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Direct Measurements and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Conduct Proof of Concept Tests of a New Pre-Crack Fatigue Detection and Monitoring Technology |
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Atlanta/Marietta - January 4, 2005 - Direct Measurements, Inc. (DMI) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company complete Phase-1 tests of a new DMI strain/fatigue gage technology at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Marietta facility, home of the F/A-22 Raptor and C-130J Hercules. Testing was conducted to evaluate DMI's in-service fatigue detection and monitoring capability on mission-critical aerospace parts and components.
DMI has developed a new patent-pending, strain-based fatigue detection technology that is designed for in-service, long-term use. DMI uses laser bonded "SSR™ fatigue gages" and a handheld, field-ready instrument to measure fatigue damage on a part's surface.
Several mechanical tests were conducted to assess DMI's technology under simulated maintenance conditions using 2024-T3 aircraft-aluminum test specimens. The results provided a number of conclusive observations regarding the DMI technology. Static tensile tests demonstrated the effectiveness of DMI's technology in making on-board strain measurement in operational (non-laboratory) applications. In a single-cycle-to-failure test, the DMI instrument measured strain magnitudes greater than 100,000 micro-strain, which far exceeds the capabilities of conventional foil gages. A third test involved fatigue testing near a hole to simulate the stress concentrations at a rivet or fastener. DMI's fatigue gage technology measured fixed plastic strains (i.e. fatigue damage) in the vicinity of the hole prior to the formation of visible cracks.
"Translating laboratory-proven concepts into applications for in-flight health monitoring is a top aerospace and defense priority. The recent testing at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Structural Test facility in Marietta, GA, has demonstrated a potential to address this need," said Marc Wood, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Principal Engineer for Structural Testing. "Additionally, the ability to measure structural strains under ground testing or flight conditions, without the need for bulky, intrusive cabling or costly sensor installations, would be an enormous benefit."
DMI and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company plan to run a second phase of tests, which will include fatigue specimens designed to simulate riveted lap-joints. Additional early planning is underway for possible in-flight testing of the DMI technology on select components in Lockheed Martin aircraft.
Direct Measurements, Inc. is a privately held Georgia corporation specializing in alternative technology for strain and fatigue measurement. More information can be found at DMI's website: www.directmeasure.com
DMI Media Contact: Lex Pavlo, 610.431.0861
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