Improving the robustness of DI and PVI further using fast guided filter on radiographic images

To further improve the robustness of the weld defect index (DI) and peak-valley index (PVI), which are key indices for detecting weld defects in radiographic testing (RT) images accurately and reliably, a robust improvement method is proposed, in which a fast guided filter (Fast-GF) is introduced and its effect on the DI and PVI is analysed. In this paper, the principle of the proposed robust improvement method, the related theory of Fast-GF, the definition and the calculational method of the DI and PVI are systematically analysed. Taking some practical RT images from industrial welding as an example, smoothing experiments with different filters and comparative computational experiments for the DI and PVI both with and without Fast-GF are carried out. The experimental results show that the robustness of the DI and PVI is further improved by the proposed robust improvement method, which is a desirable outcome. More specifically, the values of the DI and PVI are computed accurately and reliably regardless of some non-uniform distribution of grey levels, noise, irregular surfaces and artefacts in the RT images.