Inspection & Repair

ACS-A is at the leading edge of inspection and repair of composites, with unique expertise in new technology implementation.

We have a team of engineers and technicians with specialist skills and proven experience in inspection and repair of composites of aircraft and transport components as well as fatigue critical structures within the renewable energy market.

ACS-A staff have a record of success in the design and implementation of repairs for composite structures and metallic structures. Examples include the inspection and repair of damaged storage tanks, pipelines, wind turbine blades, aircraft, helicopters and marine structures.

Inspection of Composite Structures

ACS-A has the knowledge and expertise to inspect composite structures for defects and damage.

This includes simple visual inspection, tap testing and micrography which provide valuable information as to the current health of the structure.

In addition, state-of-the-art ultrasonic equipment is available for the non-destructive inspection (NDI) of damage in monolithic and sandwich composites.

We also offer evaluation, specification and implementation of commercially available Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) sensors in  composite structures to allow critical area and entire structure monitoring.

Processes used to survey damage in monolithic and sandwich composites include:

  • Visual inspection

  • Tap testing

  • Micrography

  • Ultrasonic non destructive inspection

  • Structural health monitoring

 

   

In-house Repair

We provide technical advice on the most suitable type of repair to damaged composites and the rehabilitation of ageing infrastructure.

Robust design procedures have also been developed including characterisation of repair material properties and long term behaviour such as creep.

Repair methodologies have been developed for applying patch repairs to composite and metallic structures. This includes soft and hard patches that can be applied to a variety of structures and within a broad range of markets.

This allows maximising the long-term performance of composite structures via:

  • Correct selection of repair materials

  • Implementation of monitoring technologies

  • In-depth understanding of in-service behaviour

  • Development of maintenance processes

  • Training of maintenance operators

 

In-field Repair

ACS-A has been contracted to design and conduct in-field repairs of metallic and composite structures.

This has included components that have been damaged due to fatigue or have catastrophically failed during extreme weather events.

Additionally, we have successfully delivered projects including the following activities:

  • Flush/stealth feature incorporation

  • Rapid in-situ curing

  • Pre-manufacture of repair panels

  • Optimised implementation of scarf joints

  • Integration of strain- and vibration-based SHM technologies