Synopsis: NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a methodology to measure damage onset and grow at multiple locations in a composite structure during fatigue loading. The thermography inspection is non-contact and can cover very large areas. The acoustic emission sensors require contact at only the sensor attachment points and can cover large areas. The acoustic emission measurement is very sensitive to damage formation events such as matrix cracking, fiber breaks, and delamination, however the event location is approximate. An infrared camera is able to detect damage growth and location at areas of heating (due to fiber breaks, rubbing of disbond areas and matrix cracks) and thus confirm the acoustic emission measurements. If the loading is cyclic the infrared camera is also able to detect the relative depth of the damage. Combining both technologies helps to reduce false indications, confirm damage growth areas and where ultimate failure will occur. This provides a measurement capability to detect growing damage (location and size) for improved structures testing or during in-service applications. Multiple infrared (IR) cameras and multiple acoustic emission sensors can be employed internally or externally for full coverage of the structure. When significant damage growth is detected, the structure can be taken out of service for repair or for further inspections. This technology has been demonstrated for structures testing. In-situ NDE inspections are necessary to provide structural engineers a tool to incrementally control and document damage growth as a function of fatigue cycles before failure. This allows for the comparison of NDE results to develop and validate progressive damage analysis (PDA) models. The ultimate goal is to use the validated PDA models to decrease the time required to certify composite structures and therefore save development costs. Real time NDE can document the progression of damage and provide the documentation of ultimate failure mechanisms. NASA is seeking to license this technology commercially in the United States. US Patent pending. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to
[email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide how you foresee using the technology along with a brief background of your company. Additionally, please identify any non-US interests/subsidiaries in your company as well. For more information about licensing other NASA Langley-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Langley's Technology Gateway at https://technologygateway.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA Langley's Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development "OSACB" for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.