JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 59

Inspecting leading edge (LE) and trailing edge (TE) bond lines does generally not require penetrating through a thick laminate. The main challenge is to adapt the sensor to the LE and TE geometry, especially to scan the bond line in a rational way. To our knowledge, there was no scanning technique available for such structures before this project. Scanning strategies The specificity of the two types of problems (inspection through thick laminates and inspection of bond lines at the edges) led to the development of two sets of hardware controlled by a common control unit. An automated scanning approach was chosen for the web bond line and a multi-sensor approach using conformable arrays was developed for the inspection of leading and trailing edge bond lines. These scanning strategies are described below. using a mechanical scanning method is challenging because the short and varying radii of curvatures of the edges imply very sophisticated manipulators. Ultrasonic arrays can scan a specific area without physically moving the probe. However, integrated arrays used directly in contact with the structure are often restricted to flat surfaces because they cannot adapt to curved surfaces. Therefore, a conformable array was developed to inspect the LE and TE. The array uses 8 conventional probes mounted on a conformable and spring-loaded chain-type holder. The probes are maintained in contact with the curved object for curvature radii ranging from 200 mm to flat surfaces. An 8channel system makes it possible to fire each probe to generate a scan line. The array is then manually translated along the leading or trailing edge in the spanwise direction, generating a 2D scan of the bond line. As for the scanner trolley, all time domain signals are saved for post-processing. The leading edge is inspected with a single array used in pulse-echo, as shown in the left-hand photo of Figure 3. Trailing edge inspection is performed in through-transmission with two arrays placed on each side of the edge, as shown in the right-hand photo of Figure 3. Fig. 2: Web bond line scanner on a wind turbine blade. Portable scanner for shear web bond lines A low-frequency ultrasonic probe is often needed to penetrate through thick laminates. This probe has to scan the bond line using a controlled positioning system. The approach proposed here is based on a compact portable trolley designed to collect a grid of ultrasonic signals over a 200 mm wide and 15-20 metre long strip with a 5 mm spatial resolution. The typical scanning speed is 2 metres per minute. All the time domain signals are collected and stored in the main unit for post-processing. The trolley is placed over the web bond line by the operator. A small screen placed on the trolley displays a cross-section of the structure under the probe being scanned. The display allows the operator to locate the web bond line and correct the position of the trolley if needed (see Figure 2 - right). Controlled contact between the probe and the structure is made possible by a holder that was developed to handle a curvature up to 1.5 m in radius (see Figure 2 - left). Water delivered near the probe is used as a couplant. The trolley can be used on blades that are either lying flat or inclined at an angle up to 60 degrees. Because of its flexibility, this system does not require a dedicated area on the plant floor, which means the NDT inspection can be easily integrated to the manufacturing process. Fig. 3: Conformable array used to inspect the leading edge (pulse-echo configuration on the left) and the trailing edge (through-transmission configuration on the right). Fig. 4: Typical cross-sectional data representation (B-scans) obtained with the scanner and the conformable array. Data representation and evaluation The acquisition of all time domain data at each scan position allows different representation modes. The cross-sections (Bscans) in the chordwise and spanwise direction proved to be very effective for identifying the structure and detecting disbonds or inclusions in both web and edge bond lines. Figure 4 shows the principle used to represent cross-sectional data. Conformable array for leading and trailing edges Ultrasonic scanning of bond lines at the trailing or leading edge No46 January-February 2009 / jec composites magazine 59

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009

Cover
Editorial
CONTENTS
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Companies - Ashland buys SmartTrac technology
 - Gurit signs major contract in China
 - Vestas inaugurates Asia R&D centre in Singapore
 - Advertisers & Index
 - NRC Aerospace: a structure at the heart of the Canadian aerospace industry
 - Market Place
 - Agenda of events
 - Equipment - High-temperature composite moulds produced by infusion
 - PCM Molds and Patterns Inc
 - Innovations - Prepregs for aerospace applications
 - Airframe development
BUSINESS
 - Market survey - Market developments in woodplasticcomposites
 - Niche market: Light aircraft / Full composite body gyroplane
 - Trends - Subcontracting: increasing complexity andinterdependence
 - Human Capital - Human resources manager
FEATURE - NATURAL FIBRES
 - Overview - A review of biocomposite development
 - Resources - The availability of vegetable fibre resources
 - Recycling - Striking a balance between cost and properties: reuse of paper byproducts
 - Additives - Jazz up your WPC: additives improve WPC mechanically and visually
 - Prepreg - A novel prepreg material combining natural fibres with a furan resin
 - Applications - Applications for plant fibre/ polymer composites in the industrial sector
 - Industrial applications for naturalfibre-reinforced composites
USERS’PLATFORM
 - Composites in the world - Seamless fluid-like design
 - Like a dolphin
 - Snow no longer necessary & Eco-friendly toys
 - Successful partners - Manufacturing a fuselage via oneshot infusion
 - Application - Lightweight bike frame using carbon fibre spread tow
 - The largest Brazilian construction project using the “Wall System”
 - The invisible house
KNOW-HOW
 - Quality control - Advanced ultrasonic NDT techniques for wind turbine blade inspection
 - Materials - Thermally-conductive composites
 - Bonding - Dismantling plastic tailgates incorporating INDAR technology
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - Cover
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 2
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - Editorial
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - CONTENTS
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 5
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - Companies - Ashland buys SmartTrac technology
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Gurit signs major contract in China
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Vestas inaugurates Asia R&D centre in Singapore
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 9
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Advertisers & Index
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - NRC Aerospace: a structure at the heart of the Canadian aerospace industry
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 12
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Market Place
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 14
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 15
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Agenda of events
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 17
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Equipment - High-temperature composite moulds produced by infusion
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 19
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - PCM Molds and Patterns Inc
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 21
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Innovations - Prepregs for aerospace applications
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 23
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Airframe development
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - BUSINESS
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Market survey - Market developments in woodplasticcomposites
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 27
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Niche market: Light aircraft / Full composite body gyroplane
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Trends - Subcontracting: increasing complexity andinterdependence
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Human Capital - Human resources manager
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - FEATURE - NATURAL FIBRES
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Overview - A review of biocomposite development
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 33
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Resources - The availability of vegetable fibre resources
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 35
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 36
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Recycling - Striking a balance between cost and properties: reuse of paper byproducts
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 38
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Additives - Jazz up your WPC: additives improve WPC mechanically and visually
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 40
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Prepreg - A novel prepreg material combining natural fibres with a furan resin
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 42
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Applications - Applications for plant fibre/ polymer composites in the industrial sector
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 44
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 45
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Industrial applications for naturalfibre-reinforced composites
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 47
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 48
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - USERS’PLATFORM
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Like a dolphin
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Snow no longer necessary & Eco-friendly toys
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Successful partners - Manufacturing a fuselage via oneshot infusion
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 53
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Application - Lightweight bike frame using carbon fibre spread tow
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - The largest Brazilian construction project using the “Wall System”
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - The invisible house
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - KNOW-HOW
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Quality control - Advanced ultrasonic NDT techniques for wind turbine blade inspection
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 59
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 60
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Materials - Thermally-conductive composites
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 62
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 63
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 64
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 -  - Bonding - Dismantling plastic tailgates incorporating INDAR technology
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 66
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 67
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 68
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