Abstract: An ultrasound device for checking the quality of a composite material structure during the production cycle. Preferably, the device is incorporated into a production tooling performing the LRI process in which the composite material structure is placed between two molds during the production cycle. A layer of piezoelectric material is deposited on the face of one of the molds, opposite the face which is in contact with the structure. One face of an electrically insulating flexible material film is placed against the outer face of the piezoelectric material layer. The face of the film further includes conductive pads in contact with the piezoelectric material layer. Each pad is energized by electric voltage applied by a conductive strip. Each pad forms an independent ultrasonic transducer with the region of the piezoelectric material layer opposite of its placement.

Abstract: The device according to the invention consists of associating a laser inspection head including a source emitting a laser beam swept along a defined axis and a handling robot seeing to the movement and spatial orientation of parts whose structure requires inspection. The inspection head and the handling robot are configured and arranged across from one another such that the inspection head occupying a stationary position, the handling robot can move the part to be inspected across from the inspection head, such that the sweep of the laser beam combined with the movement of the part in a direction perpendicular to the sweeping direction makes it possible to inspect the entire surface of the part. In one particular configuration, the handling robot makes it possible to vary the orientation of the part relative to the direction of the laser beam so as to have optimal lighting of the part.

Abstract: A monitoring system comprising ultrasound sensors to monitor the structure of a composite material part during production is automatically calibrated using reference sensors mounted on reference blocks and placed in the production environment of the part. The automatic calibration comprises actuating a reference sensor to transmit an ultrasonic wave and measuring the amplitude of a reference echo constituted by the transmitted ultrasonic wave after it has passed through the reference block. The measured amplitude is compared to a set point value and the gain is applied to the reference sensor to obtain an amplitude value of the reference echo substantially equal to the set point value. The gain applied to the reference sensor is applied to the ultrasound sensors of the same type as the reference sensor. The operation is performed for each reference sensor, and successively for all of the stages of production of the part.

Abstract: The device according to the invention consists of associating a laser inspection head including a source emitting a laser beam swept along a defined axis and a handling robot seeing to the movement and spatial orientation of parts whose structure requires inspection. The inspection head and the handling robot are configured and arranged across from one another such that the inspection head occupying a stationary position, the handling robot can move the part to be inspected across from the inspection head, such that the sweep of the laser beam combined with the movement of the part in a direction perpendicular to the sweeping direction makes it possible to inspect the entire surface of the part. In one particular configuration, the handling robot makes it possible to vary the orientation of the part relative to the direction of the laser beam so as to have optimal lighting of the part.

Abstract: A monitoring system comprising ultrasound sensors to monitor the structure of a composite material part during production is automatically calibrated using reference sensors mounted on reference blocks and placed in the production environment of the part. The automatic calibration comprises actuating a reference sensor to transmit an ultrasonic wave and measuring the amplitude of a reference echo constituted by the transmitted ultrasonic wave after it has passed through the reference block. The measured amplitude is compared to a set point value and the gain is applied to the reference sensor to obtain an amplitude value of the reference echo substantially equal to the set point value. The gain applied to the reference sensor is applied to the ultrasound sensors of the same type as the reference sensor. The operation is performed for each reference sensor, and successively for all of the stages of production of the part.

Abstract: An ultrasound device for checking the quality of a composite material structure during the production cycle. Preferably, the device is incorporated into a production tooling performing the LRI process in which the composite material structure is placed between two molds during the production cycle. A layer of piezoelectric material is deposited on the face of one of the molds, opposite the face which is in contact with the structure. One face of an electrically insulating flexible material film is placed against the outer face of the piezoelectric material layer. The face of the film further includes conductive pads in contact with the piezoelectric material layer. Each pad is energized by electric voltage applied by a conductive strip. Each pad forms an independent ultrasonic transducer with the region of the piezoelectric material layer opposite of its placement.

Abstract: A system for controlling the quality of an object leaving a production facility. The system includes a chamber including an inlet port through which the object to be inspected is inserted into the chamber and at least one outlet port, the chamber having an inspection zone, a transport device for conveying the object to be inspected into the inspection zone and for releasing same through the at least one outlet port, a weighing apparatus for weighing the object in the inspection zone, an assembly for the contact-free dimensional measuring of the object in the inspection zone, and an assembly for analysing the structure of the object in the inspection zone by means of laser beams and/or X-rays. The chamber is made from a material that is opaque for the wavelengths of the laser beams during operation and the X-rays, in order to prevent any radiation leakage.

Abstract: Device and method for the nondestructive testing of a part made of a composite material reinforced with fibers, the device including: a) an energizing laser beam generator and elements for producing a photoelastic stress pattern of the surface of the part, in an energizing area, using the laser beam; b) elements for generating a first detection laser beam capable of illuminating the part in a target area; c) elements for generating a second reference detection laser beam, whose characteristics can be controlled independently of those of the detection laser beam; d) a two-wave photoreactive detector including a photorefractive crystal pumped by the reference laser beam; e) elements for collecting the beam reflected by the target area of the first detection laser and conveying the beam into the photorefractive detector; and f) elements for modifying the characteristics of the reference laser so as to adjust the bandwidth of the photorefractive detector.

Abstract: A device for implementing a method for pickling/stripping and for simultaneously non-destructively checking a part (100), the device including: a. an energizing laser head capable of generating pulsed energisation (212) on the surface of a part (100, 300) according to an energy spectrum adapted for the detachment of the particles (231) adhering to the surface; b. a detection laser head (220) connected to the energizing laser head and capable of measuring the response of the part to a pulse generated by the energizing head.