Aviation focused eddy current and ultrasonic scanner assessment
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Ultrasonic and eddy current C-scan images have been produced for non-destructive inspection (NDI) with laboratory scanners for over 25 years. In the last five years, portable mechanical scanner designs have been improved and modified so that they are suitable for application on aircraft structures. Eddy current and ultrasonic C-scan inspections are significant because they can be used for early detection of hidden damage. As an aid to the airline inspection industry, an evaluation of commercially available portable scanner systems and methodologies used for C-scan imaging of eddy current and ultrasonic inspection data was performed. Eight basic scanner designs were identified and scanner systems from eleven different companies were evaluated. Vendors of the equipment provided hands-on demonstrations on actual aircraft samples in the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Aging Aircraft Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center (AANC). From observations and information recorded during the demonstrations, capabilities and limitations of the design, portability, articulation, performance, usability, and computer hardware/software were tabulated.
- OSTI ID:
- 99218
- Journal Information:
- Materials Evaluation, Journal Name: Materials Evaluation Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 53; ISSN MAEVAD; ISSN 0025-5327
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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