Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically inspecting a component of a gas turbine engine at a centre frequency required for ultrasonic inspection of the component. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer and a waveguide. The ultrasonic transducer and the waveguide are mounted in a holder, the holder is movably mounted in a carrier, and the carrier is movably mounted in a frame. The waveguide has a first end, a second end and a surface. The waveguide is circular in cross-section, the surface of the waveguide between the first end and the second end is concave, and the waveguide reduces in diameter from the first end to the second end. The length of the waveguide is equal to or greater than 0.5 times and equal to or less than 3 times the wavelength of an ultrasonic signal at the centre frequency required for the ultrasonic inspection.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically inspecting a component of a gas turbine engine at a centre frequency required for ultrasonic inspection of the component. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer and a waveguide. The ultrasonic transducer and the waveguide are mounted in a holder, the holder is movably mounted in a carrier, and the carrier is movably mounted in a frame. The waveguide has a first end, a second end and a surface. The waveguide is circular in cross-section, the surface of the waveguide between the first end and the second end is concave, and the waveguide reduces in diameter from the first end to the second end. The length of the waveguide is equal to or greater than 0.5 times and equal to or less than 3 times the wavelength of an ultrasonic signal at the centre frequency required for the ultrasonic inspection.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a fiber reinforced resin matrix composite structure, the method including: providing a composite structure having one or more holes formed therein, and feeding a reinforcement rod through a passageway having one or more walls defining an inlet to the passageway. The inlet to the passageway is dimensioned to prevent a rod having a maximum cross sectional dimension greater than a predetermined dimension from passing through the passageway. In the event of the rod impacting the wall defining the inlet to the passageway, operation of the rig is stopped. In the event of the rod passing through the passageway without impacting the wall defining the inlet to the passageway, a portion of the rod is inserted into a hole in a composite structure.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a fibre reinforced resin matrix composite structure, the method including: providing a composite structure having one or more holes formed therein, and feeding a reinforcement rod through a passageway having one or more walls defining an inlet to the passageway. The inlet to the passageway is dimensioned to prevent a rod having a maximum cross sectional dimension greater than a predetermined dimension from passing through the passageway. In the event of the rod impacting the wall defining the inlet to the passageway, operation of the rig is stopped. In the event of the rod passing through the passageway without impacting the wall defining the inlet to the passageway, a portion of the rod is inserted into a hole in a composite structure.

Abstract: A system and method to treat biomass to make bioproducts such as biofuels and biochemical is disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to form a fermentation product or bio-product. The system and method comprises treatment and separation of process streams (e.g. liquids, solids, etc.) to produce bioproducts such as fuel and biochemical as well as to recover/reuse and utilize content of process streams. Lignin is separated from the bioproduct stream (e.g. a solids component) forming a recovered bioproducts; efficient removal of lignin facilitates productive operation of the system. The system disclosed is configured to recover and recycle acid (e.g. phosphoric acid) used as a concentrated acid in the process to pre-treat biomass (for bioprocessing). The acid used in the process is recycled and recovered in order to establish economically attractive biorefinery to make bio-products from biomass (e.g.