Computed Tomography (CT) as a non-destructive test method used for composite helicopter components

The first components of primary helicopter structures to be made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) were the main and tail rotor blades of the BO 105 and BK 117 helicpoters (Boelkow system). These blades are now successfully produced in series. New developments in rotor components, e.g. the rotor-blade technology of the EC 135 and TIGER programs, make use of very complex fiber-reinforced structures to achieve simplicity and strength. Computed tomography has been found to be an outstanding non-destructive test method for examining the internal structure of components. A CT scanner generates X-ray attenuation measurements which are used to produce computer reconstructed images of any desired part of an object. The system images a range of flaws in composites in a number of views and planes. In the past 15 years Eurocopter Deutschland (ECD) has used conventional medical CT scanners to test composite materials. The CT investigations were performed with rented medical Scanners or with the industrial scanner of the BAM (Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung). Since 1993 ECD is using an own medical CT scanner (GE HiLight Advantage) for development and quality control in the production of composite helicopter components. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RR 2088(37-94 PUB)ME / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman