Automated Ultrasonic Inspection using Full Matrix Captureon Composite Materials

Abstract

This master thesis focuses on developing an integrated system capable of performing ultrasonic phased array measurement on composite parts in an automated fashion. This could potentially be used in the manufacturing process of fiber laminate composite parts to obtain more accu- rate detection of manufacturing defects. Phased array ultrasonics makes use of an array of ultrasonic elements that will be used to send consecutive pulses with each of the elements which are received with the remaining elements in the array. By taking into account the signal strength of the pulses between each of the elements in the array and their respective timings a two-dimensional image of the area underneath the probe can be reconstructed into an image. This image contains information about the acoustic material properties through the depth of the measured object. By automating this method of inspection and taking consecutive measure- ments of this type it becomes possible to obtain volumetric data of the measured object. This research aims to investigate the feasibility and potential constraints of integrating this type of sensor system with a robotic arm. The benefit of combining this with a robot means it may be used in a repeated fashion, as well as to inspect a large number of possible geometric shapes. The final part of this thesis work will cover the processing of the data that is produced using this method.Since a large amount of data is produced, processing and analysis is needed in order to be able to visualise the data and to be able to draw meaningful conclusions from it.