LASER ULTRASONICS FOR THE EVALUATION OF COMPOSITES AND COATINGS

Citation
Hi. Ringermacher et Dw. Mckie, LASER ULTRASONICS FOR THE EVALUATION OF COMPOSITES AND COATINGS, Materials evaluation, 53(12), 1995, pp. 1356-1361
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Materials Science, Characterization & Testing
Journal title
ISSN journal
00255327
Volume
53
Issue
12
Year of publication
1995
Pages
1356 - 1361
Database
ISI
SICI code
0025-5327(1995)53:12<1356:LUFTEO>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Laser ultrasonics, an esoteric laboratory curiosity in the 1960s, is f inding its niche in industry today. The technique has evolved concurre ntly with advances in electronics and optics to achieve recent breakth roughs Two applications will be presented here: rapid inspection of co mplex shaped composite structures and in-situ monitoring of a coating process in hostile environments. The ability to inspect complex shapes rapidly with in-process capability is a clear cost benefit for the ND T community, where nondestructive testing has long been viewed as an a dded cost. Complex shape composite structures are now common, particul arly in the aircraft industry and may be critically load bearing. The ability to inspect virtually any shape without immersion is becoming e ver more important. The rapidly growing aircraft engine coating indust ry is moving toward higher temperature coatings and therefore more eff icient engine operation. Control of the coating process will be cost e ffective and there simply is no other way to quantitatively assess the process at temperatures as high as 1,400 degrees C (2,552 degrees F). These examples serve to demonstrate how a deep understanding of a com plex subject has led to timely practical applications.