NDT Modeling tools applied to the aeronautic industry: examples in CIVA

Modern production of structural parts in the aeronautic industry is characterized by mechanically optimized structures that can be complicated to inspect due to complex geometries and/or complex materials. Developing NDT procedures is thus more challenging and could become costly without tools to help NDT design and performance predictions. Simulation is a major asset to help engineers to evaluate existing procedures, define new methods, perform analysis of non-trivial NDT data and train operators. CIVA is a software platform that offers simulation tools for major NDT techniques: Ultrasound, Guided Waves, Eddy currents, Radiography and Computed Tomography. For each technique simulation models are proposed with a special attention to time performances to make CIVA compatible with the use in an industrial context. In this paper we first present an overview of CIVA capabilities for the different NDT techniques. We then illustrate it with the validation of an ultrasonic procedure applied to an aircraft component. The demonstration is performed through a CIVA simulation-based POD study (Probability Of Detection), which allows to take into account uncertain or varying parameters of the defined procedure in the POD evaluation.