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NDT.netJune1999,Vol.4No.6

NondestructiveTestingApplicationsin
CommercialAircraftMaintenance.
TableofContentsECNDT
'98
Session:Aerospace

Md.AlahiUddinKhanBimanBangladeshAirlines,Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION
Inaircraftmaintenanceprogrammeitisimportantto
inspectthemechanicaldamageandassesstheextent
oftherepairwork.Butinschedulemaintenanceitis
adifficulttofindingthedefectsrapidly,asthe
maintenanceofaircraftmustbeaccomplished
withinscheduledtimeandsametobereleasedin
timeforcommercialoperation.

TABLEOFCONTENTS
Introduction
DIFFERENTNDTMETHODS
LiquidPenetrant
MagneticParticle
EddyCurrent
Ultrasonic
Radiography
Visual/Optical
Sonic/Resonance
InfraredThermography
Conclusion
References

Duringaircraftmaintenance'NONDESTRUCTWE
TESTING'(NDT)isthemosteconomicalwayofperforminginspectionandthisistheonlywayof
discoveringdefects.Insimplywecansay,NDTcandetectcracksoranyotherirregularitiesinthe
airframestructureandenginecomponentswhichareobviouslynotvisibletothenakedeye.
Structures&differentassembliesofaircraftaremadefromvariousmaterials,suchasaluminium
alloy,steel,titaniumandcompositematerials.Todismantletheaircraftinpiecesandthenexamine
eachcomponentwouldtakealongtime,sotheNDTmethodandequipmentselectionmustbefast
andeffective.
InthepresenttrendofNDTapplicationonaircraft7080%ofNDTisperformedontheairframe,
structure,landinggearsandtherestcarriedoutonengine&relatedcomponents.
Inordertomaintaintheaircraftdefectsfreeandensureahighdegreeofquality&reliabilityandas
apartofinspectionprogramme,usuallyfollowingNDTmethodsareapplied
1)Liquidpenetrant2)Magneticparticle,3)Eddycurrent4)Ultrasonic5)Radiography(x
ray/gamaray)6)Visual/Optical7)Sonic/Resonance8)InfraredThermography.

DIFFERENTNDTMETHODS
1.LiquidPenetrant:
Liquidpenetranttestingisoneoftheoldestofmodernnondestructivetestingmethods&widely
usedinaircraftmaintenance.Liquidpenetranttestingcanbedefinedasaphysical&chemical
nondestructiveproceduredesignedtodetect&exposesurfaceconnecteddiscontinuitiesin
'nonporous'engineeringmaterials.
Thefundamentalpurposeofpenetranttestingistoincreasethevisiblecontrastbetweena
discontinuity&itsbackground.Thisisachievedbytreatingtheareawithanappropriately
formulatedliquidofhighmobility&penetratingpower(whichentersthesurfacecavities),and
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thenencouragingtheliquidtoemergefromthedeveloper,torevealtheflawpatternunderwhite
light(whenvisibledyepenetrantsareused)orunderultravioletlight(whenfluorescentpenetrants
areused).Evaluationalsoconductwiththeaidof3Xto5Xmagnification.Theobjectiveofliquid
penetranttestingistoprovidevisualevidencecracks,porosity,laps,seamsofothersurface
discontinuitiesrapidly&economicallywithhighdegreeofreliability.
Equipment:Varioustypesofpenetranttestunitsareusedinaircraftmaintenance
i)PortableEquipment:Penetrantsmaterialsareavailablein'Aerosolspraycans'insmall
containersforbrushorwipeapplication.Withtheseaerosolcanpenetranttestingare
performedoninstalledpartsonaircraft's,structureorinpowerplants
ii)StationaryTestEquipment:Thistypeofequipmentismostfrequentlyusedinfixed
installations,consistsofaseriesofmodularworkstations.Typicalstationsareasfollows:a)
deeptanksforpenetrantb)emulsifier&developerc)anumberofdrainordwellareasd)a
washareawithappropriatelightinge)dryingovenandf)aninspectionbooth.
iii)SmallPartsTestUnit:Theseinspectionunitsdesignedforprocessingaircraftsmall
parts.Theunitsaresmallerthanthestationarysystem.Smallpartsareloadedintowire
baskets&thenprocessedthrougheachofthestations.
iv)AutomatedTestSystem:Inthispenetranttestingprocesspenetrantapplication,washing,
anddryingareautomatic,butdeveloperapplication,theultravioletlightinspection&
interpretationaremanuallyperformedbyaninspector.Largeaircraftcomponentsare
inspectedinthisautomaticsystem.
Applications:Detectionofsurfacedetectsorstructuraldamageinallmaterialsofaircraft.
Fluorescentpenetrantsareusedincriticalareasformoresensitiveevaluation.
KeyPoints:Fast&simpletouse,inexpensiveandeasilytransportable.Candetectverysmall
surfacediscontinuity.Canbeusedonaircraftorintheworkshop.Frequentlyusedtoconfirm
suspecteddefects.Areatobecleanedbeforeandaftercheck.

