Application of NDT thermographic imaging of aerospace structures

This work aims to address the effectiveness and challenges of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspection and improve the detection of defects without causing damage to the material or operator. It focuses on two types of NDT methods; pulsed thermography and vibrothermography. The paper also explores the possibility of performing automated aerial inspection using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) provided with a thermographic imaging system. The concept of active thermography is discussed for inspecting aircraft CFRP panels along with the proposal for performing aerial inspection using the UAV for real time inspection. Static NDT results and the further UAV research indicate that the UAV inspection approach could significantly reduce the inspection time, cost, and workload, whilst potentially increasing the probability of detection

Autonomous systems thermographic NDT of composite structures

Transient thermography is a method used successfully in the evaluation of composite materials and aerospace structures. It has the capacity to deliver both qualitative and quantitative results about hidden defects or features in a composite structure. Aircraft must undergo routine maintenance – inspection to check for any critical damage and thus to ensure its safety. This work aims to address the challenge of NDT automated inspection and improve the defects’ detection by suggesting an autonomous thermographic imaging approach using a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) active thermographic system. The concept of active thermography is discussed and presented in the inspection of aircraft CFRP panels along with the mission planning for aerial inspection using the UAV for real time inspection. Results indicate that the suggested approach could significantly reduce the inspection time, cost, and workload, whilst potentially increase the probability of detection of defects on aircraft composites

A relocatable ocean model in support of environmental emergencies

During the Costa Concordia emergency case, regional, subregional, and relocatable ocean models have been used together with the oil spill model, MEDSLIK-II, to provide ocean currents forecasts, possible oil spill scenarios, and drifters trajectories simulations. The models results together with the evaluation of their performances are presented in this paper. In particular, we focused this work on the implementation of the Interactive Relocatable Nested Ocean Model (IRENOM), based on the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS), for the Costa Concordia emergency and on its validation using drifters released in the area of the accident. It is shown that thanks to the capability of improving easily and quickly its configuration, the IRENOM results are of greater accuracy than the results achieved using regional or subregional model products. The model topography, and to the initialization procedures, and the horizontal resolution are the key model settings to be configured. Furthermore, the IRENOM currents and the MEDSLIK-II simulated trajectories showed to be sensitive to the spatial resolution of the meteorological fields used, providing higher prediction skills with higher resolution wind forcing.MEDESS4MS Project; TESSA Project; MyOcean2 Projectinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enhanced infrared sparse pattern extraction and usage for impact evaluation of basalt-carbon hybrid composites by pulsed thermography

Nowadays, infrared thermography, as a widely used non-destructive testing method, is increasingly studied for impact evaluation of composite structures. Sparse pattern extraction is attracting increasing attention as an advanced post-processing method. In this paper, an enhanced sparse pattern extraction framework is presented for thermographic sequence processing and defect detection. This framework adapts cropping operator and typical component extraction as a preprocessing step to reduce the dimensions of raw data and applies sparse pattern extraction algorithms to enhance the contrast on the defect area. Different cases are studied involving several defects in four basalt-carbon hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer composite laminates. Finally, comparative analysis with intensity distribution is carried out to verify the effectiveness of contrast enhancement using this framework

Autonomous Systems Imaging of Aerospace Structures

Manufacturers are constantly looking for more cost-efficient means to produce aircraft components. An effective way to do this is to reduce the weight, which results in less fuel required to power the aircraft. This has led to an increased use of composite materials. Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite is used in industries where high strength and rigidity are required in relation to weight. e.g. in aviation – transport. The fibre-reinforced matrix systems are extremely strong (i.e. have excellent mechanical properties and high resistance to corrosion). However, because of the nature of the CFRP, it does not dint or bend, as aluminium would do when damaged, it makes it difficult to locate structural damage, especially subsurface. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques used to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage to the operator or material. Active Thermography is one of the NDT risk-free methods used successfully in the evaluation of composite materials. This approach has the ability to provide both qualitative and quantitative information about hidden defects or features in a composite structure. Aircraft must undergo routine maintenance –inspection to asses for any critical damage and thus to ensure its safety. This work aims to address the challenge of NDT automated inspection and improve the defects’ detection by performing automated aerial inspection using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) thermographic imaging system. The concept of active thermography is discussed and presented in the inspection of aircraft’s CFRP panels along with the mission planning for aerial inspection using the UAV for real time inspection. Results indicate that this inspection approach could significantly reduce the inspection time, cost, and workload, whilst potentially increasing the probability of detection

La entrevista estructurada en Psiquiatría.

Se analizan en este trabajo los fundamentos teóricos del proceso de estructuración de la entrevista psiquiátrica, así como las estrategias metodológicas seguidas para mejorar los niveles de fiabilidad del diagnóstico psiquiátrico. Para ello se toman como ejemplo las entrevistas psiquiátricas estructuradas o semi-estructuradas más significativas desarrolladas en los últimos años y que han tenido un especial impacto en nuestro país. Finalmente se presentan las entrevistas psiquiátricas de última generación (CIDI y SCAN) desarrolladas en el contexto de un programa multicéntrico internacional promovido por la OMS y la ADAMHA

La entrevista estructurada en Psiquiatría.

Se analizan en este trabajo los fundamentos teóricos del proceso de estructuración de la entrevista psiquiátrica, así como las estrategias metodológicas seguidas para mejorar los niveles de fiabilidad del diagnóstico psiquiátrico. Para ello se toman como ejemplo las entrevistas psiquiátricas estructuradas o semi-estructuradas más significativas desarrolladas en los últimos años y que han tenido un especial impacto en nuestro país. Finalmente se presentan las entrevistas psiquiátricas de última generación (CIDI y SCAN) desarrolladas en el contexto de un programa multicéntrico internacional promovido por la OMS y la ADAMHA

Infrared vision for artwork and cultural heritage NDE studies: principles and case studies

This text briefly presents the basis of 'infrared vision' in the context of cultural heritage studies. Infrared vision here encompasses near-infrared as well as thermal infrared schemes of inspection. The theory is briefly presented and attention is then focused on several non-destructive evaluation (NDE) case studies in cultural heritage: painting artwork, under-painting lettering retrieval and the investigation of Egyptian pyramids through the ScanPyramids Mission, led by the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University and the HIP (Heritage Innovation Preservation) Institute

Multi-scale signal-to-noise driven fusion of post-processing sequences for enhanced defect detectability in active infrared thermography

Active infrared thermography has emerged as a crucial tool in non-destructive testing, providing real-time visual representations of thermal patterns on material surfaces. However, detecting and analyzing defects can be challenging due to noise interference, the lack of standardization in post-processing techniques, complexity in data analysis, variability in defect visibility across frames, and the influence of environmental factors. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel approach that enhances defect detectability by fusing multiple sequences derived from various post-processing methods into single, interpretable images. The proposed approach employs a multi-scale signal-to-noise ratio metric to accurately identify regions of interest and determine the optimal time at which defect detectability is maximized. Validation with two composite specimens featuring diverse defect characteristics demonstrates the capability of the method to simplify analysis and reliably improve detection performance. Compared with wavelet-based image fusion, the proposed approach achieves superior defect visibility and clarity, demonstrating a significant advancement in the effectiveness and reliability of thermographic inspections