Inspection Scope Vibration Filtering for Powerplant Defect Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-destructive inspection methods for internal defects in powerplant components are inadequate in effectively filtering out background noise during measurement, leading to inaccurate defect detection.
Innovation Solution
The use of a piezoelectric actuator and sensor to induce vibrations in powerplant components, measure vibratory responses, and apply filtering techniques such as detrending and liftering to remove noise from measurement data, allowing for accurate detection of internal defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If piezoelectric actuator and sensor are used to induce and measure vibrations in powerplant components, then defect detection capability is improved, but background noise from the inspection scope itself contaminates the measurement data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful background noise component from the measurement data through signal processing techniques. Specifically, the system separates the vibratory response signals into components attributable to the component under inspection versus those attributable to the inspection scope, and extracts only the relevant component data for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing system that acts as a mediator between the raw measurement data and the final defect detection output. This intermediary processing layer filters out noise through techniques such as detrending, liftering, and statistical analysis, allowing clean defect detection without direct contamination from the inspection scope.
2Power
If inspection scope head is abutted against component surface to induce vibrations, then vibration induction effectiveness is improved, but the abutment creates a rigid connection that transmits noise from the inspection scope to the component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible coupling element between the inspection scope head and the component surface. This flexible element maintains the necessary mechanical connection for vibration induction while providing compliance that prevents rigid noise transmission. The flexible coupling acts as a mechanical filter, allowing vibratory energy to pass while blocking high-frequency noise.
3Measurement precision
If measurement data is filtered through multiple processing steps, then noise reduction is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex data processing task into distinct, manageable stages: detrending to remove linear trends, liftering to separate frequency components, and statistical analysis to identify defects. Each stage processes a specific aspect of the data independently, making the overall complex processing more systematic and easier to implement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise identification of internal defects in powerplant components with minimal downtime and cost, even when installed within an aircraft powerplant, by enhancing the accuracy of defect detection through noise reduction in measurement data.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator is configured as a piezoelectric actuator
Implementation Method 2
The sensor is configured as a piezoelectric sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection method is provided during which a head of an inspection scope is inserted into an interior of a powerplant. The head of the inspection scope includes an actuator and a sensor. The powerplant includes a component within the interior of the powerplant. The head of the inspection scope is abutted against a surface of the component. Vibrations in the component are induced using the actuator. A vibratory response excited by the vibrations is measured using the sensor to provide measurement data. The measurement data is filtered to provide filtered data, and the filtering includes detrending the measurement data.