Ultrasonic phased array inspection of aircraft turbine engine components

As a cost avoidance measure against expensive replacement of certain life-limiting components of turbine engines, the Engine Rotor Life Extension (ERLE) program was conceived by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to extend component life without increasing the risk of component failure. Nondestructive evaluation is one of many important components of ERLE which, if successfully implemented, will lead to an estimated $600 Million in savings over five years. In this Phase II SBIR effort, Acoustic Ideas, Inc. will contribute to enhanced nondestructive evaluation of embedded defects employing phased array ultrasound by working within the Turbine Engine Sustainment Initiative (TESI), a component of ERLE. Through proprietary Acoustic Ideas technology, the optimized use of phased array ultrasound in this effort is expected to lead to reduced detection limits, expansion of the inspection window to currently uninspectable geometries, and reduced inspection times.