AMI Aerospace Offers A Variety Of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) For Aircraft.
EDDY CURRENT
The overall inspection process consists of applying the Eddy Current Test (ET) Method to detect surface or subsurface cracks in the item inspected. The material tested includes ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium, to name a few. It detects surface and subsurface flaws using state-of-the-art equipment and allows the inspection of aircraft components and structures for cracks, corrosion, and conductivity caused by fatigue, stress, and extreme heat. Our techniques include surface and subsurface inspections, rotating bolt hole inspections, and conductivity measurements.
PHASED ARRAY ULTRASONICS
Phased array ultrasonics uses the general principles of ultrasonic testing and computer software to apply several UT beams to an article and manipulating them to an LCD screen. Inspecting parts with variable-angle beams maximize detection regardless of the defect orientation while optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio.
MAGNETIC PARTICLE
Magnetic particle examination (MPI) is usable only on materials having ferromagnetic properties, principally low alloy steels, and heat-treatable stainless steels. It is a sensitive non-destructive method for detecting surface and near-surface cracks and discontinuities. MPI is used in two general types and forms: Visible/fluorescent and dry/wet particle. Fluorescent wet particles offer sensitivities up to 1000 times that of the visible dry methods. However, they both have their use in industry as one method looks for gross discontinuities while the other seeks out minute defects.
ULTRASONICS
Ultrasonic inspection (UT) utilizes sound waves at frequencies between 2.5 to 20 MHz. UT is used mainly for thickness testing and flaw detection in solid materials that can support sound waves – all metals, plastics, glass, and carbon fiber. finding internal and external flaws and can inspect many different parts/sections of the aircraft structure without disassembly.
LIQUID PENETRANT
Liquid penetrant (LPI) testing services are reliable for detecting surface-breaking flaws in just about any solid material with a non-porous surface. A dye is placed on the inspection surface and allowed to seep into crevices. The surface dye is then removed and creviced dye is drawn to the surface in a development process to identify discontinuities in the material. The two main types of LPI used are visible and fluorescent dyes, with the fluorescent version of the inspection having an increased sensitivity of as much as 1000 times that of the visible inspection. An advantage of this inspection method is that it is very portable and can be performed at remote locations. Permanent recording of results is possible with the aid of photography.