Validation
CIVA is an expertise platform dedicated to Non Destructive Testing. It includes modeling, imaging and analysis tools, allowing to design and optimize inspection methods and to predict their performance for realistic configurations.
The software is based on semi-analytical methods aiming at providing quantitative results that can be compared to real inspections. The validation of the code is crucial for users as they have to know if the results obtained with CIVA simulations are reliable and accurate in the case of their configurations.
The validation of CIVA code consists in evaluating the reliability/accuracy of its predictions by comparing these predictions to reference results. In general these are obtained by experiments on mock-ups (experimental validation), but they may also be obtained using other codes or models (model benchmarking, which will be called “numerical” validation here).
The physical basis of the model will also be considered to define their domain of applicability and the reliability of its predictions. The limit of the models and approximations made for its implementation will be also discussed in order to help the user to use the software in a good way.
These validation works are funded by EXTENDE. The results have been obtained with the collaboration of the CEA LIST. The experimental measurements have been performed at the CEA facilities. EXTENDE will continue its effort every year to extend the validation cases and share these results with the CIVA Users community.
In the framework of CIVA validation, CEA participates each year to the Benchmark session of the QNDE conference, United States. You can find corresponding validation papers here. It is also to be noticed that the validations presented here are not exhaustive and does not include all the tests that are performed to validate a commercial version of CIVA before its release. For instance, the development and implementation of new models in CIVA include a validation study that is generally presented by the CEA in the framework of NDT conferences worldwide.
The validation cases correspond to UT, ET and RT inspection configurations.
Your contribution to Civa validation
As this is a good way to benefit from each other’s experiences, we would be very pleased to receive your contributions to these validation works.
If you have some validation cases and/or papers you would like to share with the CIVA users community, please do not hesitate and contact us so that we will upload them on our website.