PCRT for Improved Defect Detection, Sustainment Efficiency, and Fleet Readiness for Navy Landing Gear Components

Vibrant Corporation proposes to evaluate and validate Process Compensated Resonance Testing (PCRT) as a Navy-adapted Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) solution to improve defect detection, increase sustainment efficiency, and increase fleet readiness. PCRT has been successfully implemented in commercial aviation operations, proving highly effective at identifying defects in aircraft wheels without requiring stripping or disassembly. The team will evaluate PCRT applications for Navy-specific challenges; including detecting damage under anti-corrosion coated aluminum wheels and detecting heat damage within over-temperature titanium landing gear components. PCRT will evaluate coating and heat damage against fatigue, microstructure, and defects with Sandia National Laboratories. In parallel, the team will setup PCRT systems to collect data and configure inspections for use on Navy landing system components for platforms like the F-18 and E, 18G. Finally, the team will design a mobile PCRT system that can be used for future ship-based NDT testing deployment.