Abstract
The primary adhesively bonded structure technology (PABST) full scale demonstration component (FSDC) has completed four lifetimes of simulated service loads. It has been under constant surveillance during the test and has been subjected to periodic detailed non-destructive inspections of both metal and adhesive bondlines. The bondlines have been inspected using the Fokker and NDT-210 bondtesters. A total of 844 fabrication flaws of void or low bond strength were documented before testing was initiated. Though the fabrication and in-test inspections have been thorough and detailed, the methods used for checking the conditions of the adhesive were necessarily indirect, using ultrasonic techniques. Selected areas of the test article underwent a post-test inspection, including neutron radiography, ultrasonic C-scan, Fokker, and BondaScope bondtesters, Turco 5351 stripper, wedge crack, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and direct visual confirmation of the findings. Evaluation of pre-test and post-test inspection results showed excellent correlation. Typical flawed specimen confirmation is illustrated.
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