The objective of this proposal is to further focus on the application and appropriate adaptation of Phase Contrast X-ray imaging technology for the Non-Destructive Evaluation and Inspection of primary aeronautical composite structures, both during the manufacturing process and during the repair and re-use of key components.

The introduction of this new methodology is expected to provide the aeronautical industry with a more detailed insight of the internal structure of thin and particularly challenging thick composite structures as well as complex geometry ones such as integrated closed boxes and sandwiches, enabling the prompt detection of micrometer defects deeper in the composite structure, compared to the state-of-the-art technologies.

It is expected that the proposed novel non-destructive technology methodology will help achieve the goals of reduction of aircraft weight through lowering the safety factors, as a detailed and highly reliable knowledge of the internal damage status of primary structural elements will be enabled.

At the same time, it will also help reduce the aircraft development cost because this new technique will be introduced in the inspection and quality control during the manufacturing process.