ULTRASONIC GUIDED-WAVES FOR NDE OF ADHESIVELY BONDED STRUCTURES

A rather sophisticated guided wave technology is introduced to solve a practical aging aircraft problem of delaminations and/or corrosion de tection in either a lap splice joint or a tear strap. A Double Spring Hopping Probe is designed to achieve excellent contact on a curved air craft structures. A guided wave resonance tuning concept for frequency is also discussed with respect to attaining reliable bond integrity m easurements. A variety of experiments are discussed including experime nts performed during the field trial on a Boeing 737-222 aircraft.