Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for x-ray backscatter inspection. The system comprises an interior cavity. The system also comprises a non-conductive fluid contained within the interior cavity. The system additionally comprises a power source within the interior cavity and submerged in the non-conductive fluid. The system further comprises an x-ray cathode within the interior cavity, submerged in the non-conductive fluid, and coupled to the power source. The system also comprises an x-ray anode within the interior cavity, submerged in the non-conductive fluid, and positioned to receive an electron emission from the x-ray cathode to generate an x-ray emission. The system additionally comprises a thermoelectric cooler surrounding the interior cavity and operable to draw heat from the non-conductive fluid.

Abstract: A method and a system for scanning an elongate structure. A scan of the elongate structure with a fluid in a cavity of the elongate structure is received. The scan is generated by a scanner using an x-ray beam. Data in the scan is filtered to remove a portion of the data in the scan attributable to the fluid to form filtered data, enabling detecting an inconsistency on a wall of the elongate structure in the filtered data.

Abstract: Provided are backscatter detection systems and methods implementing sensor arrays comprising flexible scintillators, and associated methods of operations. Specifically, an apparatus for detecting backscatter of a radiation beam formed in response to the radiation beam encountering an object comprises a structure configured to change from a first shape to a second shape. The apparatus further comprises a sensor array which comprises a flexible scintillating panel covering an area of the structure, and configured to conform to the shape of the structure form the first shape to the second shape. The flexible scintillating panel may comprise a plurality of optical fibers enclosed in a semi-rigid casing and coupled to a light detector. The plurality of optical fibers may be arranged in one or more layers. A layer of optical fibers may be arranged in a plurality of clusters or in an interwoven configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real time, nondestructive inspection of an object being formed by additive manufacturing is provided. The disclosed systems and methods can be used with any additive manufacturing system and can detect defects introduced during fabrication. In operation, additive manufacturing of the object can be paused and the object rotated within the build chamber. An x-ray pulse can then be directed through a linear aperture towards the object being formed inside the build chamber. A linear x-ray detector array can detect the x-ray pulse and an x-ray image of the object being formed can be created. By rotating the object being formed during exposure to the x-ray pulse at least one half of one full rotation, the entire volume of the object can be inspected.

Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of foreign object debris materials or defects on and/or under a surface of a composite part under manufacture. A member, for example an inspection gantry, is configured to move over the surface. A thermal excitation source is fixed to the member and is configured to direct infrared radiation across the surface. An infrared camera is also fixed to the member a predetermined distance away from the thermal excitation source and is configured to scan the surface as the member moves over the surface to detect and output scan information of the surface. A controller is coupled to the excitation source and to the infrared camera. The controller is configured to process the scan information from the infrared camera to identify a foreign object debris material or defect located on and/or under the surface.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for inspecting structural integrity of a part. The apparatus includes a body and at least one sensor. The body is movable relative to the part. The at least one sensor is coupled to the body and includes a plurality of nanotubes configured to generate electrical signals when acted upon by an acoustic shockwave propagating through the part. The electrical signals are proportional to an intensity of the acoustic shockwave.

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: The present disclosure provides for Non-Destructive Inspection of craft operating in high-atmosphere or outer space, by positioning a scintillating detector array leeward to a structural element of the craft relative to the Sun; collecting, by the detector array while the craft is in flight, solar radiation passing through the structural element; and outputting a radiographic image based on the solar radiation collected to an image analyzer. The image analyzer may composite several images taken over a period of time or decomposite images of intervening structural elements from the radiographic images. Automated alerts for non-conformances between the radiographic images and earlier-taken or architectural images are provided to users.

Abstract: A system may be provided for optically testing the integrity of a sealed article such as a lithium-ion battery. The system may include a chamber, a pressurizing apparatus that provides a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the chamber, and an optical imaging apparatus that detects a change in shape of the article in response to provision of the pressure differential. The optical imaging apparatus may be a shearography device, which may be connected to a computing apparatus that receives images before and after provision of the pressure differential and generates a comparison image indicating the change in shape. The comparison image may be manually or automatically analyzed to determine whether the change in shape is significant, indicating the existence of a proper seal.

Abstract: A method may include scanning a surface of a composite workpiece with multiple electromagnetic pulses, each of the multiple electromagnetic pulses being associated with a respective location on the surface of the composite workpiece.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting moisture in a composite sandwich panel for an aerospace vehicle. A pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam is beam steered to the composite sandwich panel. The pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that is absorbed by water molecules. The timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam is synchronized to heat the composite sandwich panel with a time window in an infrared detector system to detect an amount of infrared radiation. The amount of infrared radiation in the composite sandwich panel is detected within the time window for the infrared detector system when the composite sandwich panel is heated by the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the amount of infrared radiation indicates a level of moisture in the composite sandwich panel.

Abstract: A method of laser bond inspection is provided. The method includes applying a thermochromatic energy-absorbing material to an inspection site of a test article. The method includes delivering a first amount of energy to the inspection site using a laser. The first amount of energy generates stresses in the test article. The method includes absorbing the first amount of energy into the thermochromatic energy-absorbing material to produce an observable thermal response that correlates to the first amount of energy.

Abstract: A bondline characteristic determination system comprises a plurality of graphene sensors and a plurality of graphene lines. The plurality of graphene sensors is positioned within a bondline of a composite structure. The plurality of graphene sensors is formed of graphene doped with a noble gas. The plurality of graphene lines electrically connects the plurality of graphene sensors external to the composite structure.

Abstract: A method, a system, and an apparatus for scanning an elongate structure. A scanner in a scanning system is moved on a helical path around the elongate structure. The scanner is moved on the helical path around the elongate structure using a helical track system attached to the elongate structure using a translating structure. An x-ray beam is emitted from the scanner while the scanner moves on the helical path. Backscatter is detected from the x-ray beam encountering the elongate structure.

Abstract: A system for the detection of foreign object debris material on a surface includes an ultraviolet light source configured to direct ultraviolet light across a surface. The surface is an outer surface of a composite part being formed by a composite layup machine. The system includes an ultraviolet light camera configured to scan the surface and output a first signal proportional to reflected ultraviolet light reflected by at least one of the surface and a first type of foreign object debris material. The reflected ultraviolet light is responsive to the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source. The system also includes a controller coupled to the ultraviolet light source and to the ultraviolet light camera. The controller is configured to compare the first signal from the ultraviolet light camera with a first threshold to detect presence of the first type of foreign object debris material.

Abstract: A thermal imaging system comprises a substrate, stacked graphene arrays on the substrate, and a number of bandpass filters separating the stacked graphene arrays.

Abstract: An example system includes a sensor housing defining a plurality of horizontal layers and a controller. The sensor housing includes a plurality of light-emitted diode (LED) light sources, a plurality of cameras, and a plurality of optical devices. Each camera of the plurality of cameras is positioned within a respective horizontal layer of the plurality of horizontal layers and configured to detect a respective range of wavelengths of light. The plurality of optical devices is configured to receive light reflected by the surface through a common input lens and direct the light to one of the cameras of the plurality of cameras depending on a wavelength of the light. The controller is configured to receive signals from the plurality of cameras indicative of the light reflected by the surface and determine whether there is any foreign object debris material on the surface using the signals from the plurality of cameras.

Abstract: An X-ray inspection system is presented. The X-ray inspection system comprises an X-ray source, an X-ray scintillator, a light detector, a first objective lens, and a second objective lens. The first objective lens is positioned between the X-ray scintillator and the light detector. The second objective lens is positioned between the first objective lens and the light detector.