Effect of light source wavelength on surface defect imaging in deep-water concrete dams

This study explores the relationship between surface defect imaging in deep-water concrete dams and the wavelength of the light source, aiming to improve concrete defect image quality by varying the wavelength. The underwater optical imaging model of concrete dam surfaces was developed by applying the principle of object reflection and the underwater optical propagation model. This model reflects the effect of different light wavelengths on underwater concrete defect imaging. Through a self-designed underwater optical darkroom test platform, defect image acquisition tests were conducted under various color light conditions. The results reveal the significant influence of light source wavelength on images captured in both air and water. Furthermore, under the same initial illuminance, blue light significantly enhanced the average gray value, sharpness, contrast, and the number of feature points in underwater defect images, exhibiting increments of 2.97 times, 0.48 times, 2.70 times, and 2.95 times, respectively, compared to white light. These findings can serve as a reference for the selection of color-light for the non-destructive testing of surface defects in actual underwater concrete dams.