2.MagneticParticle:
Magneticparticletestingisasensetivemethodofnondestructivetestingforsurfacebreakingand
somesubsurfacediscontinuationin'ferromagnetic'materials.
Thetestingmethodisbasedontheprinciplethatmagneticfluxinamagnetisedobjectislocally
distortedbythepresenceofdiscontinuity.Thisdistortioncausessomeofthemagneticfieldtoexit
&reenterthetestobjectatthediscontinuity.Thisphenomenoniscalledmagneticfluxleakage.
Fluxleakageiscapableofattractingfinelydividedparticlesofmagneticmaterialsthatinturnform
an'indication'ofthediscontinuity.Therefore,thetestbasicallyconsistsofthreeoperations:a)
Establishasuitablemagneticfluxinthetestobjectbycircularorlongitudinalmagnetisation.b)
Applymagneticparticlesindrypowderofaliquidsuspensionandc)Examinethetestobject
undersuitablelightingconditionsforinterpreting&evaluatingtheindications.
Fluorescentorblackoxideparticlesintheaerosolcansareusedduringcriticalareasofaircraft
structure/componentsinspectionwhenusingeitherpermanentorelectromagnets.Fluorescent
particleinspectionmethodisevaluatedbyblacklight(Blacklightconsistsofa100wattmercury
vapourprojectionspotlampequippedwithafiltertotransmitwavelengthbetween3200to3800
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Angstromunitandabsorbsubstantiallyallvisiblewhitelight).
Equipment:Followingtypesofequipmentsareusedformagneticparticleinspection:
i)Stationarymagneticfluxmachines(usingFWDC,HWDCAC):Fixedcabinetwithfluid
suspensioncirculation&deliverysystem,adjustablepositionofcoils,headstock&
moveabletailstockusedfor,inspectingstillpartsremovedfromengineandaircraft.
ii)Mobileportablemagneticfluxmachine:Handcarriedordollytransportedwithlimitedof
currentfacility.
iii)Electromagnetyokes(adjustable):Suitableforinspectingirregularshapedpartsfor
surfacedefects.
iv)Permanentmagnet:Itisusedinisolatedcriticalareaofsmall&largepartsinaircraft.
Applications:Simpleinprinciple,easilyportable.Fastandeffectiveforsurface&subsurface
defectsinferromagneticmaterialsofanyshape,removedfromengines,pumps,landinggear,gear
boxes,shafts,shockstrutsetc.Widelyusedforboltsinspection.
KeyPoints:Onlysuitableforferromagneticmaterials.Demagnetisationprocedureisrequired.
Positionallimitationsamagneticfieldisdirectional&bestresultsmustbeorientedperpendicular
tothediscontinuity.

