Technical Diagnostics and NDT

LUCIE, a noncontact, non-destructive, laser-ultrasound machine, will be tested on a composite fuselage section at Technocampus in France to determine its production feasibility. On Oct. 20, Technocampus (Pays de la Loir region, France), the R&D teams of Airbus Nantes, EADS Innovation Works (IW) and Ecole des Mines, took delivery of LUCIE, a noncontact, non-destructive, laser-ultrasound machine that will be used to detect sub-surface flaws in composite aerostructures.

"ITT Corp. reported on Nov. 19 that it delivered its first major composite structural sponson subassemblies for the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.; Spirit AeroSystems has completed a mold/cure cycle for one the panels that make up the longest section of the Airbus A350 XWB’s all-carbon fiber fuselage" ITT Corp. (Salt Lake City, Utah) reported on Nov. 19 that it delivered its first major composite structural sponson subassemblies for the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. (a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., Stratford, Conn.). The delivery is the culmination of nearly three years of advanced design, development, testing and manufacturing activities, according to ITT. The CH-53K is the latest iteration of Sikorsky’s legacy helicopters, used by the U.S. Marine Corps since 1963. The K model, also known as Super Stallion, will offer significantly greater payload capacity than its predecessor and is currently the largest mariti...

Olympus, a world leader in nondestructive testing technologies and pioneer in industrial phased array ultrasound, is pleased to introduce a comprehensive inspection solution for circumferential welds in pipes with a diameter as small as 21.3 mm OD. A key component of the solution is the COBRA, a new manual scanner specifically designed to

WHEN they were built, no one thought they would fly for so long. But fitted with new engines and avionics, aircraft can be kept going for a very long time. The average age of the world’s airliners is more than ten years, with some passenger jets 25 years old or more. Military planes are more geriatric: the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter entered service 31 years ago and the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy 40 years back. Both are still going strong. Some Boeing KC-135 aerial-refuelling planes, which are based on the venerable 707, have been flying for over 50 years. Engineers reckon they could still be in the air when they are 80.  Figure 1: C-5 Galexy One thing that does ground old aircraft is the impending failure of their aluminium structure from metal fatigue. This begins in parts that are subjected to repeated strains, such as where the wings join the fuselage. Constant flexing of the structure concentrates stress, which leads to microscopic cracks. These cracks become more numerous and eve...