Method and apparatus for evaluation and inspection of composite-repaired structures
AssigneeE-Systems, Inc.
InventorJ. H. Chung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for evaluation and inspection of a composite-repaired structure generates a frequency-varying electrical signal to test and evaluate the composite-repaired area. The electrical signal is converted into a mechanical signal and transmitted through the composite-repaired area of the structure. The transmitted mechanical signal is received and converted into an electrical signal for processing. The processed signal is compared with a baseline reference signal to determine whether the composite-repaired area is damaged or undamaged. The baseline reference signal is obtained at the time of the composite repair of the structure.
Claims6
An apparatus for testing and inspection of a composite-repaired area of a structure, comprising:
- a signal generator generating a test signal;
- means coupled to the structure and receiving the test signal from the signal generator for converting the test signal to a mechanical signal for transmission through a portion of the composite-repaired area of the structure;
- means coupled to the structure for receiving the mechanical signal transmitted through the structure and converting the received mechanical signal into a response signal;
- and
- a signal processor coupled to the means for receiving includes a filter and an integrator, said filter masks from the responsive signal a range of signals outside the frequency of the test signal generating a sine sweep response, said integrator integrating the sine sweep and outputs a display signal indicative of the present condition of the composite-repaired area of the structure for comparison to a baseline reference signal representing a previously repaired condition of the composite-repaired area.
An apparatus for testing of a composite-repaired area of a structure, comprising:
- a signal generator generating a first electrical signal having a frequency;
- a first transducer coupled to the structure and coupled to the signal generator for converting the first electrical signal into a mechanical signal for transmission through the composite-repaired area of the structure;
- a second transducer coupled to the structure for receiving and converting the mechanical signal into a second electrical signal;
- and
- a signal processor coupled to the second transducer, said signal processor includes a filter and frequency domain integrator, said filter masks from the second electrical signal a range of signals outside the frequency of the first electrical signal generating a sine sweep response, said frequency domain integrator integrating the sine sweep response to generate an output signal indicative of the present condition of the composite-repaired area of the structure for comparison to a baseline reference signal representing a previously repaired condition of the composite-repaired area.
An apparatus for testing and inspection of a composite-repaired area of a structure, comprising:
- a signal generator generating a test signal;
- means coupled to the structure and receiving the test signal from the signal generator for converting the test signal to a mechanical signal for transmission through a portion of the composite-repaired area of the structure;
- means coupled to the structure for receiving the mechanical signal transmitted through the structure and converting the received mechanical signal into a response signal;
- and
- an impedance analyzer coupled to the response signal and the test signal for measuring the impedance of the area and for generating an impedance versus frequency signal as a display signal.
A method for evaluation and testing of a composite-repaired area of a structure, comprising the steps of:
- determining a baseline reference signal from the composite-repaired area of the structure;
- determining an output signal from the composite-repaired area of the structure, said output signal measured at a time after the step of determining the baseline reference;
- and
- comparing the baseline reference signal and the output signal to ascertain the condition of the composite-repaired area of the structure;
- wherein the steps of determining the baseline reference signal and the output signal each includes:
- transmitting a signal through the composite-repaired area of the structure, further including the steps of:
- generating a first frequency-varying electrical signal;
- convening the first electrical signal into a mechanical signal;
- transmitting, at a first location on the structure, the mechanical signal through a
- portion of the composite-repaired area of the structure;
- receiving the transmitted signal, further including the steps of:
- receiving, at second location on the structure, the mechanical signal;
- converting the received mechanical signal into a second electrical signal;
- and
- processing the second electrical signal to generate the baseline reference signal or the output signal
- wherein the step of processing includes the steps of:
- filtering out from the second electrical signal a range of signals outside the frequency of the transmitted signal to generate a sine sweep response;
- and
- integrating the sine sweep response to generate either the baseline reference signal or the output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.