3.EddyCurrent:
Eddycurrenttestsareimportanttest&widelyusedmethodwithinthebroadfieldof
Nondestructivematerials&evaluation.Thismethodisparticularlywellsuitedforthedetectionof
serviceinducedcracksusuallycausedeitherbyfatigueorbystresscorrosion.Eddycurrent
inspectioncanbeperformedwithaminimumofpartpreparationandahighdegreeofsensitivity.
Eddycurrentsareelectricalcurrentsinducedinaconductorofelectricitybyreactionwith
alternatingmagneticfield.Eddycurrentsarecircular&orientedperpendiculartothedirectionof
theappliedmagneticfield.Thea)electricalconductivityb)magneticpermeabilityc)geometryand
d)homogeneityofthetestobject,allaffectstheinducedcurrents.
Theelectricalconductivity&magneticpermeabilityofamaterialisinfluencedbyitschemistry&
heattreatcondition.Mixedlotsofmaterialsorpartssubjectedtofireorexcessiveheatdamagecan
bequickly&easilyseparated(conductivitytesting).Changesinthegeometry&homogeneityof
thetestobjectwillchangethemagnitude&distributionoftheeddycurrents.Bymonitoringthese
changes,thepresenceofcracks&otherflawscanbedetected.
Theeddycurrentinspectionsystembasicallyconsistsoffivefunctions:a)Oscillatorb)Testcoil
absoluteordifferentialc)Bridgecircuitd)Signalprocessingcircuitse)Readoutordisplay.
Equipment:Usuallyforaircrafteddycurrentinspectionfollowingtestinstrumentsareused
1)MeterdisplayinstrumentItcomprisesagraduatedscaleinmilliampersofmoveable
meterneedle.Theamplitudeofneedlemovementinproportionaltotheimpedanceofthe
testcircuit.
2)ImpedanceplanedisplayinstrumentItfeaturesa'flyingdot'onaCRT,LCDorvideo
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display.Thepositionofflyingdotindicatestheimpedanceofthetestcircuit,butalso
displayseffectofbothresistance&reactancepresentingbothphaseandamplitude
information.
3)LineartimebasedisplayinstrumentItisusuallyusedwithrotatingopenholeprobe
scanners.The'horizontalposition'ofthesignalonthedisplayindicatessensorclock
pPositioninthehole&the'verticalpeak'ofthesignalindicatesamplitudeofresponse.
4)BargraphdisplayinstrumentItfeaturesonLCDreadoutbarscalegraduatedinvoltage
sensitiveincrements.Thepositionofthedisplayindicationisadjustablefromonebartofull
scale.
Compatibilitywiththeinstrument&materialselectiondifferenttypesofprobesareusedSuchare
i)Highfrequencysurface&boltholeprobesii)Highfrequencyspecialprobes(countersinkplug
&shaped)iii)Lowfrequencyprobe(spotencircling&shaped)iv)Slidingprobe(driver/receiver).
Applications:Eddycurrenttestisusedtodetectsurface&subsurfacedefects,corrosionin
aircraftstructures,fastenerholesandboltholes.Surfacedetectsandconductivitytestingbyhigh
frequencyandsubsurfacedetectsbylowfrequencymethods.
Routineeddycurrentinspectioniscarriedoutonaircraftundercarriagewheelhubsforcracksalso
usedtodetectcracksindifferenttubes,tublarcomponentsofaircraft&engine.
KeyPoints:Onlyapplicabletoconductivematerials(ferrous,nonferrous&austenitic
components).Calibrationstandards&trainedoperatorrequired.Fast&portable.Spacialprobes
requiredforvariationofmaterialsandaccessibility.

4.Ultrasonic:
Soundwithafrequencyabovethelimitofaudibilityiscalled'ultrasonic'.Itrangeswitha
frequencyof0.2MHzto800MHz.
Ultrasonicinspectionprovidesasensitivemethodofnondestructivetestinginmostmaterials,
metallic,nonmetallic,magneticornonmagnetic.Itpermitsthedetectionofsmallflawswithonly
singlesurfaceaccessibilityandiscapableofestimatinglocation&sizeofthedefectProviding
bothsurfacesareparallel,ultrasonicsmaybeusedforthicknessmeasurement,whereonlyone
surfaceisaccessible.Theeffectiveresultofanultrasonictestisheavilydependentonsubject
surfacecondition,grainsize&directionandacousticimpedance.Ultrasonictechniquesarevery
widelyusedforthedetectionofinternaldefectsinmaterials.
Ultrasonicinspectionoperatesontheprincipleof'transmitted'&'reflected'soundwave.Soundhas
aconstantvelocityinagivensubstancetherefore,achangeintheacousticalimpedanceofthe
materialcausesachangeinthesoundvelocityatthatpointproducinganecho.Thedistanceofthe
acousticalimpedance(flaw)canbedeterminedifthevelocityofthesoundinthetestmaterial,and
thetimetakenforthesoundtoreach&returnfromtheflawisknown.
Ultrasonicinspectionisusuallyperformedwithtwotechniques(i)Reflection(Pulseecho)
technique(ii)Throughtransmissiontechnique.'Pulseecho'techniqueismostwidelyusedin
aircraftmaintenanceinspection.
Equipment:Theultrasonicflawdetectionequipmentcompriseswiththefollowingbasic
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elements:(i)Cathoderayoscilloscope(ii)TimingCircuit(iii)Rategenerator(iv)RFpulser(v)
Amplifier&(vi)Transducer(searchunit)
Acousticenergy(transmittedorreflected)arepresented,displayedorrecordedinfourways.
i)AScan:Thebasiccomponentsof'pulseecho'system.Employsastandvideo,cathoderay
tubeorLCDdisplay.Displaydiscontinuitydepthandamplitudeofsignal.Mostcommonly
usedinaircraftinspection
ii)BScan:Itdisplaysdiscontinuitydepthanddistributionin'crosssectionalview'.Means
ofpresentationrecordingpaperandcomputermonitor.
iii)CScan:Itdisplaysdiscontinuitydistributionin'flatplanview'.Recordingpaper&
computermonitorrequiredforpresentation.
iv)DigitalReadout:Itdisplaysaultrasonictimeofflightinformationindigitalformat
representingsoundvelocitythicknessreadings.
Applications:Usedfordetectionofsurface&subsurfacedetectsinwelds,forging,castingmain
structuralfittingsoflandinggearlegs&engineattachments.Boltsincriticalareas,aircraft
structurejoints&pylon.Alsochecksadhesivebondqualityoflapjoints&compositestructure.
Usedforthicknessmeasurementafterdamageorcorrosionremoval.
KeyPoints:Fast,dependable&portable.Resultsareimmediatelyknown.Calibrationstandards
&trainedoperatorrequired.Discontinuityorientationoftestobjectmustbeknowntoselectwave
mode.

5.Radiography:
Radiographyisoneoftheoldestandwidelyusednondestructivetestingmethods.Aradiographis
aphotographicrecordproducedbythepassageofelectromagneticradiationsuchasxraysor
gammaraysthroughanobjectontoafilm.Whenfilmisexposedtoxrays,gammaraysorlightan
invisiblechangecalleda'latentimage'isproducedinfilmemulsion.Theareassoexposedbecome
darkerwhenthefilmisimmersedinadevelopingsolution.Afterdevelopmentthefilmisrinsedto
stopdevelopment.Thefilmisnextputintoafixingbathandthenwashedtoremovethefixer.
Finallydriedsothatitmayhandledforinterpretationandrecord.
Xray:Threethingsrequiredtogeneratexrays,asourceofelectrons,ameansofpropelling
electronsathighspeedsandtargetmaterials.Whenhighspeedelectronsinteractwithmatter
(thenucleusofthetargetmaterial),theirenergyisprovided,itishighenough,convertedto
xrayenergy.
Typicalxrayequipmentisconsistsoffollowingfeatures:i)Tubeenvelopeii)Cathodeof
thexraytubeiii)Anodeofthexraytubeiv)Focalspot(sizeoftheradiationfocalspot)v)
Xraybeamconfigurationvi)Acceleratingpotential(theoperatingvoltagedifferencein
electricalpotentialbetweenthecathodeandanode)
Gammaray:Gammaraysaretheemissionsfromthedisintegratingnucleiofradioactive
substances.Twomostcommonlyused'isotopes'forperformingindustrialinspectionsare
Iridium192andCobalt60.ButinaircraftmaintenanceduringgammaradiographyIridium
192isusuallyused.IsotopesofRadium226andCesium137areavailablebutarenot
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generallyusedforaircraftradiography.Gammarayradiographyhastheadvantagesof
simplicityofapparatus,compactnessoftheradioactivesourcesandindependencefrom
outsideelectricalsource.
Applications:Consideringthepenetrationandabsorptioncapabilityofxradiation,radiographyis
usedtoinspectavarietyofnonmetallicpartsforporosity,waterentrapment,crushedcore,cracks
andresinrich/stravedconditionsandmetallicproductssuchaswelds,castingsandforgingas
wellaslocatingdiscontinuitiesinfabricatedstructuralassembliessuchascracks,corrosion,
inclusions,debris,loosefittings,rivets,outofroundholes&thicknessvariations.Gammaray
radiographyisusuallyusedfordetectionofinternalflawsofaircraftstructure(steel&titanium)
andenginecomponentswhichrequirehigherenergylevelsorotherassemblieswhereaccessis
difficult.
KeyPoints:Radiationhazard,aircraftmustbecleanofallpersonnel.Trainedoperator,film
processing&viewingequipmentsrequired.CrackpointmustbenearlyparalleledtoXraybeam.
Eliminatesmanydisassemblyrequirement.Providespermanentrecordsoffindings.Accessibility
requiredinbothsidesofthetestspecimen.

6.Visual/Optical:
Visualinspectionisprobablythemostwidelyusedofallthenondestructivetests.Itissimple,easy
toapply,quicklycarriedoutandusuallylowincost.Thebasicprincipleusedinvisualinspection
istoilluminatethetestspecimenwithlightandexaminethespecimenwiththeeye.Inmany
instancesaidsareusedtoassistintheexamination.
Thismethodismainlyusedi)tomagnifydefectswhichcannotbedetectedbytheunaidedeye,ii)
toassistintheinspectionofdefectsandiii)topermitvisualchecksofareasnotaccessibleto
unaidedeye.
Equipment:VisualandOpticaltestsarecarriedoutinaircraftmaintenancewithfollowing
equipment:
i)MagnifyingGlassGenerallyconsistsofasinglelensforlowerpowermagnificationand
doubleormultiplelensesforhighermagnification.
ii)MagnifyingMirrorThisoneisaconcavereflectivesurface,suchasadentalmirrormay
beusedtoviewrestrictedareasofaircraftnotaccessiblewithamagnifyingglass.
iii)MicroscopeItisamultipleelementmagnifier,providingveryhighpower
magnification,isusedfortheinspectionofpartsremovedfromtheaircraft.Someportable
unitsarealsousedtoevaluatesuspectedindicationsfoundontheaircraft.
iv)BorescopeBorescopeisaprecisionopticalinstrumentwithbuiltinillumination.
Borescopessometimescalled'endoscopes'or'endoprobes',whichconsistswithsuperior
opticalsystemsandhighintensitylightsources,somebroescopesprovidesmagnification
option,zoomcontrolsoraccessories.
v)FlexibleFibreOpticBorescopePermitsmanipulationoftheinstrumentaroundcamers
andthroughpassageswithseveraldirectionalchanges.Wovenstainlesssteelsheathings
protectstheimagerelaybundleduringrepeatedflexingandmanoeuvring.Theworking
lengthsarenormally60to365cmwithdiametersfrom3to12.5min.
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vi)VideoImagescopeThevideoImagescopeissimilartoaFibrescopewiththeexception
thatvideocameraanditsconnectionshavereplacedtheimagebundleandaTVmonitorhas
replacedtheeyepiece.Thisimagemaybemagnifiedforpreciseviewing.Thefieldofvision
isupto90degreeandprobetiphasfourwayarticulation.Presentlythesmallestdiameteris
9.5mmwithworkinglengthupto100feet.
Applications:Detectionofsurfacedefectsorstructuraldamageinallmaterials.Optical
instrumentsareusedforvisualchecksofinternalareasandfordeepholesandboresofaircraft
structure,landinggearsetc.Widelyusedtomonitorenginecomponents,suchas,turbinewheels
andnozzles,compressorvanesandbladescombustioncanswithoutopeningtheengine.
'Borescopes','fibrescopes'and'videoimagescopes'aremostimportantopticalaidsinremote
visualinspection,whichareaisnormallyinaccessible.
KeyPoints:Simpletouseinareaswhereothermethodsareimpractical.Accessibilityrequired.
Reliabilitydependsupontheexperienceoftheoperator.

7.Sonic/Resonance:
Sonicandresonancetestingmethodsareusedprimarilyforthedetectionofseparationsbetween
layersoflaminatedstructures.
SonicandResonancetestingiseffectivefordetectionofcrushedcoreordebondsinadhesive
bondedhoneycomb,impactdamageanddelimitationsincompositestructuresandexfoliation
corrosion.
Thetaptestmethodhasdemonstratedtheabilitytodetectcracks,corrosion,impactdamageand
debonding.Thesonictestinginstrumentoperateintheaudioornearaudiofrequencyrange.
Resonancetestinginstrumentsmayoperateeitherorboththesonicorultrasonicfrequencyrange.
Differentmethodsoftransmittingandreceivingenergyhavebeendeveloped.Basically,each
techniqueintroducesapressurewaveintothespecimenandthendetectstheresonant,transmitted
orreflectedwave.
Generallyfollowingacousticmechanicalprinciplesareusedtoevaluatethedamping
characteristicsofthespecimen.
a.Resonancetestmethod:Thistestworkswellformanyunbondsanddeliminated.
b.Pitch/catchswepttestmethod:Thistestisbestdetectingunbondsanddeeperdefects.
c.Pitch/catchimpulsetestmethod:Inthismethodthejointsnottestablebysweptmethod,
canbetestedsatisfactorilybythismode.
d.MIA(MechanicalImpedanceAnalysis)testmethod:Thismethodworkswellonunbonds
crushedcoreanddefectsontheinsideofcompositestructure.
e.Eddysonicharmonictestmethod:Itiscapableofdetectingbothnearsideandfarside
disbond.
f.Taptest:Taptestisamanualmethod.Taptestingisacommonandinexpensivetypeof
inspection.Inthisproceduretheinspectortapsthesurfaceoftheteststructureandevaluate
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thesoundgenerated.Theinspectoreitherlistensdirectlytothesoundorusesspecially
designedreceivertoanalysethesoundandcomparetheresponsewithdefectfreepart.
Application:Toexaminebondingexistsbetweenhoneycomb,detectdelaminationsincomposite
laminates.Largestructuressuchas,fairings,cowlandwingtrailingedge,rudder,flaps,ailerons,
elevatorsetc.aremadefromcompositesandhoneycombmaterials.
Taptestingislimitedtodetectionofdisbondsorvoidsbetweenupperfacingsheetandadhesive.It
willnotdetectdisbondorvoidsat2ndor3rdlayerbondlines,suchasdoublerareas.Itislimitedto
thedetectionofdelaminations,approximately25mm(1inch)indiaorgreater,locatedlessthan
1.3mm(0.05inch)belowthesurfacebeingexamined.
Keypoints:Losessensitivitywithincreasingmaterialthickness.Electricalsourceandreference
standardsrequired.

