# US 2017/0254718 A1 · Radiographic method and apparatus for detection of cracks, defects, or leak pathways in materials and assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254718 A1 - Document ID: US20170254718A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/481,656 - Filed: 2017-04-07 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-06 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Kevin O. Gaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254718A1 ## CPC - G01M 3/20: using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material - G01N 15/08: Investigating permeability, pore-volume, or surface area of porous materials - G01T 1/18: with counting-tube arrangements, e.g. with Geiger counters (tubes H01J47/08; {with alarm provision G01T7/125}) - G01N 23/00: Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 - G01N 2015/0813: {Measuring intrusion, e.g. of mercury} - G01N 2015/0846: {by use of radiation, e.g. transmitted or reflected light} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) ## Abstract Example systems and methods for testing materials and assemblies for voids, cracks, or other defects are provided. One example system for testing a part includes a chamber configured to accept the part, and a vacuum source connected to the chamber. The example system also includes a fluid source connected to the chamber and configured to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber. In addition, the example system includes a detector configured to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid in the part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for testing a part, comprising: exposing, in a chamber, a part having a permeable surface to a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure to enable the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into a crack or a void defect of the permeable surface of the part and become entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part; and after exposing the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure, detecting a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the part is a polymeric composite part comprising multiple materials, and exposing the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure comprises: enabling the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into the crack or the void defect between the multiple materials. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the part comprises materials having multiple density or inhomogeneous constituents, and exposing the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure comprises: enabling the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into the crack or the void defect of the multiple density or inhomogeneous constituents. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: exposing the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure by providing the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid from a fluid source to the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: reclaiming the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid from the chamber and providing the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid back to the fluid source via a pathway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: exposing the part to a vacuum before exposing the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part using an x-ray detector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication of the presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on detecting the presence of the radioactive or isotope labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part, inspecting the part using a secondary inspection technique. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary inspection technique includes one or more of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning to visualize the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a location of the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 12 A system for testing a part, comprising: a vacuum source connected to a chamber configured to accept a part having a permeable surface; a fluid source connected to the chamber and configured to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber to expose the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure and enable the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into a crack or a void defect of the permeable surface of the part and become entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part; and a detector configured to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising: a fluid reclamation container connected to the chamber and to the fluid source, the fluid reclamation container configured to remove the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid from the chamber and provide the removed radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid back to the fluid source via a pathway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the detector is connected to the chamber and configured to detect the presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part after removal of the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid from the chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the detector is connected to the chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the detector comprises an x-ray detector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the x-ray detector comprises a Geiger counter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising: an indicator configured to provide an indication of the presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 19 A controller comprising: a processor; and a computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions that are executable to cause the controller to perform functions comprising: causing a vacuum source to reduce a pressure in a chamber, wherein a part having a permeable surface is located in the chamber, causing a fluid source connected to the chamber to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber to enable the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into a crack or a void defect of the permeable surface of the part and become entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part, and causing a detector to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The controller of claim 19, wherein the functions further comprising: causing an indicator to provide an indication of the presence or absence of radioactivity or isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part.