NDE Technology for Ceramic Composites

Abstract

Installation of gas turbine components made of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials, which have limited test bed data bases, can put test engines at risk. Further, changes in properties of the materials of these components have been shown to occur with exposure. Risks to the engine can be mitigated through the application of proper nondestructive inspection methods. Further, while still under development, proper application of certain nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies seem likely to be able to provide data that can be correlated to retained strength or other properties of these composite materials. If sufficient data were available informed decisions could be made regarding reuse, repair or replace with appropriate NDE. Over the past fourteen years, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), has been developing various NDE methods specifically for CMC materials. These NDE technologies include: infrared based thermal imaging, air-coupled ultrasonic approaches, high spatial resolution x-ray computed tomography and more recently optical coherence tomography and guided plate waves. This paper will review the developments of these NDE technologies and will provide results with collaboration from engine and laboratory materials tests.