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)