Complementary Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE)/Testing (NDT) Techniques for Stockpile Reliability Programs (SRP) of U.S. Army Tactical Missile Systems

The long-term readiness and operability of the U.S. Army tactical missile systems is critically dependent on the development and utilization of new methods to assure full life-cycle components’ health. Diffraction Enhanced X-ray Imaging (DEXI) technology has the potential to revolutionize x-ray imaging as it produces images with higher contrast than conventional radiography, while reducing the dose multiple times. Developing and utilizing DEXI as a new state-of-the-art NDE/ND will enhance the long-term readiness and operability of the U.S. Army tactical missile systems. In Phase I of this project, the team successfully determined the feasibility of an in laboratory DEXI to meet or exceed the capabilities of existing NDE/NDT techniques. DEXI’s superiority over conventional x-radiography to: a) detect flaws, and b) determine dimensions and location, in both carbon and non-carbon based materials was demonstrated. During Phase II of the proposed project, the team will develop, test and optimize a commercial prototype of a DEXI imaging system to detect and accurately determine dimensions of flaws and objects within different carbon based materials.