Backscatter x-ray development for space vehicle thermal protection systems

Journal Article · Thu Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3591893· OSTI ID:21511644

Bartha, Bence B; Hope, Dale; Vona, Paul; Born, Martin; Corak, Tony ^[1]

---

1. USA NDE, United Space Alliance, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (United States)

The Backscatter X-Ray (BSX) imaging technique is used for various single sided inspection purposes. Previously developed BSX techniques for spray-on-foam insulation (SOFI) have been used for detecting defects in Space Shuttle External Tank foam insulation. The developed BSX hardware and techniques are currently being enhanced to advance Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods for future space vehicle applications. Various Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials were inspected using the enhanced BSX imaging techniques, investigating the capability of the method to detect voids and other discontinuities at various locations within each material. Calibration standards were developed for the TPS materials in order to characterize and develop enhanced BSX inspection capabilities. The ability of the BSX technique to detect both manufactured and natural defects was also studied and compared to through-transmission x-ray techniques. The energy of the x-ray, source to object distance, angle of x-ray, focal spot size and x-ray detector configurations were parameters playing a significant role in the sensitivity of the BSX technique to image various materials and defects. The image processing of the results also showed significant increase in the sensitivity of the technique. The experimental results showed BSX to be a viable inspection technique for space vehicle TPS systems.

• OSTI ID: 21511644
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1335, Issue 1; Conference: Review of progress in quantitative nondestructive evaluation, San Diego, CA (United States), 18-23 Jul 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3591893; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
BACKSCATTERING
CALIBRATION STANDARDS
CONFIGURATION
DEFECTS
DISTANCE
EVALUATION
IMAGE PROCESSING
IMAGES
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
RESOLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPRAYS
THERMAL TESTING
TRANSMISSION
X RADIATION
X-RAY DETECTION
X-RAY SOURCES
AIRCRAFT
DETECTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS TESTING
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SPACE VEHICLES
STANDARDS
TESTING
VEHICLES