Wrinkle Characterization and Performance Prediction for Composite Structures
First Claim
1. A method for calibrating an ultrasonic inspection system, comprising:
- (a) forming a multiplicity of reference standards made of composite material, each reference standard having at least one wrinkle;
(b) collecting ultrasonic B-scan data from the multiplicity of reference standards using an ultrasonic inspection system;
(c) cutting the reference standards to expose cross sections;
(d) imaging the exposed cross sections to produce optical cross sections;
(e) measuring features of the at least one wrinkle of each reference standard which appear in the optical cross sections to acquire optical cross-section measurement data; and
(f) correlating the ultrasonic B-scan data with the optical cross-section measurement data.
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Abstract
Methods that provide wrinkle characterization and performance prediction for wrinkled composite structures using automated structural analysis. In accordance with some embodiments, the method combines the use of B-scan ultrasound data, automated optical measurement of wrinkles and geometry of cross-sections, and finite element analysis of wrinkled composite structure to provide the ability to assess the actual significance of a detected wrinkle relative to the intended performance of the structure. The disclosed method uses an ultrasonic inspection system that has been calibrated by correlating ultrasonic B-scan data acquired from reference standards with measurements of optical cross sections (e.g., micrographs) of those reference standards.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating an ultrasonic inspection system, comprising:
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(a) forming a multiplicity of reference standards made of composite material, each reference standard having at least one wrinkle; (b) collecting ultrasonic B-scan data from the multiplicity of reference standards using an ultrasonic inspection system; (c) cutting the reference standards to expose cross sections; (d) imaging the exposed cross sections to produce optical cross sections; (e) measuring features of the at least one wrinkle of each reference standard which appear in the optical cross sections to acquire optical cross-section measurement data; and (f) correlating the ultrasonic B-scan data with the optical cross-section measurement data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. An ultrasonic imaging system having a B-scanning mode in which time and depth axes ranges and time-gate settings for a B-scan window are based on a correlation of ultrasonic B-scan data with optical cross-section measurement data.
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9. A method for non-destructive inspection of composite structures, comprising:
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(a) calibrating an ultrasonic inspection system based on correlation of ultrasonic B-scan data and optical cross-section measurement data acquired from reference standards made of composite material, each reference standard having at least one wrinkle; (b) collecting non-destructive inspection data from a part made of composite material using the ultrasonic inspection system after completion of step (a); (c) detecting the presence of a wrinkle in the part based on the non-destructive inspection data collected in step (b); (d) collecting ultrasonic B-scan data from the part using the ultrasonic inspection system; and (e) measuring dimensions of the wrinkle in the part based on the ultrasonic B-scan data collected in step (d). - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for non-destructive inspection of composite structures, comprising:
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(a) calibrating an ultrasonic inspection system based on correlation of ultrasonic B-scan data and optical cross-section measurement data acquired from reference standards made of composite material, each reference standard having at least one wrinkle; (b) collecting ultrasonic B-scan data from a part made of composite material using the ultrasonic inspection system after completion of step (a); (c) detecting the presence of a wrinkle in the part based on the ultrasonic B-scan data collected in step (b); and (d) measuring dimensions of the wrinkle in the part based on the ultrasonic B-scan data collected in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for predicting performance of a wrinkled composite structure, comprising:
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(a) calibrating an ultrasonic inspection system based on correlation of ultrasonic B-scan data and optical cross-section measurement data acquired from reference standards made of composite material, each reference standard having at least one wrinkle; (b) collecting ultrasonic B-scan data from a wrinkled composite structure using the ultrasonic inspection system after completion of step (a); (c) measuring dimensions of a wrinkle in the wrinkled composite structure based on the ultrasonic B-scan data collected in step (b) to obtain wrinkle feature measurements; (d) generating a structural model of the wrinkled composite structure based on the wrinkle feature measurements obtained in step (c); and (e) performing a structural analysis of the structural model. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification