Progress in the Nondestructive Evaluation of CF-18 Composite Flight Controls for Water Ingress and Related Damage,
Abstract
In late 1995, the CF Nondestructive Testing Center (NDTC) at the Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron (ATESS) in CFB Trenton arranged for a CF-18 to be sent and tested at the neutron radiography and X-ray facility at McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA. As indicated in the subsequent inspection report (ref 1), it was discovered that the right aileron and the left rudder had indications of moisture ingress in the graphite/epoxy skin layers or aluminum honeycomb core structure, as well as the possibility of corrosion in the core. After further NDT inspections of the rudder coordinated by ATESS at the Quality Engineering Test Establishment (QETE) and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), the skin was removed in the affected area to allow a physical assessment of the damage by QETE. Initial results indicated that the FM-30O bonding layer had broken down at the interfaces between the aluminum cells and the adhesive and that water was present in the cells, although corrosion products were not found. More details were presented in QETE's final investigation report (ref 2), but the exact mechanism of water ingress could not be determined, and is still a mystery; several possible water/moisture entrance points have been explored.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA349697
Entities
People
- B. A. Lepine
- K. I. Mcrae
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada