Abstract
The work explores the possibilities of application of ultrasonic testing in the assessment of fibre metal laminates. Basic problems concerning the use of ultrasonic methods in the research of laminates are explained, and methods for solving these problems are suggested. Tests were conducted using two phased array methods: ultrasonic pulse-echo and through transmission. The efficiency of both selected ultrasonic methods are compared with respect to detecting and dimensioning defects in laminate structures. Based on the analyses and proposed solutions, it has been proven that the developed through transmission phased array (TTPA) method ensures a much more effective, in terms of quality and quantity, assessment of the condition of hybrid laminates than conventional ultrasonic methods, irrespective of the degree of surface deformation and the type of laminate structure.
Highlights
Fibre metal laminates (FMLs) are widely used in the aircraft industry, e.g. in large fuselage elements of Airbus A380 [1, 2], due to their high static and fatigue strength along with high resistance to impact and corrosion
Two different non-destructive methods were used for aluminium/glass fibre (AGL) damage evaluation: the traditional ultrasonic pulse-echo (UT) method and a novel through transmission method, both used in phased array (TTPA) mode
The number of layers with various acoustic properties affecting the conditions of longitudinal wave propagation speed in FMLs is primarily associated with metal volume fraction
Summary
Fibre metal laminates (FMLs) are widely used in the aircraft industry, e.g. in large fuselage elements of Airbus A380 [1, 2], due to their high static and fatigue strength along with high resistance to impact and corrosion. Potential errors in their production and use can cause hidden or hardly noticeable damage in the structure of these composite materials, which may lead to significant deterioration of their strength parameters [3, 4]. Difficulties with signal identification from the opposite side of tested elements resulting from multiple secondary reflections and
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