Real-Time Nondestructive Testing of Composite Aerospace Structures with a Self-Adaptive Technique

Overview & Synopsis

In aerospace industry, composite structures under testing have complex and variable geometries. In this case, an optimal use of ultrasonic phased arrays requires specific algorithms in electronic systems in order to achieve rapid and reliable inspections. To fulfil such requirements, a new real-time adaptive inspection method is presented. This technique enables the transmission of an incident wavefront parallel to any complex surface. It allows to inspect a given component presenting variable geometries in its totality using a same transducer array. This is achieved by means of an iterative algorithm that does not require the knowledge of the geometrical properties of the component undergoing inspection. In this paper, the real-time adaptive processing is illustrated through acquisitions performed with different typical aerospace composite structures.