The Boeing Company
Methods and systems for determining bond efficacy using metallic reflectors and ultrasonic inspection

Abstract:

In an example, a method of determining bonding efficacy of a composite laminate is described. The method includes disposing a metallic substance on a bonding agent, coupling the bonding agent having the metallic substance between a first and second layer of composite material to form a composite assembly, heating and curing the composite assembly to produce the composite laminate, receiving a post-curing interference signal that indicates a post-curing degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite laminate, comparing the post-curing interference signal to a pre-curing interference signal that indicates a baseline degree of constructive interference resulting from transmission of ultrasonic waves into the composite assembly, and determining the bond efficacy of the composite laminate based on the comparison, where a reduction in constructive interference between the pre-curing interference signal and the post-curing interference signal is indicative of the bond efficacy.