Methods and systems for inspecting bonded structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDavid W. Arnold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for inspecting a bonded structure, the bonded structure having a first structural member, a second structural member, and a bondline between the first structural member and the second structural member, includes projecting acoustic waves into the bonded structure at a non-zero angle relative to a normal axis defined by an external surface of the first structural member. The method further includes determining a magnitude of a total refraction of the acoustic waves after the acoustic waves pass through the bonded structure and comparing the magnitude of the total refraction to a predefined value.
Claims20
A method for inspecting a bonded structure, the bonded structure comprising a first structural member, a second structural member, and a bondline between the first structural member and the second structural member, the bondline comprising at least one of an epoxy adhesive, a polyurethane adhesive, and a toughened acrylic adhesive, the method comprising:
- acoustically coupling a first phased array ultrasonic transducer with an external surface of the first structural member, the first structural member comprising at least one of a composite material and a metallic material;
- acoustically coupling a second phased array ultrasonic transducer with an external surface of the second structural member, the second structural member comprising at least one of a composite material and a metallic material;
- projecting acoustic waves from the first phased array ultrasonic transducer into the bonded structure at a non-zero angle relative to a normal axis defined by the external surface of the first structural member;
- receiving the acoustic waves at the second phased array ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic waves being refracted as they pass from the first phased array ultrasonic transducer, through the bonded structure, and to the second phased array ultrasonic transducer;
- determining an actual refraction value of the acoustic waves received at the second phased array ultrasonic transducer;
- and
- comparing the actual refraction value to a predetermined refraction value.
A method for inspecting a bonded structure, the bonded structure comprising a first structural member, a second structural member, and a bondline between the first structural member and the second structural member, the first structural member and the second structural member comprising composite material, the bondline comprising at least one of an epoxy adhesive, a polyurethane adhesive, and a toughened acrylic adhesive, the method comprising:
- acoustically coupling a first phased array ultrasonic transducer with an external surface of the first structural member;
- acoustically coupling a second phased array ultrasonic transducer with an external surface of the second structural member;
- projecting acoustic waves from the first phased array ultrasonic transducer into the bonded structure at a non-zero angle relative to a normal axis defined by the external surface of the first structural member, the acoustic waves having a frequency in a range from about 1 MHz to about 20 MHz;
- receiving the acoustic waves at the second phased array ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic waves being refracted as they pass from the first phased array ultrasonic transducer, through the bonded structure, and to the second phased array ultrasonic transducer;
- determining an actual refraction value of the acoustic waves received by the second phased array ultrasonic transducer at the external surface of the second structural member after the acoustic waves pass through the first structural member, the bondline and the second structural member of the bonded structure;
- and
- comparing the actual refraction value to a predetermined refraction value.
A system for inspecting a bonded structure, the bonded structure comprising a first structural member, a second structural member, and a bondline between the first structural member and the second structural member, the first structural member and the second structural member comprising composite material, the bondline comprising at least one of an epoxy adhesive, a polyurethane adhesive, and a toughened acrylic adhesive, the system comprising:
- a first phased array ultrasonic transducer for acoustically coupling with an external surface of the first structural member, wherein the first phased array ultrasonic transducer is configured to project acoustic waves into the bonded structure at a non-zero angle relative to a normal axis defined by the external surface of the first structural member;
- a second phased array ultrasonic transducer for acoustically coupling with an external surface of the second structural member, wherein the second phased array ultrasonic transducer is configured to receive the acoustic waves after the acoustic waves pass through the first structural member, the bondline and the second structural member of the bonded structure;
- and
- a processor in communication with the first phased array ultrasonic transducer and the second phased array ultrasonic transducer, the processor being configured to:
- determine an actual refraction value of the acoustic waves received by the second phased array ultrasonic transducer;
- and
- compare the actual refraction value to a predetermined refraction value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.