Paper number 1030
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STANDARDISED PROCEDURES FOR ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES |
W.R. Broughton, M.J. Lodeiro, G.D. Sims, B. Zeqiri, M. Hodnett,1 R.A. Smith and L. D. Jones2
1National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
2Defense Evaluation and Research Agency, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6TD,UK
| Summary | A wide range of inspection techniques are available for quality/process control and in-service monitoring of composite structures, of which ultrasonic C-scan inspection techniques are the most widely used. At present, there are no universally accepted standards or procedures for ultrasonic C-scan inspection of composites and, as a result of this absence, the reliability and traceability of this method have been limited. In response to this need, a programme "Standardised Procedures for Ultrasonic Inspection of Polymer Matrix Composites" was initiated. The programme has produced three procedures: for operating C-scan equipment, calibrating ultrasonic transducers and producing reference panels with simulated defects. This paper provides an overview of the research objectives and activities of the programme, discusses the current status of standardisation of ultrasonic C-scan procedures, the working procedures developed within the programme, the scientific output and the results of two national (UK) round-robin exercises. |
Keywords | composite materials, ultrasonic inspection, non-destructive evaluation, standards. |