Next generation automatic ply waviness detection and evaluation
Richard Freemantle1 and Tom Marshall2
1Wavelength NDT Ltd
2Transform NDT Ltd
This paper describes recent innovations in carbon fibre ply waviness evaluation that that authors have applied to deliver next generation automated ply waviness detection and evaluation using conventional phased array and TFM imaging techniques.
A complete automation solution for the inspection of complex shaped parts is presented using a 7-axis robot with high speed full waveform phased array data capture. Current aerospace qualified measurement techniques based on manual phased array B-scan analysis are compared to new techniques which automatically highlight and isolate the worst areas of waviness for the inspector. A technique is then presented for automatically evaluating the isolated waviness based on 2D and 3D processing of the local ply angles. The local ply angle data is then manipulated to deliver the required waviness parameters which are needed for sentencing/concession of the part.
The automated inspection hardware and software techniques presented in this paper offer a significant time saving in waviness detection and evaluation. The results are presented in a form that will allow simple extension of existing qualified manual waviness measurement techniques to deliver automated methods that will still meet any stipulated POD or measurement uncertainty requirements.
A complete automation solution for the inspection of complex shaped parts is presented using a 7-axis robot with high speed full waveform phased array data capture. Current aerospace qualified measurement techniques based on manual phased array B-scan analysis are compared to new techniques which automatically highlight and isolate the worst areas of waviness for the inspector. A technique is then presented for automatically evaluating the isolated waviness based on 2D and 3D processing of the local ply angles. The local ply angle data is then manipulated to deliver the required waviness parameters which are needed for sentencing/concession of the part.
The automated inspection hardware and software techniques presented in this paper offer a significant time saving in waviness detection and evaluation. The results are presented in a form that will allow simple extension of existing qualified manual waviness measurement techniques to deliver automated methods that will still meet any stipulated POD or measurement uncertainty requirements.
