Cryogenic Computed Tomography (Cryo CT)

X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) has quickly become a prominent and extremely valuable tool across the Agency for engineering evaluation and inspection of flight hardware.  A current limitation of CT systems; however, is that all scans currently must be performed at room temperature; whereas many of the components that we investigate will experience either cold or hot temperatures during flight.  The objective of the Cryo CT project is to create an environmental test chamber so that reduced temperature CT inspections are possible, down to cryogenic temperatures (liquid N2).  Extended applications of the chamber could also apply to inert gas inspections and future efforts will be focused on adding elevated temperature capability to the system.

Major project goals and the anticipated benefits:

• Provide assurance for compatibility with extreme environments by offering means to directly quantify the effect that a cold environment has on the internal elements of a part or material.  
  • This could eliminate the need for destructive physical analyses (DPA) on some components by diagnosing failures in situ.
  • For failure assessment/flaw detection in parts which do not pass thermal cycling requirements (electrical opens, stuck valves, mechanism issues, etc.).
• Using a tandem pair of CT scans—one at room T and one at reduced T, the reconstructed volumes could be compared directly using 3D comparative analysis software such as VGStudio Max, Aramis, Correlated Solutions DVC or LaVision StrainMaster DVC to create a delta volume. 
  • This would provide a way to experimentally measure internal, thermally induced strains or deformation in all directions.
• Provide a means to measure the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for complex geometries or for internal components.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.