Approach to AE Monitoring during the Rig Shop Testing of Large CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) AERO-Engine Components

摘要

The detection and location of damage as it occurs during the rig shop testing of large CFRP aero-engine components using multichannel acoustic emission (AE) is discussed. Attenuative isolation using multiple high frequency transducers shows promise as a means of locating the AE activity from large composite structures. Good immunity from background noise can be achieved. High rates of activity do not cause such a system to latch up. The reduction of channel costs is important for such a system to be practical. Effective means of characterizing material attenuation and in-situ sensitivity are central to the success of this approach. Scanned gas jet attenuation mapping and the concepts of preamplifier substations and disposable transducers are important steps towards the implementation of the attenuative isolation approach.