Process Compensated Resonance Testing for Additive Manufacturing Process Monitoring and Control and Gas Turbine Engine Component

The DLA and Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) require procedures for acceptance of repairs and replacement parts made with additive manufacturing (AM). Tools for monitoring and control of AM processes are vital to that acceptance procedure. Vibrant Corporation provides process monitoring and control and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) services with its Process Compensated Resonance Testing (PCRT) technology. In Phase I of this program, Vibrant developed and demonstrated a PCRT Process Monitoring and Control approach for AM. In Phase II, Vibrant will work with the AFSC, OEMs, and suppliers to evaluate AM specimens and end-use components for variation between builds, machines, and suppliers using PCRT. Vibrant will develop and demonstrate an automated, reconfigurable PCRT system that accommodates a wide range of component geometries. Vibrant will add the capabilities developed and demonstrated in this program to its suite of commercial testing services for AM customers, building upon its already considerable commercialization success in the AM supply chain. The DLA and AFSC have also identified a need for rapid NDE of material states in gas turbine engine components. Vibrant will work with the AFSC to gather data on these components and demonstrate PCRT NDE for material state variation and monitoring of component repair processes.