Nondestructive Solutions
Critical clarity for the most complex inspection challenges: Kratos’ multi-disciplinary team provides nondestructive method optimization and high-fidelity analysis for challenging inspections or advanced material characterization.
Inspect the Uninspectable
Proprietary ultrasonic technology featuring unique excitation: the limits of conventional UT no longer apply.
Attenuative
Materials that significantly weaken ultrasonic signals, such as porous composites or unique coatings call for Kratos’ solution of improved signal-to-noise ratio, increased depth of penetration and advanced analysis for reliable inspections.
Thick
Materials with substantial thickness such as laminates, honeycomb structures with top layers, coatings, or components >2 inches demand Kratos’ solutions enabling deep penetration and defect detection beyond the limits of traditional UT.
Complex
Materials or structures with multi-layer, bonded, varied-thickness, or complex-geometry configurations require Kratos’ broadband interrogation and advanced analysis to interpret challenging signals.
Thick/Tapered CFRP
Conventional ultrasonic methods may be adequate for traditional materials, but they fall short for attenuative materials, such as Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP).These materials can be thick and contain hidden structural features, such as tapered regions or bonded substructure, which present inspection challenges– challenges successfully addressed by Kratos’ UltraSpec® technology.
Scarf Repair
Ensuring that a composite‑to‑honeycomb scarf repair has been performed successfully is a challenging inspection problem. Where other methods fall short, Kratos’ UltraSpec® technology excels—providing depth‑of‑penetration that exceeds conventional ultrasonic capabilities and enabling the detection of very small engineered defects.
Friction Stir Welds
When friction stir welds contain microstructural defects such as over-aging rather than a traditional discontinuity like voids or pores, conventional ultrasonic methods will miss them. Kratos’ UltraSpec® system employs a broad frequency spectrum to enhance sensitivity to subtle variations in material properties, generating visual maps of the material in and around the weld that help identify areas of concern.
Multi-Material Bonds
Single-frequency ultrasonic testing can indicate that a change exists, but Kratos’ UltraSpec® reveals far more – identifying what the difference is, where it occurs, and to what extent – providing the comprehensive characterization needed for complex bonded structures.
Advanced Composites
Ultrasonic inspection of highly attenuative Carbon-Carbon and Ceramic Matrix Composite materials is often viewed as impractical, but Kratos’ UltraSpec® technology has demonstrated otherwise—delivering informative evaluations of fully shaped components through automated, single-sided, dry-coupled inspection methods.
AM Metallics
Variability within Additively Manufactured (AM) metallic materials requires additional consideration when assessing properties, particularly at elevated temperatures. Kratos provides specialized solutions for evaluating anisotropic material behavior under combined mechanical and thermal loading.
UltraSpec® System
UltraSpec® uses a long-duration swept-frequency ultrasonic pulse in contrast to the short-duration, large-amplitude excitation pulses used in traditional ultrasonic spectroscopy applications. Covering broad ranges of frequencies in one pulse improves depth of penetration, produces repeatable spectral signatures and enhances defect detectability and characterization.
- Improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in attenuative media (e.g., carbon-carbon), multi-layered structures with dry-couplant options
- Broadband response with processing: sweep -> compressed broadband pulse for robust time-of-flight and frequency analysis
- More efficient acquisition than dwelling at discrete frequencies (stepped-sine)
Inspections and the research and development of thick components, high-loss composites, tapered laminates and hard-to-couple geometries.
- Higher SNR and cleaner echoes in tough materials and tapers
- Broadband insight from a single sweep
- Works with conventional UT probes
- Integrates easily with scanners and cobots
Contact Us
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