Abstract: A method of detecting porosity at and near a composite surface is disclosed, including projecting polarized light on a surface of a composite component and filtering out light reflected off of the surface. The method further includes imaging light scattered from inhomogeneities in the composite component, and generating a map of absence of composite material near the composite surface based on scatter intensity detected in the imaging step.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heat detection system includes a graphene conductor, a housing containing the graphene conductor; and, a signal wire connected in electrical communication with the graphene conductor, the signal wire having a length that extends from the housing.

Abstract: Non-destructive inspection methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for non-destructively inspecting a bond line, including a bond line present in a composite substrate and in a adhesive material layers in a composite substrate, with the methods, systems, and apparatuses incorporating a small angle X-ray scattering array.

Abstract: A method includes exciting, at a first time period, a first set of pixels in an excitation array, wherein the first set of pixels comprises more than one pixel, and no pixel in the first set of pixels is adjacent to another pixel in the first set of pixels. The method also includes exciting, at a second time period, a second set of pixels in the excitation array wherein the second set of pixels comprises more than one pixel, and no pixel in the second set of pixels is adjacent to another pixel in the second set of pixels. The method retrieves excitation data, wherein the excitation data is comprised of data from the first set of pixels and data from the second set of pixels, and the excitation data is capable of being combined to reconstruct an image of a target object for rendering on a display.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for generating images. An imaging system comprises a computer system with a controller. The controller is configured to receive from a shearography camera system an unloaded visible light image generated of a coating in an area of a structure while the area is in an unloaded state and a loaded visible light image generated while the area is in a loaded state and receive from an infrared camera system an unloaded thermal image generated while the area is in the unloaded state and a loaded thermal image generated while the area is in the loaded state. The controller is configured to subtract the loaded visible light image from the unloaded visible light image to form a subtracted visible light image. The controller is configured to subtract the loaded thermal image from the unloaded thermal image to form a subtracted thermal image.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the strength of a bond joining a composite structure is provided. The system includes a gas gun produces a short gas pulse directed normal to a surface of the composite structure and that creates a compression wave through the composite structure; a monochromatic x-ray system produces a monochromatic x-ray that is incident at an angle to the surface and that passes through the composite structure; a scintillator screen receives transmitted x-rays that pass through the composite structure; a mirror receives and magnifies radiation emitted from the scintillator screen; a detector receives the radiation from the scintillator screen; an electronic processor configured to process the radiation detected by the detector; and a synchronization controller configured to synchronize operation of the gas gun, the monochromatic x-ray system, and the detector.

Abstract: A system for evaluating a bond includes first and second electrodes. A dielectric material layer is positioned at least partially between the first and second electrodes. A power source is connected to the first and second electrodes. The power source is configured to cause the first and second electrodes to generate an electrical arc. The electrical arc is configured to at least partially ablate a sacrificial material layer to generate a plasma.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of measuring an effectiveness of an ultraviolet coating. The method comprises irradiating the UV coating with UV energy comprising a predetermined spectrum of wavelengths. The method also comprises measuring an intensity of the UV energy reflected from the UV coating. The method further comprises comparing a measured intensity of the UV energy reflected from the UV coating with a previously measured intensity of the UV energy reflected from the UV coating to obtain comparison data. The method additionally comprises determining, in response to the comparison data, the effectiveness of the UV coating.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the strength of a bond joining a composite structure is provided. The system includes a gas gun produces a short gas pulse directed normal to a surface of the composite structure and that creates a compression wave through the composite structure; a monochromatic x-ray system produces a monochromatic x-ray that is incident at an angle to the surface and that passes through the composite structure; a scintillator screen receives transmitted x-rays that pass through the composite structure; a mirror receives and magnifies radiation emitted from the scintillator screen; a detector receives the radiation from the scintillator screen; an electronic processor configured to process the radiation detected by the detector; and a synchronization controller configured to synchronize operation of the gas gun, the monochromatic x-ray system, and the detector.

