials with very high neutron attenuation coefficients are where the width of the umbral shadow on the image plane will
available, a unique approach to L/D ratio determination is equal zero. For this particular distance a simple formula can be
possible. If an opaque rod with a diameter much smaller than developed to determine L/D ratio:
the source diameter is placed near the image plane, an umbral
DXYZ is similar to DSTZ

Therefore:
L/D 5 b/d

where:
L = source to film distance (Note X1.1),
D = source size = XY in Fig. X1.1,
b = object to film distance, and
d = object size = ST in Fig. X1.1.
NOTE X1.1—When b << L, L > L − B. Therefore L may also be
considered Source to Object Distance. Thus, if the rod diameter is known,
the L/D ratio can be calculated because the value of b can be determined
from a neutron radiograph of a system of rods.

FIG. X1.1 Zero Umbra Geometry

X2. ACCURACY

X2.1 The NU method for determining L/D ratios is particu- on the film density of the cadmium rods. (4) applies primarily
larly accurate in the normal range of L/D ratios used for to the method of L/D determination using a 1:1 microdensito-
neutron radiography, that is, 20 to 250. Major sources of meter scan of all rods.
inaccuracy are (1) the variations in the cadmium rod diameter;
(2) the variations of conversion screen to centerline of first rod X2.2 Use of the linear regression analysis of individual rod
distances; (3) the inherent unsharpness of the film/conversion umbral image measurements should provide accuracies of ;2
screen system; and (4) the effect of conversion screen gamma to 3 % for L/D ratios up to 1000 assuming the cadmium rod

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diameter is accurately known. Any of the analysis techniques with facilities having well defined geometrical configurations.
utilizing microdensitometer scans should provide an accuracy The most significant point to be considered in the use of the
of ;5 % for L/D ratios up to 250 and the visual observation is NU method for determining L/D ratios is that the image is a
equally accurate when interpreted by a trained film reader. true indicator. If the values of L/D determined by the NU
method disagree with the values determined by geometrical
X2.3 The visual determination has certain limitations fixed
calculations based on alleged source size and source to film
by rod spacing. For example, if the umbral image is observed
distances, it is most probable that the NU method values are
at 4 cm but is not visible in the 4.5-cm rod image, one can only
more accurate. One should proceed to analyze the source
say that the L/D lies between (4/0.064) and (4.5/0.064) or 62.5
configuration with pinhole techniques to locate source leakage
and 70.3. The accuracy is therefore limited to 12.5 %. Simi-
or other problems should the values differ widely. The tech-
larly at an L/D of 20, because the cadmium rods are spaced at
0.2 cm, the best visual accuracy is limited to 16.7 % (between nique has been found to be equally accurate for circular or
18.75 and 21.87 L/D). square aperture configurations. In the case of a rectangular or
oval shaped aperture, the NU device will indicate the L/D ratio
X2.4 The accuracies noted above have been experimentally normal to the rod direction. Two measurements are necessary
verified by analysis of neutron radiographic images produced to characterize the source.

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