Advanced Ultrasonic NDE of Composite Airframe Components: Physics, Modelling and Technology.

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Transport)
Not Energy Related

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor R Challis
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
University of Nottingham

Standard

EPSRC

01 August 2006

31 July 2009

36 months

£338,866

Mechanical engineering

East Midlands

Engineering -- Materials, Mechanical and Medical Eng

Professor R Challis, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham

Dr A Kalashnikov, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham
Dr ME Unwin, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham

Project Contact, N D T Solutions Ltd
Project Contact, Qinetiq Fuels and Lubricants Centre
Project Contact, Airbus UK Ltd
Project Contact, DSTL - Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Future developments in large passenger aircraft will involve increasing use of fibre reinforced composite materials (FRCs) in place of metal components that currently form much of the vehicle structures. This will provide considerable weight savings and enable higher payloads and reduced fuel consumption, thus increasing commercial efficiency and reducing pollution. The extensive use of FRCs brings with it new challenges in the design of manufacturing processes and the testing of components andstructures when formed. This proposal aims to develop the science and technology of ultrasonic techniques to test the integrity of FRC components, both as an aid to process development and for the quality assurance of formed components. It will focus on the detection and characterisation of (i) microscopic porosity which reduces material shear strength, and (ii) anomalies in the lay-up of reinforcing fibres such as in plane and out of plane waviness. The results of the study will be integratedinto an advanced instrumentation platform which will be available for use by airframe manufacturers

14/05/07