Porosity inspection system for composite structures

A method for inspecting a composite structure comprising:

• sending a sound signal into the composite structure at a location on the composite structure;
• detecting a response sound signal to the sound signal sent into the composite structure at the location on the composite structure;
• identifying an attenuation in the response sound signal detected in response to the sound signal sent into the composite structure at the location on the composite structure;
• identifying a baseline attenuation value for porosity at the location on the composite structure;
• comparing the attenuation of the response sound signal with the baseline attenuation value for porosity for the location on the composite structure to form a comparison;
• generating an indication of whether additional evaluation of the location is needed based on the comparison of the attenuation in the response sound signal to the baseline attenuation value for porosity for the location on the composite structure, wherein the sending step, the detecting step, the identifying steps, and the generating step are performed for locations on the composite structure to form a number of indications of whether additional evaluation of the locations is needed;
• generating a number of images of the composite structure;
• and
• associating a set of graphical indicators on the number of images in areas corresponding to a set of areas on the composite structure needing the additional evaluation using the number of indications to form a map of areas on the composite structure needing additional evaluation using the number of indications.

An apparatus comprising:

• a number of transducers configured to send sound signals into the composite structure and detect response sound signals to the sound signals sent into the composite structure;
• and
• an analyzer configured to
• identify an attenuation in a response sound signal detected in response to a sound signal sent into a composite structure at a location;
• generate an indication of whether additional evaluation of the location is needed based on a comparison of the attenuation in the response sound signal to a baseline attenuation value for porosity for the location on the composite structure;
• generate a number of images of the composite structure;
• and
• associate a set of graphical indicators on the number of images in areas corresponding to a set of areas on the composite structure needing the additional evaluations using the number of indications to form a map of areas on the composite structure needing the additional evaluations using the number of indications.

An ultrasound inspection system for a composite structure, the ultrasound inspection system comprising:

• a number of transducers configured to send sound signals into the composite structure and detect response sound signals to the sound signals sent into the composite structure;
• and
• an analyzer configured to
• detect the response sound signals to the sound signals sent into the composite structure at locations on the composite structure;
• identify attenuations in the response sound signals detected in response to the sound signals sent into the composite structure at the locations;
• identify baseline attenuation values for porosity at the locations on the composite structure;
• compare the attenuations of the response sound signals with the baseline attenuation values for porosity for the locations on the composite structure to form comparisons;
• generate a number of indications of whether additional evaluations of the locations are needed based on the comparisons of the attenuations in the response sound signals to the baseline attenuation values for porosity for the locations on the composite structure;
• generate a number of images of the composite structure;
• and
• associate a set of graphical indicators on the number of images in areas corresponding to a set of areas on the composite structure needing the additional evaluations using the number of indications to form a map of areas on the composite structure needing the additional evaluations using the number of indications.