SBRI Challenge - Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE)

Develop a technique to reduce inspection maintenance costs by deploying fully optimised guided wave inspections to quickly and accurately assess the condition of difficult to access fuel and hydraulic seals. 1) A reliable and repeatable operating procedure to assess seal integrity; 2) A method for accurately and quickly identifying mis-alignment and inadequate seal coupling; 3) An approach that minimises system disturbance and reduces prolonged inspection periods; 4) Increase availability of aircraft due to reduced, yet safe, maintenance programme. The work is to be undertaken in accordance with the SBRI application 61125-446206 submitted and held by Innovate UK for the Non-Destructive Evaluation programme. Key deliverables are: 1. Definition of pipeline geometries and seal types that represent a range of common aircraft fuel and hydraulic networks (19/11/2015) 2. Development of a functional three-dimensional Guided Wave Finite Element model (27/11/2015) 3. Development of a functional fuel and hydraulic seal model (22/01/2016) 4. Validation and testing complete with demonstration of a fully working prototype (26/02/2016) 5. Determination of a Guided Wave optimisation function (18/03/2016) 6. Demonstration of above and delivery of Phase 1 final report (22/04/2016)