THERSA, THERMOELASTIC RESIDUAL STRESS ANALYSIS SYSTEM Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-136 Topic Title: THERSA, THERMOELASTIC RESIDUAL STRESS ANALYSIS SYSTEM Proposal No.: N102-136-0609 Firm: MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 57 MARYANNE DRIVE MONROE, Connecticut 06468-3209 Contact: Yogesh Mehrotra Phone: (203) 874-3100 Web Site: www.AboutMTC.com Abstract: To accurately account for effects of environmentally assisted cracking in the overall structural life, quantitative information on the sustained residual stresses needs to be identified. Current methods for residual stress evaluation lack the required level of quantitative accuracy to permit the prognostics efforts pertaining to hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking. This lack of accuracy results in i) inaccurate assessment of structure's susceptibility to premature failure, ii) increased maintenance workloads, iii) reduced fleet readiness, and iv) increased safety risks. To avoid these adverse effects, technologies that can accurately quantify the residual stress on aircraft structural components must be developed. In this SBIR program, Materials Technologies Corporation leverages its extensive IR and optical inspection system R&D experience and proposes THERSA, a Thermoelastic Residual Stress Analysis system, based on a novel quantitative infra-red thermography method for nondestructive evaluation and inspection of metal and composite components using thermoelastic stress analysis. During Phase I research, residual stress quantification methods will be established and methodology will be verified through an extensive experimental program. Once feasibility is demonstrated, Phase II program will culminate with the delivery of a prototype THERSA technology to the US Navy. Benefits: Our proposed THERSA system can be used on any metallic structures/components identifying the current state of stress. In that respect the application platforms range from structural components of military aircraft to commercial aircraft. The system at the same time provides information regarding damage state of the component without any modification to the base THERSA system. The benefits of a damage detection system are not questionable. The proposed technology can also be used in pressure vessels, pipelines, and critical civil structures. The ability to predict damage locations, acquire quantitative information and to schedule pipeline segment or bridge replacement could provide considerable cost savings to the federal and state governments. Return