Luminescence-based early detection of fatigue cracks

Ultrasonic Monitoring of Fastener Holes Using Load Modulated Energy Algorithms for Early Detection of Fatigue Cracks

Ultrasonic techniques have the potential to provide early detection of fatigue induced cracks originating from fastener holes with the long term goal of structural health monitoring. This paper considers energy-based algorithms for analyzing ultrasonic waveforms obtained using fixed angle beam transducers in a through-transmission configuration. The transducers were located on either side of th...

Electromagnetic Detection of Fatigue Cracks under Protruding Head Ferromagnetic Fasteners

The detection of fatigue cracks under installed fasteners has been a major goal of the aging aircraft NDE community. The Sliding Probe, Magneto-Optic Imager, Rotating Self-Nulling Probe, Low Frequency Eddy Current Array, and Eddyscan systems are among the instruments developed for this inspection. It has been verified that the detection of fatigue cracks under flush head aluminum and titanium f...

Detection of Fatigue Cracks and Torque Loss in Bolted Joints

Fatigue crack growth during the service life of aging aircraft is a critical issue and monitoring of such cracks in structural hotspots is the goal of this research. This paper presents a procedure for classification and detection of cracks generated in bolted joints which are used at numerous locations in aircraft structures. Single lap bolted joints were equipped with surface mounted piezoele...

Detection of Steel Fatigue Cracks with Strain Sensing Sheets Based on Large Area Electronics

Reliable early-stage damage detection requires continuous monitoring over large areas of structure, and with sensors of high spatial resolution. Technologies based on Large Area Electronics (LAE) can enable direct sensing and can be scaled to the level required for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of civil structures and infrastructure. Sensing sheets based on LAE contain dense arrangements o...

Sonic Infrared Imaging of Fatigue Cracks