Aircraft Hydraulic Tubing Inspection Using Conformable Eddy Current Sensor

Detection of shallow cracks and trenches (0.001 in. deep) in thin walled titanium hydraulic tubing is required. This is significantly beyond current NDI capabilities. The MWM-Array technology has demonstrated reliable detection of shallow cracks in titanium aircraft engine disks beyond conventional methods. This proposed Phase I SBIR will advance the MWM-Array sensor and measurement methods to provide enhanced sensitivity to small cracks and trenches sufficient to meet the stated requirements, using a multiple frequency, segmented field MWM-Array. This will enable detection of damage on both the I.D. and O.D. surfaces. The Phase I will focus on NDI advancement for I.D. damage, conceptual development of a rapid and portable scanner and generation of representative small crack specimens to support validation and adaptation of the NDI method. Crack specimens will be generated using JENTEK's proprietary surface mounted, fatigue monitoring MWM-Arrays developed in part under previous NAVAIR funding. The Phase I will also investigate the practical issues of scanning on the V-22 and in a manufacturing environment, including access issues, complex bends and interferences. Phase II will implement a field test prototype suitable for testing on actual V-22 hydraulic lines, while demonstrating capability on mock-ups with real crack specimens inserted at selected locations.