ISO 15708-2:2017

ISO 15708-2:2017 - Overview

ISO 15708-2:2017 defines the general principles, equipment and sample considerations for X‑ray computed tomography (CT) used in industrial, non‑medical applications. The standard covers computed axial tomography, provides consistent definitions for CT performance parameters, and explains how those parameters relate to CT system specifications. It excludes other tomography types (e.g. translational tomography, tomosynthesis) and is intended to support reproducible, quantitative industrial imaging.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Fundamental principles
  • How X‑ray linear attenuation produces CT grey values and volumetric voxels; dependence on material density, atomic number and beam energy.
• Advantages and limitations
  • Benefits for volumetric inspection, non‑contact metrology and reverse engineering; known limitations such as artefacts, noise and the need for validation against absolute measurement methods.
• Main CT process steps
  • Acquisition: projection capture, reference (flat‑field) corrections, projection count vs. image quality tradeoffs.
  • Reconstruction: creation of 2D slices or 3D volumes from projections.
  • Visualization & analysis: quantitative extraction of dimensions, density and features.
• Artefacts and image quality
  • Common sources of artefacts, their effect on quantitative measurements, and the interplay of spatial resolution, statistical noise and reconstruction.
• Equipment and apparatus
  • Requirements and considerations for radiation sources, detectors, manipulators, and acquisition/reconstruction/storage systems.
• System stability & alignment
  • X‑ray stability, manipulator stability and geometric alignment essential for repeatable CT results.
• Sample considerations
  • Guidelines on sample size, shape, and material (penetration and required beam settings) to ensure full-angle transmission without detector saturation.

Practical applications - who uses it

ISO 15708-2:2017 is aimed at professionals involved in industrial non‑destructive testing (NDT) and industrial CT workflows, including:

• NDT engineers and inspectors
• CT system operators and laboratory managers
• Metrology and reverse‑engineering specialists
• Quality assurance teams in aerospace, automotive, electronics, manufacturing and additive manufacturing
• CT equipment manufacturers and system integrators

The standard helps users select appropriate CT equipment, design scan strategies, interpret system performance parameters, and mitigate artefacts for reliable dimensional and material analyses.

Related standards

• ISO 15708-1:2017 (Terminology)
• ISO 15708-3:2017 (Operation and interpretation)
• ISO 15708-4:2017 (Qualification)
• ISO 9712 (Qualification and certification of NDT personnel)

For implementation, consult the full ISO 15708-2:2017 text for detailed definitions and normative requirements.