Abstract: An x-ray backscattering imaging system creating a backscatter image representing a structure is disclosed. The system includes a drum rotatable about an axis of rotation at a rotational speed, a radioactive source, a container, at least one collimator, at least one light emitting element, and a plurality of backscatter detectors. The radioactive source is connected to the drum and generates x-ray beams. The container houses the radioactive source and is constructed of a material that substantially blocks the x-ray beams generated by the radioactive source. The collimator is defined by the container and has a length and an aperture, where the collimator filters a stream of x-rays generated by the radioactive source such that the x-ray beams traveling substantially parallel with respect to the length of the collimator pass through the aperture. The light emitting element generates visible light and is positioned to direct the visible light into the collimator.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a structure during additive manufacturing of the structure and additive manufacturing systems are presented. An additive manufacturing system comprises additive manufacturing equipment comprising a casing and an additive manufacturing head configured to form a plurality of layers of a structure within the casing; and an x-ray backscatter imaging system configured to send an x-ray beam into a structure formed within the additive manufacturing equipment and detect scattered x-rays for imaging and analysis of the structure during fabrication.

Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a scintillator for use in an x-ray backscattering system. The scintillator comprises an inorganic scintillator portion made of inorganic scintillating material and comprising one or more inorganic material elements. Each inorganic material element of the one or more inorganic material elements comprises an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface is configured to be proximate to a subject to be scanned, such that the outer surface is configured to receive x-ray photons scattered by the subject. The scintillator also comprises an organic scintillator portion made of an organic scintillating material and comprising a front surface. At least a portion of the front surface abuts the inner surface of at least one of the one or more inorganic material elements.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for generating images. An imaging system comprises a computer system with a controller. The controller is configured to receive from a shearography camera system an unloaded visible light image generated of a coating in an area of a structure while the area is in an unloaded state and a loaded visible light image generated while the area is in a loaded state and receive from an infrared camera system an unloaded thermal image generated while the area is in the unloaded state and a loaded thermal image generated while the area is in the loaded state. The controller is configured to subtract the loaded visible light image from the unloaded visible light image to form a subtracted visible light image. The controller is configured to subtract the loaded thermal image from the unloaded thermal image to form a subtracted thermal image.

Abstract: A UV detection device is removably attached to a surface of a structure and includes a photodetector to detect UV light incident on the structure. The UV detection device includes signal processing and a transmitter that wirelessly transmits UV detection data to a remote monitoring station where the detection signals are accumulated and analyzed to determine the total exposure of the structure to UV light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for forming an x-ray beam. The apparatus comprises a plurality of links pivotably coupled together, in an end-to-end manner, to form a continuous loop. The plurality of links comprises two or more links configured to block a transmission of an x-ray emission. The plurality of links also comprises at least one link comprising an aperture that is configured to allow only a portion of the x-ray emission to pass through the aperture.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for non-destructively inspecting a substrate by measuring the Doppler effect in sound waves comprising wide bandwidth ultrasound wavelengths generated from a piezoelectric polymer coating material with the sound waves read by a laser in communication with a Doppler velocity meter.

Abstract: A curved beam replicator includes a body having a first surface and a second surface. The second surface defines at least a portion of a cavity. The first surface is configured to cause light entering the body from another medium to be refracted at a first angle such that the light strikes the second surface at a second angle. The second surface is configured to cause a first portion of the light striking the second surface to pass through the second surface and be refracted into a medium in the cavity and to cause a second portion of the light striking the second surface to be reflected toward the first surface at a third angle. The third angle such that the second portion of the light is totally internally reflected by the first surface.

Abstract: A vacuum system and method for inspecting a workpiece that can include use of the vacuum system, where the vacuum system can include a housing defining at least a portion of a vacuum chamber, a piston within the housing that oscillates to vary a volume of the vacuum chamber, a first valve and a second valve in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber, and a hood in fluid communication with the second valve and the vacuum chamber. The vacuum system can include high-speed valves that enable vacuum system cycling and thus vacuum pressure cycling at a rapid frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for x-ray inspection. The system comprises an x-ray emitter. The system also comprises an x-ray sensor array comprising a first x-ray sensor, a second x-ray sensor adjacent the first x-ray sensor, and a coupler movably coupling the first x-ray sensor to the second x-ray sensor. The first x-ray sensor is movable into a plurality of orientations relative to the second x-ray sensor via the coupler. The system further comprises an imaging device to generate an inspection image based on information from the x-ray sensor array.