6–10 Jul 2026
University of the Western Cape
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
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A Radiography Simulator for Design, Optimisation, Performance Evaluation, Experimental Planning, and Operator Training in Neutron and X-ray Imaging Systems

10 Jul 2026, 09:30
20m
Lecture Hall DL3 (University of the Western Cape)

Lecture Hall DL3

University of the Western Cape

Oral Presentation Track F - Applied Physics Applied Physics

Speaker

Robert Bellarmin Nshimirimana (The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation)

Description

Radiography is a non-destructive analytical technique that uses penetrating radiation such as neutrons and X-rays to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the internal structure of materials. The quality of a radiograph depends strongly on system design parameters, beam characteristics, and experimental configuration, making optimisation of radiography systems a complex optimization problem. To address this challenge, a neutron and X-ray radiography simulator tool has been developed to provide a virtual environment for radiography system design, analysis, optimisation, and operator training. The simulator models image formation using a ray-tracing approach combined with the Beer–Lambert Law to describe radiation attenuation through matter. The methodology enables evaluation of the Radiography Optimisation Problem by defining parameter search spaces, analysing the effects of setup parameters on image quality, and verifying the design of key radiography system components such as the radiation source, collimator, and detector. The software simulates radiographs of homogeneous materials representing different sample regions and automatically evaluates image quality, producing outputs suitable for spatial resolution analysis using the Modulation Transfer Function method. Benchmarking against experimental radiographs demonstrates good agreement between simulated and measured results, validating the modelling approach. The simulator further serves as a tool for experimental planning and operator training, reducing experimental costs and improving preparedness. This talk will present practical applications of the radiography simulator, highlighting its role in facility design, optimisation, radiography parameter analysis and training in neutron and X-ray imaging.

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Author

Robert Bellarmin Nshimirimana (The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation)

Presentation materials

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