Bae Systems, Inc.

Deutsch UK

Ian James Read

Peter David Foote

Nigel Bruce Aldridge

Geoffrey Martland Proudley

William Neil MacPherson

Gareth Leslie Bannister

Ryan Nichols John

Nigel Bruce Alridge

William Neil Macpherson

There is provided apparatus and a method for assessing the integrity of a bonded joint and a bonded joint assembly. The assembly has a bonded joint monitored for bond integrity and comprises first () and second () components each defining a bonding surface (); the joint () is formed between the bonding surfaces () and the first component () defines a passage () therethrough from the bonding surface to an exterior of the component. The joint () includes an optical fiber () extending along the joint () between the bonding surfaces, through the passage () and emerging from the passage () to the exterior of the component. The method of constructing the assembly includes the steps of passing the optical fiber () through the passage () and adhering the optical fiber () to the bonding surface () of the first component (), thus bringing the two bonding surfaces () together and forming the bond ().

Assessing integrity of bonded joints

A method and apparatus for processing measurements of an acoustic wave, the acoustic wave being within a member () made of a composite material and caused by an impact to the member (), the method comprising: analyzing the measurements to detect an initial acoustic wave feature; analyzing the measurements to detect the presence of further acoustic wave features, the further features occurring after the initial feature; if there are no further acoustic wave features, determining that the impact to the member () has not changed the structure of the member (); if there are further features, determining a value of a function of the further acoustic wave features; if the determined value satisfies certain criteria, determining that the impact has changed the structure of the member (); and if the determined value does not satisfy the criteria, determining that the impact has not changed the structure of the member (). By doing so, impact induced damage is detected and quantified by processing separately acoustic data generated by the impact from acoustic data generated by acoustic emission due to damage generation.

Impact detection and acoustic emission data processing

One aspect of the invention relates to a waveguide assembly. The waveguide assembly comprises a waveguide () provided on a substrate (), a waveguide housing () and an embedding layer () embedding at 5 least part of the waveguide housing (). The waveguide housing () comprises a waveguide channel () for guiding the waveguide () from the substrate () through the embedding layer ().

Waveguide assembly and connector

A method of and an apparatus for coupling a first optical transmission means (), such as an optical fibre, embedded within an aircraft composite () to a second optical transmission means (), such as an optical fibre, external to the composite () is described. The method comprises locating the position of the first optical means () embedded within the composite () using X-ray scanning for example; forming a passageway () by laser machining or drilling within the composite () to the first optical transmission means (); and establishing an optical connection between the first and second optical transmission means () at the intersection of the passageway () and the first optical transmission means ().

Optically connecting embedded optical fibers in composite panels

A composite for use in the aircraft construction industry includes an optical transmission device, such as an optical fiber, embedded within a carrier. The optical transmission device is provided with a high-quality optical interface surface which provides for optical connection to the optical transmission means from outside the carrier. The optical interface surface is provided as part of a micro-optical component which processes the optical signals to improve light extraction from a supply to the optical transmission means. The buried optical transmission device is accessed by a passageway formed in the carrier to the interface surface. If the passageway is formed prior to completion of finishing processes on the composite, a protective plug is provided to close the passageway until the optical connection is required.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Ian James Read