Flawless composites

1996/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Materialak

Controlling parts made of composites through non-destructive testing has always been a problem. Ultrasounds are usually used, but the method is laborious because the parts must be analyzed point by point.

To check the composite parts of the Rafale warplane, the Dassault Aviation plant in Biarritz will have a much faster installation by the end of the year. Composite parts will be checked more accurately ten times less time. Biarritz engineers, in collaboration with the American company Batelle, have prepared the RTUIS (Real Time Ultrasonic Imaging Systems) machine. The ultrasound wave crosses the part to be controlled and spreads into the detector liquid (freon).

Another reference wave is directed to this detector. The binding of both waves results in a network of interference that raises the surface of the liquid. These surface lifts illuminate the laser beams and the image can be seen in the video camera. This way all defects of at least 2 millimeters can be detected. In the last three years tests have been carried out at a small facility in Biarritz and the results have allowed to prepare a larger machine.