Advanced deep focus acoustic microscope for nondestructive inspection of metals and composite materials

Abstract

Advanced materials including high density composites, metal matrix, and ceramic metal matrix are critical to numerous applications associated with current and next generation aircraft for cost efficiency, safety and reliability. The wide variety of advanced materials used in current and next generation aerospace construction creates significant challenges for existing material characterization technologies, both in defect resolution and minimizing disassembly to reduce platform downtime. Known for their significant weight savings versus metal alternatives, advanced composites and specialized metals provide weight advantages and better performance, but suffer from short operational usage histories and frequently unknown lifecycle parameters.