Abstract: Corrosion Detection in Aircraft
Structures using Guided Lamb
Authors: A. Chahbaz, V. Mustafa and D.
Hay, Tektrend International (Canada) (Homepage)
Abstract
Non-destructive testing methods for rapid and reliable
corrosion detection in complex metallic assemblies is
an on-going challenge due
to practicalities of inspection and geometric complexity.
This work demonstrates
the benefits Lamb waves for detecting and locating corrosion in aluminum metallic structures (such as
aircraft structures).
We experimentally
elaborate
a
guided wave
testing method to determine quickly, cost-
effectively and reliably where these multilayered structurally significant parts are in need of repair. This
method is a global and non-conventional ultrasonic technique
to locate defects such as corrosion and disbonds.
To demonstrate detectability
and sensitivity of guided wave techniques, experiments were performed
on
1.0 mm thick
aluminum plate
s. Artificially induced thinning in designated areas of laboratory specimens
was performed chemically. Size and shape of the corroded areas were also varied.
The experimental and
analytical findings indicate that the most
sensitive
guided wave modes
to variation of the specimen thickness
and surface uniformity
were the lowest symmetric and antisymmetric modes (So and A1).