Methods for Corrosion Detection in Pipes Using Thermography: A Case Study on Synthetic Datasets

Abstract

This study reviews advanced methods for corrosion detection and characterization in pipes using thermography, with a focus on addressing the limitations posed by small datasets. Thermography captures temperature distributions on the surface of pipes to identify subsurface defects. The challenges of sequential data processing, neural network performance, feature extraction, and dataset size are discussed, with proposed solutions such as advanced algorithms, feature selection techniques, and data augmentation. Given the significant gap in the current literature, there is a need for larger, more diverse datasets to train more robust and accurate machine learning models. A case study combining experimental data with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations demonstrates that augmenting datasets with synthetic data significantly improves defect detection accuracy. These findings highlight the potential of integrating thermography with machine learning to enhance defect detection, providing insights for future research and practical applications.