Project Title:

Slit, Digital Radiography for Analysis of Bond Defects in Rocket Motors

11.04-6425
NAS8-38459
Slit, Digital Radiography for Analysis of Bond
	Defects in Rocket Motors
Bio-Imaging Research, Inc.
	425 Barclay Boulevard
	Lincolnshire, IL 60069
		Bruce G. Isaacson
(312-634-6425)

Abstract:

	This project will determine the feasibility of using slit, digital radiography with
high-performance, discrete-element X-ray detectors to evaluate bond-line defects.
These detectors, developed for medical computed tomography (CT), are being applied
to industrial, digital radiography (DR) and CT imaging. Slit radiography, a DR technique,
may able to assess bond-line defects in cylindrical assemblies such as solid-rocket
motors. This technique can map density variations within the rocket-motor wall associated
with matrix-rich areas, cracks, porosity, and voids. The wide dynamic range of the
detectors accommodates the multiple-path data collection necessary for CT and allows
them to pick up small density differences in materials when used for either DR or
CT. Recent improvements also make it possible to resolve the small features of interest
in industrial applications. Simulated and actual bond-line defects will be investigated
in order to compare the results of the slit radiography with computed tomography
and traditional, tangential, film radiography to determine the effectiveness of the
innovation.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications: This capability would be useful to aircraft and
aerospace component manufacturers.