Scientists from the TPU School of Non-Destructive Testing and Security have developed a mobile robotic cell for thermoacoustic defect detection in composite materials and metals. Thanks to its compact size, the unit can be moved to investigate large objects, and the use of a robotic manipulator allows for the inspection of products with complex geometric shapes.
Previously, the TPU team created a stationary thermoacoustic testing unit resembling a 3D printer. Instead of a printing head, it is equipped with an infrared camera and an ultrasonic stimulation device. The movement of these elements, as well as the table on which the controlled object is placed, is carried out using a motorized system. The system is controlled via the unit's panel, and monitoring is done using a remote computer. This unit was developed by order of STC Etalon LLC and transferred to NPO Energomash JSC as part of a large non-destructive testing complex.
The new mobile unit stands out for its portability and is designed to control the quality of long objects, including products of complex geometric shapes. The thermoacoustic testing method, similar to the stationary unit, involves introducing mechanical vibrations into the object, which causes heat in the areas of defects, such as delaminations or cracks. This heat is recorded by a thermal imager, allowing for the detection of both surface and subsurface cracks, as well as delaminations in composites and metals, which are difficult to detect by other testing methods.
Acting Head of the TPU Industrial Tomography Center, Arseniy Chulkov, noted that the School of Non-Destructive Testing and Security continues to develop the thermoacoustic testing method, which today is promising for identifying hidden defects in products. He emphasized that the main feature of the new robotic cell is its portability and mobility, which will allow for conducting research directly at the production or maintenance sites. In addition, thanks to robotic systems, it is possible to carry out control along a given program trajectory, which provides flexibility in the study of products with complex geometric shapes.
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