Towards multiscale simulation of non-destructive tests in virtual and augmented reality

Most Non-Destructive Tests (NDT) rely on effects, which are invisible without special equipment - e.g. ultrasound, X-rays, electromagnetic fields. This fact complicates the understanding of the individual inspection techniques and their handling - e.g. during calibration, optimising and documenting of tests. Therefore, suitable methods and tools have to be developed in order to improve the understanding of NDT effects - e.g., by means of modelling of the processes with consequent simulation and visualisation of the results or the process model in virtual reality (VR). Uncomplicated accessibility and usability in both technical and economical sense are key aspects for these methods and tools in order to become generally accepted and well-established. One of the discussed problems is the simulation and visualisation of processes and even whole process chains, whereas the geometrical model data and the measurement data have to be overlayed for their better interpretation. A part of this problem - the overlaying of measurment data acquired by means of different techniques - is known as data fusion .