Ultrasonic detection of corrosion between riveted plates

The issue of detecting corrosion between riveted plates of aluminum continues to be of interest, especially for the application of detecting hidden corrosion in aging aircraft. In this presentation, a preliminary investigation of the use of localized ultrasonic resonance and acousto-ultrasonic methods has been completed to determine the suitability of these techniques for the detection of hidden corrosion. The initial results have demonstrated the ability to identify components of the received resonance and acousto-ultrasonic signals that can be used to detect the presence of corrosion. A computer algorithm has been implemented to simplify the classification process, enabling the user to detect and categorize the hidden corrosion in the riveted structure. In addition, systematic changes in the received signals from the hidden corrosion can be used to monitor the evolution of the corrosion and, thus, determine its severity in the riveted structure.