EM Acoustic Transducers and Eddy Current Testing for NDE of Welds in Space

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to evaluate the use of Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) and Eddy Current Testing (ET) transducers for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of welds in the space environment.

Project Description

In recent years, in-space manufacturing has gained significant momentum. Any structures or hardware constructed in space must undergo a thorough inspection process to detect flaws and cracks, ensuring that these components will not fail due to crack propagation. This project focuses on the inspection of welds in aluminum plates, although the methods developed can be easily adapted for other electrically conductive materials. While several factors in the space environment—such as near-vacuum pressures, heightened radiation, low gravity, and, on the Moon, the presence of regolith—complicate the application of conventional non-destructive testing (NDE) techniques, this work primarily addresses the wide temperature variations that inspections will need to account for. The anticipated temperature range spans from -130°C to +150°C.

The outcome of this research will provide a quantification of how the sensitivity (or signal-to-noise ratio) changes across the temperature spectrum, along with recommended design modifications and material selections suitable for operation in space.

Project Results and Conclusions

The project is nearing the completion of the testing phase. A six-month, no-cost time extension was granted for this project. The testing chambers for the weld panels have been completed, and the weld panels have been constructed and shipped to the partner. Temperature range testing is expected to begin in early 2025.

• Gain a strong understanding of how EMAT and ET probes perform in the space environment, especially across a wide range of temperature variations.
• This knowledge will aid in the development of an automated NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) inspection system.
• The system will be adaptable for use in various space environments, ensuring efficient and reliable inspections.

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