USE OF PHASED ARRAY ULTRASONICS IN AEROSPACE ENGINE COMPONENT INSPECTIONS: TRANSITION FROM CONVENTIONAL TRANSDUCERS

摘要

The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), under contract by the US Air Force, has designed and constructed a fully automated ultrasonic inspection system for the detection of embedded defects in rotating gas turbine engine components. The automated inspection system, designed and developed under the Turbine Engine Sustainment Initiative (TESI), makes use of phased array ultrasonic technology for increased throughput and detection capability. Current inspection requirements for aerospace applications, however, are based on the use of conventional transducers and time honored methodologies. The implementation of phased array technology into existing routine ultrasonic inspections requires a reinterpretation of inspection procedures and results from conventional transducers. This paper will discuss current progress in a study conducted to directly compare ultrasonic setups for phased array and conventional transducers. The inspection results obtained from both conventional and phased array systems under several setup conditions will be presented.