United States Department of Transportation
i
Capabilities and limitations of nondestructive evaluation methods for inspecting components beneath thermal protection systems
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2004-07-30
[PDF-2.79 MB]
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Edition:Contractor final report; Aug 2003- Jul 2004
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Abstract:The Aerospace Corporation was tasked by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to provide technical support to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST), to develop guidelines for inspecting components of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) protected by thermal protection systems (TPS). The specific objective was to review nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods used to inspect such aerospace structures covered by TPS. Basic issues concerning the inspection of components protected by TPS are identified, and the inherent strengths and limitations
of the various NDE techniques as they relate to the projected needs of future RLV systems are described. This task also served to aid the identification and continuing development of advanced NDE techniques that offer strong potential for future application to RLV inspection. An improved understanding of the capabilities of current and developmental NDE approaches is necessary to establish future inspection guidelines unique to RLV systems. This report describes (1) generic issues associated with NDE inspection beneath TPS, (2) the current state-of-the-art of relevant NDE methods, and (3) new NDE techniques
applicable to RLV inspection.
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