Methods and Systems for Determining Bond Efficacy Using Metallic Reflectors and Ultrasonic Inspection
First Claim
1. A method of determining bond efficacy of a composite laminate, the method comprising:
- disposing a metallic substance on a bonding agent;
coupling the bonding agent having the metallic substance between a first layer of composite material and a second layer of composite material to form a composite assembly;
heating and curing the composite assembly to produce the composite laminate;
receiving a post-curing interference signal that indicates a post-curing degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite laminate;
comparing the post-curing interference signal to a pre-curing interference signal that indicates a baseline degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite assembly; and
determining the bond efficacy of the composite laminate based on comparing the post-curing interference signal to a pre-curing interference signal, wherein a reduction in constructive interference between the pre-curing interference signal and the post-curing interference signal is indicative of the bond efficacy.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an example, a method of determining bonding efficacy of a composite laminate is described. The method includes disposing a metallic substance on a bonding agent, coupling the bonding agent having the metallic substance between a first and second layer of composite material to form a composite assembly, heating and curing the composite assembly to produce the composite laminate, receiving a post-curing interference signal that indicates a post-curing degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite laminate, comparing the post-curing interference signal to a pre-curing interference signal that indicates a baseline degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite assembly, and determining the bond efficacy of the composite laminate based on the comparison, where a reduction in constructive interference between the pre-curing interference signal and the post-curing interference signal is indicative of the bond efficacy.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining bond efficacy of a composite laminate, the method comprising:
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disposing a metallic substance on a bonding agent; coupling the bonding agent having the metallic substance between a first layer of composite material and a second layer of composite material to form a composite assembly; heating and curing the composite assembly to produce the composite laminate; receiving a post-curing interference signal that indicates a post-curing degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite laminate; comparing the post-curing interference signal to a pre-curing interference signal that indicates a baseline degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite assembly; and determining the bond efficacy of the composite laminate based on comparing the post-curing interference signal to a pre-curing interference signal, wherein a reduction in constructive interference between the pre-curing interference signal and the post-curing interference signal is indicative of the bond efficacy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
a computing device having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to; cause a transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves into a composite assembly, wherein the composite assembly comprises a bonding agent inserted between a first layer of composite material and a second layer of composite material, and wherein a metallic substance is disposed on the bonding agent; receive a pre-curing interference signal that indicates a baseline degree of constructive interference resulting from the ultrasonic waves being transmitted into the composite assembly; cause the transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves into a composite laminate produced by heating and curing the composite assembly; receive a post-curing interference signal that indicates a post-curing degree of constructive interference resulting from the transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite laminate; compare the post-curing interference signal to the pre-curing interference signal; and determine a bond efficacy of the composite laminate based on comparing the post-curing interference signal to the pre-curing interference signal, wherein a reduction in constructive interference between the pre-curing interference signal and the post-curing interference signal is indicative of the bond efficacy. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions, that when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
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causing a transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves into a composite assembly, wherein the composite assembly comprises a bonding agent inserted between a first layer of composite material and a second layer of composite material, and wherein a metallic substance is disposed on the bonding agent; receiving a pre-curing interference signal that indicates a baseline degree of constructive interference resulting from the ultrasonic waves being transmitted into the composite assembly; causing the transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves into a composite laminate produced by heating and curing the composite assembly; receiving a post-curing interference signal that indicates a post-curing degree of constructive interference resulting from the transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite laminate; comparing the post-curing interference signal to the pre-curing interference signal; and determining a bond efficacy of the composite laminate based on comparing the post-curing interference signal to the pre-curing interference signal, wherein a reduction in constructive interference between the pre-curing interference signal and the post-curing interference signal is indicative of the bond efficacy. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification