Purpose: The Non-Destructive Testing of Composites custom sector seeks to provide context for the IP space surrounding methods of non-destructive testing methods, specifically for laminate materials and including systems for detecting failure of materials and foreign objects, and to provide information for future strategy in the space.

Scope: This custom sector limits its scope to testing methods for composite structures such as laminates, including the devices used and related computer systems. By way of example, an included document may be one describing a device which asses bond integrity between layers of laminate. An example of a document which is not included may be a device which analyzes a machined surface finish.

Key Words and Phrases:

• Non-destructive testing
• Ultrasonic Transducer
• Laminate
• Composite Structure
• Failure Mechanism
• Bulk Properties
• Quality Assurance
• A-Scan, B-Scan, C-Scan

Tags and Their Meaning:

• 3D Contours: The focus of these documents is on systems for analyzing three-dimensional, rather than just flat, composites and doing so at the site of the composite. For example, testing an airplane wing.
• Automated: The focus of these documents is on systems which, once initialized, analyze a composite and provide feedback about the composite without operator input.
• Manual Operation: The focus of these documents is on systems which require operator input to test composites. For example, a transducer probe which is moved around on a surface by an operator.
• Calibration: The focus of these documents is on reference standards and calibration of testing equipment and systems.
• Failure Prediction: The focus of these documents is on systems which locate locations of failure within composites and forecast where failure may occur in the future based on present conditions.
• Fluid Column: The focus of these documents is on transducers which include a contained fluid to optimize the testing procedure.
• Layer Determination: The focus of these documents is on systems which analyze the properties of each layer of a composite, including when a layer or foreign object within a layer is unknown.
• Thermographic: The focus of these documents is on systems which analyze a composite by thermographic means, including infrared thermography 
  
  

What is Not Included:

• Testing designed for materials other than layered composites, such as for pipes
• Manufacturing methods for piezoelectric devices and other transducers
• Appearance inspection systems
• Repair methods
• General sensor arrays