Nonlinear Ultrasonic Guided Wave System for Detection of SCC

Sudden structural failure caused by stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in aircraft components is becoming a severe safety threat to Air Force aircraft and other aviation vehicles. Detection of SCC often occurs late in the damage development cycle, in which fast-growing macroscale cracking has already developed. This significantly increases depot maintenance cost and can negatively impact aircraft availability and integrity. Therefore, early detection of SCC in an aircraft component is a key element of fleet maintenance operations that has a tremendous impact on mission readiness, safety, and life cycle cost. Earlier planning of maintenance operations will allow for more effective logistics and maximization of mission readiness. Guidedwave proposes a nonlinear ultrasonic guided wave technology for detection of SCC. A hand-held probe will be used for small and wide area identification of early-stage SCC on both flat and curved surfaces of aircraft components. The probe will detect early-stage SCC so that it can be repaired prior to macrocrack formation. The probe will then verify that the repaired area is free from SCC damage. Phase II will focus on development of a prototype portable SCC detection system for demonstration on multiple Air Force platforms.