Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
(OP)
Gentlemen,
I'm reviewing a patent for viability - is uses acoustic waves to detect faults in a structure such as an airplane wing. The invention uses a transducer to excite a composite structure and looks at the echo signature for anomalies.
This sounds like an old idea. Hasn't acoustic signature studies for structural integrety been done for a while?
Any input would be appreciated. For the curious amoung you, the patent number is 6,981,418
Thx
I'm reviewing a patent for viability - is uses acoustic waves to detect faults in a structure such as an airplane wing. The invention uses a transducer to excite a composite structure and looks at the echo signature for anomalies.
This sounds like an old idea. Hasn't acoustic signature studies for structural integrety been done for a while?
Any input would be appreciated. For the curious amoung you, the patent number is 6,981,418
Thx





RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
Acoustic/ultrasound inspection has been used for many years, so it isn't "new".
The patent in question could be considered "novel" in that it uses an existing inspection technique but adds a "turnkey" feature for analysing a structure remotely while minimizing expensive human labor.
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
That is good feedback and I appreciate it.
Flamefront
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
suggest You review the following..
ASTM: has a large number of specs related to Acoustic Emission testing. Search ASTM specs with Keywords "acoustic" and "emission"
ASME N-471 Acoustic Emission for Successive Inspections
SAE J1242 Acoustic Emission Test Methods, Information Report
ASNT 130 Vol 5 Sec 12 Acoustic Emission Applications in the Aerospace Industry
Regards, Wil Taylor
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
Excellent information - thanks
Flamefront
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
During the EMD phase of the F18-E/F flight test program, I used to see Boeing people performing, what I understood to be, ultrasonic scans of the composite structure.
The device I saw looked like a small 4 wheeled (toy truck) with an array of sensors. The sensor array oscillated back and forth as they rolled the truck over the composite surfaces.
There was a cable feed to a notebook computer that painted a very detailed color image on the screen in near real time.
These scans were conducted on a routine basis.
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
Thank you for the excellent responses to the question. This gives me good focus with which to evaluate the patent - as some of you state the novelty is in the racking of the transducer, and it sounds like from kontiki99 that some clever data acq engineers on the floor at Boeing figured this out already. I'll dig into that, it may be a "prior art" situation at that...
Thanks, guys
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
No, AE is different than ultrasonic (or acoustic) scanning.
AE relies upon the sudden release of a mechanical wave (due to plasticity or crack propagation) in a stressed structure. Hence, it requires the structure to have stresses (i.e. service stresses) imposed upon it. The sensor is placed in contact with the structure and detects mechanical waves propagating from any location in the structure. The structure itself is the wave source.
Ultrasonic scanning detects flaws (cracks, voids, unbonded layers) by sending and receiving mechanical waves. An external wave source is used, and the source can also be the detector. The structure does not have to be stressed.
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Acoustical Scanning of Airframes, etc
So yes the system is around a while......
Pim