Bondline Integrity Monitoring and Assessment (BIMA) System

The use of adhesive bonding has led to the development of novel aircraft components with and allows for the integration of different materials (composite-to-composite, composite-to-metal, skin-to-honeycomb, etc.). However, manufacturing flaws or in-service damage may degrade such joints. An issue with the use of adhesive-bonded structures in the aircraft industry is the lack of an acceptable non-destructive inspection (NDI) technique, which is part of the reason why adhesively bonded primary structures are also fastened with mechanical fasteners. Using built-in sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) can help overcome these inspection difficulties, and can allow monitoring of the bondline during manufacturing and throughout the structures'life from cradle to grave. Acellent Technologies proposes to develop an on-board integrated system for detection of manufacturing and usage related damage to bonded joints in aircraft. The objective of the program is to provide the Navy with a Bondline Integrity Monitoring and Assessment (BIMA) System for detection and quantification of degradation of the bondline in aircraft structures. This information can then be transferred to prognostic models to provide predictions of remaining strength and life, thereby facilitating the development of maintenance strategies to mitigate the effects of the degradation on the aircraft safety and reliability.