The Boeing Company

Eileen Olga Kutscha

Kay Youngdahl Blohowiak

Keith Daniel Humfeld

Morteza Safai

Patrick John Kinlen

Lawrence Michael Lawless

Erik D Sapper

Richard Allen Miller, Ii

Tyler Jacob Zimmerman

Garth Tristan Irvine

Richard Mark Shead

Erik David Sapper

A method of inspecting a composite assembly that includes a core coated with resin. Inspecting the composite assembly includes accessing an image of a cross section of the core, the image having a dot matrix data structure with a matrix of intensity values and identifying a subset of the intensity values that describe a distribution of the resin on the core. Next, the intensity values of the subset of the intensity values are classified to indicate either uniform or non-uniform distribution of the resin on the core. Either a first comparison determining a ratio of uniform resin or a second comparison determining a ratio of non-uniform resin is performed. Based on the first comparison or the second comparison as performed, a quality of the composite assembly is determined. Finally, an indication of the quality of the composite assembly is output.

Method and apparatus for inspecting a composite assembly

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed methods and systems pertaining to the use of at least one methodology or technique for the purpose of at least one of either: 1) determining that a desired and predetermined level or 'degree' of surface treatment of a composite substrate surface has or has not been conducted (e.g., laser treatment of a composite substrate surface); and 2) that a composite substrate surface has been laser treated.

Surface analysis tools for process control of laser treatment of composites

There is provided a quantitative method for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface, prior to the carbon fiber composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The quantitative method includes fabricating a ladder panel of levels of sanding correlating to an amount of sanding of sanding surface preparation standards for a reference carbon fiber composite surface of reference carbon fiber composite structure(s); using surface analysis tools to create target values for quantifying the levels of sanding; measuring, with the surface analysis tools, sanding surface preparation location(s) on the carbon fiber composite surface of a test carbon fiber composite structure, to obtain test result measurement(s); comparing the test result measurement(s) to the levels, to obtain test result level(s); determining if the test result level(s) meet the target values; and determining whether the carbon fiber composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Method and system for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface prior to a post-processing operation

There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating a plurality of levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using one or more surface analysis tools to create target values for quantifying each of the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tools, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to obtain one or more test result measurements. The method further includes comparing each of the one or more test result measurements to the levels, to obtain one or more test result levels; determining if the one or more test result levels meet the one or more target values; and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using a surface analysis tool in the form of an ohm meter, to create target values for quantifying the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tool, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to measure one or more of, electrical resistance and surface resistivity, of the composite surface, to obtain test result measurement(s). The method further includes comparing the test result measurement(s) to the levels, to obtain test result level(s); determining if the test result level(s) meet the target value(s); and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Method and system for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface using electrical resistance and surface resistivity

A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.

Adhesive additive with enhanced stiffness change and non-destructive inspection method

Corrosion inhibition systems, including coated substrates, coating materials and corrosion inhibition compounds, and methods of making the same are disclosed. These systems and methods include corrosion inhibition compounds that are responsive to corrosion at a surface, releasing active inhibitor groups upon a corrosion stimulus. The active inhibitor groups are selected to block corrosion at the surface by inhibiting oxidation reactions, reduction reactions and/or by forming a passivation layer. Corrosion inhibition compounds may be linear polymers that include the inhibitor groups linked together with labile linkages that are disulfide or metal-sulfide bonds.

Systems, compositions, and methods for corrosion inhibition

A method for determining a strain includes bonding first and second components together, at an elevated temperature, using a bonding agent. A strain is then measured in the first component using a strain measurement tool as the first component cools from the elevated temperature. The strain measurement tool is configured to detect movement the first component as the first component cools.

Non-destructive optical method for determining minimum bond strength and proving bond efficacy

Corrosion-inhibiting coating materials comprise a sol-gel and a corrosion-inhibiting compound with at least one disulfide group. The corrosion-inhibiting compound is contained within the sol-gel. Coated and/or laminated structures may include the corrosion-inhibiting coating materials on a metal substrate, and may include a secondary layer (e.g., a paint, etc.) adhered to the coating material opposite the metal substrate. Methods of forming a corrosion-inhibiting sol-gel comprise mixing organo-metallic compounds and the corrosion-inhibiting compound into a sol solution and incubating (e.g., reacting) the sol solution to form the corrosion-inhibiting sol-gel with the corrosion-inhibiting compound contained within the sol-gel. Generally, corrosion-inhibiting coating materials are hexavalent chromium free.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Eileen Olga Kutscha