This article presents a comprehensive review of the laser-based guided ultrasonic waves propagation imaging (G-UPI) system and respective signal/data processing methods related to the nondestructive testing and evaluation of thin-walled structures. The primary goal of this study is to review and recognize various processing methods, explain the working principles of the most influential methods, and highlight outstanding capabilities. In addition, the suitability of the methods for multiple types of damage and defect in various materials and structures are presented. At the same time, success stories of difficult-to-inspect cases are highlighted. Its secondary goal is to compare and discuss the merits and demerits of the laser-scanning part of the system for ultrasound generation and acquisition to provide a guideline for scanning scheme or hardware selection. Finally, the potential challenges and prospects of the G-UPI are discussed. It is expected that this review would serve as an entrance key for newcomers and a reference point for researchers to explore the opportunities for further improvement in the laser ultrasound-based evaluation of critical engineering structures.

The flutter/divergence speed of a simple rectangular composite wing is maximized through the use of different ply orientations. Four different biologically inspired optimization algorithms (binary genetic algorithm, continuous genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, and ant colony optimization) and a simple meta-modeling approach are employed statistically on the same problem set. In terms of the best flutter speed, it was found that similar results were obtained using all of the methods, although the continuous methods gave better answers than the discrete methods. When the results were considered in terms of the statistical variation between different solutions, ant colony optimization gave estimates with much less scatter.

A procedure for developing efficient aeroelastic reduced order models (ROMs) for aerospace structures containing geometric nonlinearities is described. The structural modelling is based upon a combined modal/FE approach that describes the non-linear stiffening effects from results of non-linear static analyses for a range of prescribed inputs. Once the structural ROM has been defined, it is coupled to the rational fraction approximation of the doublet lattice aerodynamic model corresponding to the wing planform. The aeroelastic model can then be used to predict the dynamic aeroelastic behaviour of the defined structure. The methodology is demonstrated on the aeroelastic model of a flexible high aspect ratio wing with the static deflections, LCO behaviour and gust response being predicted.

A simple un-tapered wing box model was considered to illustrate an aeroelastic tailoring of varying ribs orientation with respect to a range of sweep angles. This approach allows the bending-torsional modes characteristic to be altered hence offering possibility for improvement in aeroelastic performance without having to compromise its overall weight. Two cases of ribs orientation were considered for a range of sweep angles. The first case was by allowing one individual ribs to be orientated at a time and the second case considering all possible combination of ribs orientation. The finding shows that the torsional modes are greatly influenced by the rib orientation while the bending modes are not significantly affected. Therefore, this enable the frequency gap between the flutter modes to be altered; hence resulting into significant impact to aeroelastic performances. It has been found that for all the considered sweep angles, the varying ribs orientation can lead into an improvement of nearly 80-90% when compared to its corresponding baseline configuration. Therefore, this provides a leverage for an advancement in aeroelastic performance without having to penalize the total weight of the wing structure. Â

Mass reduction is a primary design goal pursued in satellite structural design, since the launch cost is proportional to their total mass. The most common mass reduction method currently employed is to introduce honeycomb structures, with space qualified composite materials as facing materials, into the structural design, especially for satellites with larger masses. However, efficient implementation of these materials requires significant expertise in their design, analysis, and fabrication processes; moreover, the material procurement costs are high, therefore increasing the overall program costs. Thus, the current work proposes a low-cost alternative approach through the design and implementation of geometrically-shaped, parametrically-defined metal perforation patterns, fabricated by standard processes. These patterns included four geometric shapes (diamonds, hexagons, squares, and triangles) implemented onto several components of a structural design for a conceptual satellite, with a parametric design space defined by two scale factors and also two aspect ratio variations. The change in the structure’s fundamental natural frequency, as a result of implementing each pattern shape and parameter variation, was the selection criterion, due to its importance during the launcher selection process. The best pattern from among the four alternatives was then selected, after having validated the computational methodology through implementing experimental modal analysis on a scaled down physical model of a primary load-bearing component of the structural design. From the findings, a significant mass reduction percentage of 23.15%, utilizing the proposed perforation concept, was achieved in the final parametric design iteration relative to the baseline unperforated case while maintaining the same fundamental frequency. Dynamic loading analysis was also conducted, utilizing both the baseline unperforated and the finalized perforated designs, to check its capability to withstand realistic launch loads through applying quasi-static loads. The findings show that the final perforated design outperformed the baseline unperforated design with respect to the maximum displacements, maximum Von Mises stresses, and also the computed margin of safety. With these encouraging outcomes, the perforated design concept proved that it could provide an opportunity to develop low-cost satellite structural designs with reduced mass.

Biodegradable natural fibers have been suggested to replace the hazardous synthetic fibers in many aerospace applications. However, this notion has been limited due to their low mechanical properties, which leads to the idea of hybridizing the two materials. Many aircraft components such as radome, aft body and wing are highly susceptible to low velocity impact damage while in-service. The damages degrade the structural integrity of the components and change their dynamic characteristics. In worst case scenario, the changes can lead to resonance, which is an excessive vibration. This research is conducted to study the dynamic characteristic changes of low velocity impact damaged hybrid composites that is designed for aircraft radome applications. Three materials, which are glass fiber, kenaf fiber and kenaf/glass fiber hybrid composites, have been impacted with 3J, 6J and 9J of energy. Cantilevered and also vertically clamped boundary conditions are used and the natural frequencies are extracted for each of the specimens. The obtained results show that natural frequency decreases with increasing impact level. Cantilevered condition is found to induce lower modes due to the gravitational pull. To eliminate mass and geometrical effects, normalized modes are computed. Among the three materials considered, glass fiber composites have displayed the highest normalized frequency that reflects on its higher stiffness compared to the other two materials. As the damage level is increased, glass fiber composites have shown the highest frequency reduction to a maximum of 35% while kenaf composites have the least frequency reduction in the range of 1 – 18%. Thus, kenaf fiber is taken to be helpful in stalling the damage progression and reducing the effect of damage. This has been proven when the percentage frequency decrement shown by kenaf/glass fiber composite lies between glass fiber and kenaf fiber composites.