Specialists Training for the Radiation Type of Non-Destructive Testing Based on Digital Technologies
Authors: Kuvshinnikov V. S. , Kovshov E. E. 
Published: January 2024

The purpose of research is the development of application software, including VR-technologies, to increase the number of trained specialists in radiation type of nondestructive testing by reducing the per capita load on radiographic laboratories while maintaining the amount of practical training, acquired competencies and formed relevant professional skills.

Methods. Prerequisites for virtualization of the process of training specialists in nondestructive testing of structural materials and fabricated products are defined. The main factors of demand for industrial radiography simulator in relation to the practical part of the educational cycle on radiation type of nondestructive testing are considered. As a result of the analysis the most significant aspects of practical training, available for their virtual realization, are singled out. The results of software implementation of mathematical models of physical and physicochemical processes of ionizing radiation, attenuation and absorption of penetrating radiation within the scope of digital twin of radiographic image generation as a result of simulation of the technological process of radiation type of nondestructive testing are presented.

Results. Performed practical implementation of didactic materials in the form of hardware and software VR-simulator as part of digital educational environment to solve the problems of training, retraining, preparation for certification of personnel and providing admission of specialists to work on radiation type of nondestructive testing at facilities. Physical and technological aspects are analyzed, modeling, algorithmization and software implementation of VR-simulator are performed. A comprehensive approach to the creation of a learning environment with the use of digital technologies is presented. Considered are the main components, their goals and objectives. The structure of a practical lesson and illustrations of the training process in a virtual environment are given. The results of approbation of training programs with integration of classes in VR-simulator of industrial radiography have shown that the total time of practice of trainees increases by 40-55% with simultaneous reduction of per capita radiographic laboratory load by more than 25%. The main directions of development and scaling of software and hardware solution using VR-technologies are given.

Conclusion. The developed and tested hardware-software solution together with the results of scientific research suggests the possibility of application and development directions of the digital educational system with VR-environment. The proposed approach application will allow to reduce environmental and biomedical risks by reducing the requirements to safety of training with the use of software and hardware solution. Automation of testing task generation and knowledge control procedures on the basis of software tools and mathematical models application, including methods of artificial intelligence, will allow to achieve training term reduction and will contribute to further increase in the number of trained specialists in various types and methods of nondestructive testing. With the functional capabilities expansion and evolutionary development of hardware-software solution (industrial radiography simulator) on the basis of unified modular approach, software libraries and hardware-software interfaces, virtual simulator simplifies organization of the process of specialists training and knowledge control. Practical value of the digital virtual environment (VR-environment) development is revealed due to the transfer and scaling of the obtained hardware-software solution to other types and methods of nondestructive testing according to GOST R 56542-2019 " Non-destructive testing. Classification of types and method".