3D thermal tomography with experimental measurement data

In this paper, feasibility of thermal tomography is tested using experimental measurement data. In the measurement setup, target volume is sequentially heated at different source locations and temperature evolutions are measured at several measurement locations on the surface of the volume. Based on these measurements, the thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity and surface heat transfer coefficient of the volume are estimated as spatially distributed parameters using the framework of Bayesian inversion. For the experimental measurements, a prototype measurement device was built and measurements were made of a mortar target containing an air filled cavity. As the estimates indicate the location of the cavity correctly, it is suggested that thermal tomography using experimental measurement data is feasible. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.