Repair determination for heat damaged composite structures

• US 20070276627A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Westerman, Everett A.
• Application Number:
  US11/440,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

A system and method for assessing the ability to rework a composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency is provided. The method includes acquiring information related to the composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency; comparing the information of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency with heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures stored in a look up table; correlating the output of the compared information with material master curves; analyzing the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency to determine the remaining structural capability; determining if the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency requires immediate rework or replacement; and displaying the results.

Claims

1. A method for assessing the ability to rework a composite stricture with a heat induced inconsistency, the method comprising:

acquiring information related to the composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency;

comparing the information of the composite structure with damage a heat induced inconsistency with heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures stored in a look up table;

correlating the output of the compared information with material master curves;

analyzing the composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency to determine the remaining service life;

determining if the composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency requires immediate rework or replacement; and

displaying the results.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is in the form of photographs

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the information is compared by overlaying a picture of the composite structure with heat induced inconsistency on each of the heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures generating a list of possible matches.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the list of possible matches is manually filtered to determine the closest match.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the remaining service life of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency determines if the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency requires immediate rework or replacement.

2. The method of claim, further comprising:

creating the heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures comprising;

fabricating an composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency;

inspecting the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency; and

photographing the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the composite structure with heat induced inconsistency is inspected using a non-destructive inspection technique.

8. A system for assessing the ability to rework a composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency the system comprising:

an analysis module;

a database;

a compare module that communicates with a look up table in the database for comparing information of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency with heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures in the look up table; and

an output module, in communication with an output interface module within the analysis module, for displaying any matches.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the look up table comprises a first column and a second column, where the first column lists heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures and the second column lists the corresponding remaining service life of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the compare module overlays a picture of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency on each of heat induced inconsistency assessment signature generating a list of possible matches.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the list of possible matches is manually filtered to determine the closest match.

12. Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer-executable process steps for assessing the ability to rework of to a composite structure with a heat induced inconsistency, the computer-executable process steps executable to perform a method comprising:

acquiring information related to the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency;

comparing the information of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency with heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures stored in a look up table;

correlating the output of the compared information with material master curves,

analyzing the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency to determine the remaining structural capability;

determining if the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency requires immediate rework or replacement; and

displaying the results of the heat induced inconsistency assessment.

13. The computer-executable process of claim 12, further comprising:

creating the heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures, comprising;

fabricating an composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency;

inspecting the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency; and

photographing the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency.

14. The computer-executable process of claim 12, wherein the information is in the form of photographs.

15. The computer-executable process of claim 13, wherein the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency is inspected using a non-destructive inspection technique.

16. The computer-executable process of claim 14, wherein the information is compared by overlaying a picture of the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency on each of the heat induced inconsistency assessment signatures generating a list of possible matches.

17. The computer-executable process of claim 16, wherein the list of possible matches is manually filtered to determine the closest match.

18. The computer-executable process of claim 17, wherein the remaining service life on the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency determines if the composite structures with a heat induced inconsistency requires immediate repair or replacement.