InfraredThermography:
Infraredandthermalmethodsfornondestructivearebasedontheprinciplethatheatflowina
materialisalteredbythepresenceofsometypesofanomalies.Thesechangesinheatflowcause
localizedtemperaturedifferencesinthematerial.Theimagingorstudyofsuchthermalpatternsis
knownas'thermography'.Theterms'infrared'and'thermal'areusedinterchangeablyinsome
contexts.Thermalreferstothephysicalphenomenonofheat,involvingthemovementof
molecules.Infrared(belowthecolourred)denotesradiationbetweenthevisibleandmicrowave
regionsoftheelectromagneticspectrum.
Theintensityandfrequency/wavelengthoftheradiationcanbecorrelatedcloselywiththeheatof
theradiator.itfollowsthatradiationsensorscanbeusedtotellusaboutthephysicalconditionof
thetestobject.Thisisthebasisofthetechnologyof'thermography'.
Equipment:Athermalimagerbasicallyconsistsofadetector,ascanningsystem,anoptical
system&videodisplayunit.Themajorityofcamerasfunctionlikeatelevisioncameraandtheir
outputisavideosignalwhichisproportionaltotheoutputsignalofthedetector.Subsequently,this
passesontoasignaltreatmentandvisualizationsystemwhichassignstoeachlevelagreytonein
anscaleorfalsecolour.Inthisway,animagecanbeobtainedonaTVmonitorwhichrepresentthe
distributionoftemperaturesthroughoutallthefieldofvieworprintedoutascolourgraphics.
Applications:Usedtodetectcertainvoids,inclusions,debonds,liquidingressorcontamination,
foreignobjectsanddamagedorbrokenstructuralassemblies.Infraredthermographyalsobeen
chosenforquickoperationaluseandthereliabilityofdefection'liquidcontamination'inthe
compositesandwichincomparedtoxraymethod.Detectionofthermaloverheatinginelectrical&
hydraulicsystem.Speciallythermographicinspectiononaircraftstructuresarecarriedouttodetect
followingdefects:(i)Compositelaminatepartsfordelaminationdebondingorforeignobjects
(ii)Compositesandwichpartsfordebondingandliquidcontamination.(iii)Metallicbondedparts
fordebondingofcorrosionon.iv)Metallicsandwichpartsforliquidcontamination,debonding
ofcorrosion.
Keypoints:Thismethodshowstemperaturechangeswhichcanindicatedefects.Requiredtrained
operator.Transportable&referencestandardsmayberequired.

CONCLUSION
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Probablytheaerospaceindustryisleadingintheworldforinnovationofnewmaterialsand
fabricationtechniqueregularlytoimprovesafety,efficiency&reducecost.Atthesametime
inspectiontechniquesarealsobeingdevelopedtomonitortheirintegrity.Forinstance,with
increasinguseofcompositesinlatestcommercialaircraftconstructionhasmotivatedrapid
developmentinultrasonictechniqueCscanpresentation.Itcandetectdefectsdeepinside
compositesproducing3dimensionalimagesofthestructures&anyirregularitieswithinthetest
item.
Onlywithappropriateapplicationsofnondestructivetestingtechniquescanbringthebenefitsof
advancedmaterialssciencebefullyutilized.

REFERENCES
1.ASNTNondestructiveTestingHandbookVolTen1996
2.ASNTNondestructiveTestingHandbookVolNine1996.
3.B.Hull&V.JohnNondestructiveTesting(1998),Macmillan,UK
4.ChrisHobbs&RonSmithBeneaththeSurface,BritishAirwaysTechnicalJournal.
5.P.GLorenzTheScienceofRemoteVisualInspection,1990.
6.NDTStandardPracticeManualMcDonnelDouglasCorporation(Revision3),1996.
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