Evaluation of Nondestructive Volumetric Testing Methods for Additively Manufactured Parts

Published

June 4, 2020

Author(s)

Anne Francoise H. Obaton, Bryan Butsch, Stephen McDonough, Nans Laroche, Yves Gaillard, Jared B. Tarr, Patrick Bouvet, Rodolfo Cruz, Alkan Donmez

Abstract

Additive manufacturing enables the production of customized and complex parts. These two aspects are very attractive for aerospace and medical sectors. However, in these critical sectors, governed by strict safety requirements, the quality of the parts is of paramount importance and the technology has advanced at a much faster pace than regulations and quality controls. The reliability of the parts must be guarantee and hence quality control is needed. Considering the complexity of additively manufactured part shapes, the inspection methods need to be non-destructive, three-dimensional (3D), but also volumetric. The X-ray computed tomography is presently the more appropriate method, but it turns out to be too long and expensive for routine control. Thus, alternative non-destructive 3D volumetric methods are required. In this paper, four alternative methods, implying acoustic (resonant acoustic method, process compensated resonance testing) and ultrasonic (conventional ultrasonic testing, phased array ultrasonic testing combined with total focusing method) waves are investigated and compare with X-ray computed tomography using synchrotron radiation inspection.

Proceedings Title

ASTM Symposium on Structural Integrity of Additive Manufactured Parts

Conference Dates

November 6-8, 2018

Conference Location

Washington, DC, US

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Non-destructive testing (NDT), volumetric NDT, additive manufacturing, acoustic methods, ultrasound methods, X-ray tomography

Citation

Obaton, A. , Butsch, B. , McDonough, S. , Laroche, N. , Gaillard, Y. , Tarr, J. , Bouvet, P. , Cruz, R. and Donmez, A. (2020), Evaluation of Nondestructive Volumetric Testing Methods for Additively Manufactured Parts, ASTM Symposium on Structural Integrity of Additive Manufactured Parts, Washington, DC, US (Accessed January 2, 2025)