X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AEROSPACE ENGINE INSPECTION APPLICATIONS

摘要

Pratt & Whitney Canada installed a x-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scanner in the Materials Quality Assurance (MQA) Laboratory, Longueuil, Quebec in the early 1990's. It was originally used on development inspections related to wall thickness measurements of turbine blade and vane segment. However, advancements in computing capabilities combined with software enhancements have allowed a marked increase in the utilization of the CT scanner over the past 24 months. The capability to stack individual CT slice images and then produce a 3D model of the component or a flaw within the component has proved beneficial on many investigations. CT technology has found a niche application in support of failure investigation on engine accessory hardware such as sensors, speed probes, fuel manifolds, etc. Measurement of braze coverage on items such as fuel nozzles is another application where CT provides excellent image resolution on a small, highly complex, machined component.