Thermal Wave Imaging (TWI) is the world’s leading provider of thermographic Nondestructive Testing (NDT) equipment, serving the aerospace, power generation, and automotive industries. Since 1993, we have been at the forefront of infrared NDT, offering a comprehensive suite of products designed to meet specific NDT needs. Our turnkey solutions range from handheld units for in-service inspection to fully integrated test cells for Quality Assurance. TWI has been recognized 3 times as a NAVAIR SBIR success story for the development of solutions for aircraft turbine blade quality assurance (TAFIS), signal processing (TSR) and large area NDI (LASLAT), also receiving the 2017 CTMA Technology and 2016 DOD Maintenance Innovation Challenge Awards. We are committed to ongoing innovation, with equal emphasis on scientific rigor and ease-of-use for the end-user operating the equipment.

Focus Area: Enhanced Inspection

Bharat Chaudhry 
bchaudhry@thermalwave.com 
248-414-3730 ext. 303 

Problem Statement:

Existing thermography systems are often too large and cumbersome for use in the field, where limited space and electrical power constraints may apply. Current approaches are typically based on a stop-start inspection routine, where the inspector captures data for a small area that is then processed by a PC to create an image that is viewed by the inspector before moving to the next area.

Technology Solution Statement:

We have developed a compact, self-contained thermography system for aircraft NDI that is battery operated, performs the inspection in a continuous scan and returns results in real-time. Its small footprint and weight allow handheld operation and access to tight spaces. The system is specifically designed to detect common problems that occur in fleet aircraft, e.g., trapped water, impact damage, disbands and delamination’s in composite structures, and corrosion under paint. The system is easy to use and can be transported as carry-on baggage.

Benefits Statement: 

• The system makes it possible to rapidly deploy NDI to locations where it is needed, significantly enhancing fleet readiness.
• The ability to perform unscheduled maintenance in the field, rather than returning to the depot, reduces time-on-ground and maintenance man-hours.