Open AccessAPPLICATION OF TERAHERTZ RADIATION TO THE DETECTION OF CORROSION UNDER THE SHUTTLE'S THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM
Author(s) -
Eric I. Madaras,
Robert F. Anastasi,
Stephen W. Smith,
Jeffrey P. Seebo,
James L. Walker,
Janice K. Lomness,
Paul E. Hintze,
Catherine Kammerer,
William P. Winfree,
Richard Russell,
Donald O. Thompson,
Dale E. Chimenti
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
aip conference proceedings
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.177
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1551-7616
pISSN - 0094-243X
DOI - 10.1063/1.2902691
Subject(s) - tile , terahertz radiation , corrosion , materials science , radiation , space shuttle , nuclear engineering , optics , optoelectronics , metallurgy , composite material , aerospace engineering , physics , engineering
There is currently no method for detecting corrosion under Shuttle tiles except for the expensive process of tile removal and replacement; hence NASA is investigating new NDE methods for detecting hidden corrosion. Time domain terahertz radiation has been applied to corrosion detection under tiles in samples ranging from small lab samples to a Shuttle with positive results. Terahertz imaging methods have been able to detect corrosion at thicknesses of 5 mils or greater under 1” thick Shuttle tiles and 7‐12 mils or greater under 2” thick Shuttle tiles.
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