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4 results on '"aircraft-grade composites"'

1. Comparison of Cooled and Uncooled IR Sensors by Means of Signal-to-Noise Ratio for NDT Diagnostics of Aerospace Grade Composites

Author

Shakeb Deane, Nicolas P. Avdelidis, Clemente Ibarra-Castanedo, Hai Zhang, Hamed Yazdani Nezhad, Alex A. Williamson, Tim Mackley, Xavier Maldague, Antonios Tsourdos, and Parham Nooralishahi

Subjects
active infrared thermography, pulsed thermography, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), UAV, aircraft-grade composites, Chemical technology, TP1-1185
Abstract

This work aims to address the effectiveness and challenges of non-destructive testing (NDT) by active infrared thermography (IRT) for the inspection of aerospace-grade composite samples and seeks to compare uncooled and cooled thermal cameras using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as a performance parameter. It focuses on locating impact damages and optimising the results using several signal processing techniques. The work successfully compares both types of cameras using seven different SNR definitions, to understand if a lower-resolution uncooled IR camera can achieve an acceptable NDT standard. Due to most uncooled cameras being small, lightweight, and cheap, they are more accessible to use on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The concept of using a UAV for NDT on a composite wing is explored, and the UAV is also tracked using a localisation system to observe the exact movement in millimetres and how it affects the thermal data. It was observed that an NDT UAV can access difficult areas and, therefore, can be suggested for significant reduction of time and cost.

Published
2020
Full Text
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2. Development of a thermal excitation source used in an active thermographic UAV platform

Author

Deane, Shakeb, Avdelidis, Nicolas P., Maldague, X. (Xavier), Ibarra Castanedo, Clemente, Williamson, Alex A., Ahmadi, Mohammad Hossein, Withers, Stephen, Rabearivelo, Hobivola A., Zolotas, Argyrios, Genest, Marc, Pant, Shashank, Tsourdos, Antonios, Deane, Shakeb, Avdelidis, Nicolas P., Maldague, X. (Xavier), Ibarra Castanedo, Clemente, Williamson, Alex A., Ahmadi, Mohammad Hossein, Withers, Stephen, Rabearivelo, Hobivola A., Zolotas, Argyrios, Genest, Marc, Pant, Shashank, and Tsourdos, Antonios

Abstract

This work aims to address the effectiveness and challenges of using active infrared thermography (IRT) onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform. The work seeks to assess the performance of small low-powered forms of excitation which are suitable for active thermography and the ability to locate subsurface defects on composites. An excitation source in multiple 250 W lamps is mounted onto a UAV and is solely battery powered with a remote trigger to power cycle them. Multiple experiments address the interference from the UAV whilst performing an active IRT inspection. The optimal distances and time required for a UAV inspection using IRT are calculated. Multiple signal processing techniques are used to analyse the composites which help locate the sub-surface defects. It was observed that a UAV can successfully carry the required sensors and equipment for an Active thermographic NDT inspection which can provide access to difficult areas. Most active thermographic inspection equipment is large, heavy, and expensive. Furthermore, using such equipment for the inspection of complex structures is time-consuming. For example, a cherry picker would be required to inspect the tail of an aircraft. This solution looks to assist engineers in inspecting complex composite structures and could potentially significantly reduce the time and cost of a routine inspection.

Published
2022

3. Development of a thermal excitation source used in an active thermographic UAV platform

Author

Shakeb Deane, Nicolas P. Avdelidis, Clemente Ibarra-Castanedo, Alex A. Williamson, Stephen Withers, Argyrios Zolotas, Xavier P. V. Maldague, Mohammad Ahmadi, Shashank Pant, Marc Genest, Hobivola A. Rabearivelo, and Antonios Tsourdos

Subjects
excitation source, aircraft-grade composites, UAV, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, signal processing, Instrumentation, Active infrared thermography
Abstract

This work aims to address the effectiveness and challenges of using active infrared thermography (IRT) onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform. The work seeks to assess the performance of small low-powered forms of excitation which are suitable for active thermography and the ability to locate subsurface defects on composites. An excitation source in multiple 250 W lamps is mounted onto a UAV and is solely battery powered with a remote trigger to power cycle them. Multiple experiments address the interference from the UAV whilst performing an active IRT inspection. The optimal distances and time required for a UAV inspection using IRT are calculated. Multiple signal processing techniques are used to analyse the composites which help locate the sub-surface defects. It was observed that a UAV can successfully carry the required sensors and equipment for an Active thermographic NDT inspection which can provide access to difficult areas. Most active thermographic inspection equipment is large, heavy, and expensive. Furthermore, using such equipment for the inspection of complex structures is time-consuming. For example, a cherry picker would be required to inspect the tail of an aircraft. This solution looks to assist engineers in inspecting complex composite structures and could potentially significantly reduce the time and cost of a routine inspection. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC): EP/N509450/1 and Innovate UK: 105625.

Published
2022

4. Comparison of Cooled and Uncooled IR Sensors by Means of Signal-to-Noise Ratio for NDT Diagnostics of Aerospace Grade Composites.

Author

Deane, Shakeb, Avdelidis, Nicolas P., Ibarra-Castanedo, Clemente, Zhang, Hai, Yazdani Nezhad, Hamed, Williamson, Alex A., Mackley, Tim, Maldague, Xavier, Tsourdos, Antonios, and Nooralishahi, Parham

Subjects
NONDESTRUCTIVE testing, DRONE aircraft, SIGNAL-to-noise ratio, DETECTORS, SIGNAL processing, THERMOGRAPHY, WING-warping (Aerodynamics)
Abstract

This work aims to address the effectiveness and challenges of non-destructive testing (NDT) by active infrared thermography (IRT) for the inspection of aerospace-grade composite samples and seeks to compare uncooled and cooled thermal cameras using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as a performance parameter. It focuses on locating impact damages and optimising the results using several signal processing techniques. The work successfully compares both types of cameras using seven different SNR definitions, to understand if a lower-resolution uncooled IR camera can achieve an acceptable NDT standard. Due to most uncooled cameras being small, lightweight, and cheap, they are more accessible to use on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The concept of using a UAV for NDT on a composite wing is explored, and the UAV is also tracked using a localisation system to observe the exact movement in millimetres and how it affects the thermal data. It was observed that an NDT UAV can access difficult areas and, therefore, can be suggested for significant reduction of time and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
Full Text
View/download PDF

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