This proposal is for a Phase II SBIR. The primary objective of the research is to develop a tomography gauge capable of making comprehensive, on-line measurements of hot-rolled sheet steel as it is being manufactured. Phase I research investigated the feasibility of this concept and was fully successful. The Phase II research will develop and demonstrate a prototype sheet steel scanner. X-ray source and detector technology will be optimized and candidate algorithms suitable for making precise, high-speed, limited- angle tomography measurements will be defined. A series of sheet steel phantoms, sufficient for exhaustive performance evaluation of the components will also be developed. This research could make a significant contribution to the technology of sheet steel manufacture.
