Nondestructive Evaluation of Reinforced Ceramics for Radomes

Fiber reinforced ceramics for future generation radomes and suitable nondestructive test methods for their evaluation will be considered. Types, sizes, locations of possible flaws and anomalies in fiber architecture and other microstructural details of materials in use and of new materials under development will be identified. Critical sizes and other parameters for such anomalies will be determined based on analytical and/or semi-empirical estimates of their adverse effects on dielectric and thermomechanical properties of selected material systems. Few NDT methods, which may include ultrasonics, radiography, various microscopy, computed tomography, thermal imaging, etc., will be selected based on current knowledge of their capabilities (to detect flaws of expected sizes) and/or analytical simulations. Selected methods will be used in NDT on samples of procured materials and the results studied, compared and interpreted. Cost, advantages and improvements needed in the methods will be analyzed for selection of a couple of methods for possible prototype devices to be considered for Phase II.