Simplified impedance plane bondtesting inspection
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJeffrey R. Kollgaard, Nancy L. Wood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An NDI system includes an ultrasonic transducer and an electronic device having an indicator, such as a light source. The electronic device energizes the transducer, receives sinusoidal signals from the transducer, determines impedance-plane coordinates corresponding to quadrature-phase separated components of the sinusoidal signals, and automatically activates the indicator if impedance-plane coordinates exceed a preset threshold. The system may be used in methods of inspecting layered structures such as composite aircraft components and repair patches applied to such structures.
Claims20
A method of inspecting a structure, the method comprising:
- coupling an ultrasonic transducer with a first structure portion free of defects and determining impedance-plane calibration coordinates corresponding to quadrature-phase separated components of a sinusoidal signal;
- lifting the ultrasonic transducer from the first structure portion and determining impedance-plane lift-off coordinates corresponding to quadrature-phase separated components of a sinusoidal signal;
- coupling the ultrasonic transducer with a structure portion to be inspected and determining impedance-plane inspection coordinates corresponding to quadrature-phase separated components of a sinusoidal signal;
- rotating the calibration coordinates, lift-off coordinates, and inspection coordinates at least until the calibration coordinates and lift-off coordinates reach a first axis;
- and
- activating an indicator if the rotated inspection coordinates are at least disposed above the first axis.
A method of inspecting an airplane structure, the method comprising:
- coupling an ultrasonic transducer with a first structure portion free of defects and determining impedance-plane calibration coordinates;
- lifting the ultrasonic transducer from the first structure portion and determining impedance-plane lift-off coordinates;
- coupling the ultrasonic transducer with an airplane structure to be inspected and determining impedance-plane inspection coordinates;
- and
- automatically determining whether a defect is present in the airplane structure according to the calibration coordinates, lift-off coordinates, and inspection coordinates.
A system comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer;
- and
- an electronic device comprising an indicator, the electronic device disposed in electrical contact with the ultrasonic transducer and capable of:
- energizing the ultrasonic transducer;
- receiving sinusoidal signals generated by the ultrasonic transducer;
- determining impedance-plane coordinates corresponding to quadrature-phase separated components of the sinusoidal signals generated by the ultrasonic transducer;
- determining whether at least one impedance plane coordinate exceeds a preset threshold;
- and
- automatically activating the indicator if the at least one impedance plane coordinate exceeds the preset threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.