RF Sensing for NASA NDE Applications
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) continues to push the boundary of manned flight. Current mission profiles include flights to the moon and mars. Many of these missions require advance manufacturing and planned off planet resource utilization. As NASA continues to develop highly advance materials and manufacturing techniques to meet these mission profiles, inspection of these increasingly complex parts has had to evolve as well. Additive manufacturing is coming to the forefront as a primary manufacturing technique but offers unique challenges when inspection and certification are required. NASA has been working diligently to be a leader in developing and utilizing inspection techniques capable of inspecting these highly advanced parts. Additionally additive manufacturing techniques can also be used to build parts in space and provides a vehicle for in-situ resource utilization for off world missions. As NASA and its commercial crew partners move forward inspection techniques will need to continue to advance to ensure safe manned space flight. In this talk NASA will highlight many of the advanced nondestructive evaluation efforts going on across the agency. As well as highlights for points of infusion for helping NASA meet it’s future missions.
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As the desired crack detection size is decreased and approaches the physical limitations of liquid penetrant inspection techniques, the approach of performing a probability of detection (POD) validation test at a single aspect ratio, and then extending the results to other aspect ratios based on equivalent area predictions may not be valid. POD testing for penetrant inspection of metallic pressure vessels and COPV liners should be performed at the bounds of the required range of crack aspect ratios.
Technical abstracts are presented for about 100 significant documents relating to nondestructive testing of aircraft structures or related structural testing and the reliability of the more commonly used evaluation methods. Particular attention is directed toward acoustic emission; liquid penetrant; magnetic particle; ultrasonics; eddy current; and radiography. The introduction of the report includes an overview of the state-of-the-art represented in the documents that have been abstracted.
This bibliography is comprised of approximately 1,600 reference citations related to four problem areas in the mechanics of failure in aerospace structures. The bibliography represents a search of the literature published in the period 1962-1976, the effort being largely limited to documents published in the United States. Listings are subdivided into the four problem areas: Hydrogen Embrittlement; Protective Coatings; Composite Materials; and Nondestructive Evaluation. An author index is included.
Some fundamental aspects of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation for material properties and microstructure assessment are given. Ultrasonic wave interaction concepts, some recent findings, and practical ramifications are illustrated. The concepts are discussed in nonmathematical, narrative form. Additional information can be found in the references cited herein.
A technique which involves the use of ultrasonic Lamb waves for assaying the structural integrity of adhesive bonds between layered materials on thin metal plates, particularly with regard to the Shuttle TPS, is presented. The Lamb waves are generated by a pulse impact, resulting in surface waves propagating radially at 2.4 mm/microsec. Trials were performed with the sound waves applied to samples, of aluminum similar to the Orbiter external skin, which were coated with Teflon and a RTV silicone screed. The goal was to detect localized debonded areas or potentially debonded areas, which, during reentry, could result in blistering of the aluminum skin. The ultrasonic probes are described, noting the usage of broadband ultrasonic harmonics and a minicomputer processor. The testing system was found to accurately identify weakened bonds by the ratio of high and low frequency component areas of the received signal of the Lamb waves sent across the surface.
High frequency, bulk-wave ultrasonics detected defects in manufactured SiC components. In addition, gas-turbine blades and vanes were examined by scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM). Comparative results obtained on simple shapes such as disks and bars by microfocus X-ray radiography, ultrasonics, scanning photoacoustic spectroscopy, and SLAM are discussed.
Radiographic, ultrasonic, and scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM) techniques were used to characterize silicon nitride and silicon carbide MOR bars in various stages of fabrication. Conventional and microfocus x-ray techniques were found capable of detecting minute high density inclusions in as-received powders, green compacts, and fully densified specimens. Significant density gradients in sintered bars were observed by radiography, ultrasonic velocity, and SLAM. Ultrasonic attenuation was found sensitive to microstructural variations due to grain and void morphology and distribution. SLAM was also capable of detecting voids, inclusions, and cracks in finished test bars. It was determined that thermoacoustic microscopy techniques have promise for application to green and densified ceramics.
Radiographic, ultrasonic, scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM), and thermo-acoustic microscopy techniques were used to characterize silicon nitride and silicon carbide modulus-of-rupture test specimens in various stages of fabrication. Conventional and microfocus X-ray techniques were found capable of detecting minute high density inclusions in as-received powders, green compacts, and fully densified specimens. Significant density gradients in sintered bars were observed by radiography, ultrasonic velocity, and SLAM. Ultrasonic attenuation was found sensitive to microstructural variations due to grain and void morphology and distribution. SLAM was also capable of detecting voids, inclusions and cracks in finished test bars. Consideration is given to the potential for applying thermo-acoustic microscopy techniques to green and densified ceramics. The detection probability statistics and some limitations of radiography and SLAM also are discussed.
Radiographic, ultrasonic, scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM), and thermo-acoustic microscopy techniques were used to characterize silicon nitride and silicon carbide modulus-of-rupture test specimens in various stages of fabrication. Conventional and microfocus X-ray techniques were found capable of detecting minute high density inclusions in as-received powders, green compacts, and fully densified specimens. Significant density gradients in sintered bars were observed by radiography, ultrasonic velocity, and SLAM. Ultrasonic attenuation was found sensitive to microstructural variations due to grain and void morphology and distribution. SLAM was also capable of detecting voids, inclusions and cracks in finished test bars. Consideration is given to the potential for applying thermo-acoustic microscopy techniques to green and densified ceramics. The detection probability statistics and some limitations of radiography and SLAM also are discussed.
High-frequency gain-compensating circuit designed for general use in nondestructive evaluation and ultrasonic measurements. Controls gain of ultrasonic receiver as function of time to aid in measuring attenuation of samples with high losses; for example, human skin and graphite/epoxy composites. Features high signal-to-noise ratio, large signal bandwidth and large dynamic range. Control bandwidth of 5 MHz ensures accuracy of control signal. Currently being used for retrieval of more information from ultrasonic signals sent through composite materials that have high losses, and to measure skin-burn depth in humans.
The reliability of microfocus x-radiography and scanning laser acoustic microscopy for detecting microvoids in silicon nitride and silicon carbide was statistically evaluated. Materials- and process-related parameters that influenced the statistical findings in research samples are discussed. The use of conventional x-radiography in controlling and optimizing the processing and sintering of an Si3N4-Si02-Y203 composition designated NASA 6Y is described. Radiographic evaluation and guidance helped develop uniform high-density Si3N4 modulus-of-rupture bars with improved four-point flexural strength (857, 544, and 462 MPa at room temperature, 1200 C, and 1370 C, respectively) and reduced strength scatter.
A review of research investigations of several ultrasonic evaluation techniques applicable to structural ceramics for advanced heat engines is presented. This review highlights recent work conducted under the sponsorship of and at the Lewis Research Center. Results obtained with scanning acoustic microscopy, scanning laser acoustic microscopy, photo acoustic microscopy, and scanning electron acoustic microscopy are compared. In addition to these flaw imaging techniques, microstructure characterization by analytical ultrasonics is described. The techniques were evaluated by application to research samples of monolithic silicon nitride and silicon carbide in the form of discs and bars containing naturally occurring and deliberately-introduced flaws and microstructural anomalies. Strengths and limitations of the techniques are discussed.