Sample Senior Design Proposal

Aluminum plates used in high strength applications such as aerospace must be sonically inspected for internal defects that would reduce the mechanical properties of the plate. This is accomplished by running a “probe” over the surface of the plate while an acoustic signal is used to evaluate the internal integrity of the plate. Periodically, plates can not be successfully scanned due to flatness or ripples “chatter” in the surface.

Even though these plates are within customer specifications for flatness and chatter, the sonic scanner roller design is not capable of inspecting material at a certain level of flatness or chatter without losing the backwall. This project would investigate improvements in the scanner roller design that would allow it to successfully scan plates that are within customer tolerances for flatness or chatter.

Specific project goals and objectives include but are not limited to:
1. Perform a comprehensive review of literature related to sonic scanning and the impact of flatness and chatter on test results.
2. Review scanner design specifications and historical scanner performance relevant to the project.
3. Determine and evaluate options to improve the probe performance to expand the flatness and chatter levels that can be successfully scanned.
4. Recommend a method to validate the preferred option prior to implementation in production.

1. Literature review and evaluation.
2. Analysis and report of scanner performance related to flatness and chatter.
3. Report of options evaluation and selection to increase flatness and chatter tolerance for scanning.
4. Recommended path forward.