Dual Beam microfocus high-energy tomography: Towards multimodal and faster laboratory experiments

This paper discusses the development of a Dual Beam microfocus high-energy X-ray tomography system for laboratory experiments, aiming to enhance temporal resolution and multimodal capabilities. Initially, X-ray computed tomography (XRCT) in materials science, particularly using synchrotron sources, provided valuable insights into microstructures. Digital volume correlation (DVC) emerged as a tool for measuring displacement fields during in situ XRCT tests. High-speed XRCT became possible with synchrotrons, but laboratory devices still face limitations due to moderate X-ray flux. This paper describes the design and implementation of a new dual high-energy X-ray tomograph with two twin beamlines. The paper also covers the first in situ dual-beam experiment involving the in situ compression test of an aluminium foam sample. It discusses calculating DVC displacement fields from radiographs, comparing them to control tomographic scans, and assessing their quality. The paper explores the potential for deforming initial scans using DVC fields, both from radiographs and tomographic scans. The approach shows reasonable quantitative agreement with control scans but does not capture rotational motion along the vertical axis.