Damage modeling and quantification in aircraft structures using the improved D-Sight non-destructive testing technique

• Dates: 2021-2023
• Place: Silesian University of Technology
• PI: Andrzej Katunin
• Cooperating staff: Krzysztof Dragan, Piotr Synaszko, Adam Cholewa, Marko Nagode, Simon Oman, Kamil Joszko, Paweł Żak
• Funding source: Silesian University of Technology - Excellence Initiative

One of the specialized non-destructive testing techniques used to assess the degree of structure corrosion is the D-Sight (Double-pass retroreflection) technique. It is an optical technique that allows the detection of damage in structures thanks to the phenomenon of light scattering using the so-called retroreflective screen and then recording the reflected light using a visible light camera. The technique is particularly useful in detecting corrosion in metal structures, impact damage, cracks and surface defects in both metal and composite structures. The aim of the research was to enable qualitative assessment of damage using the DAIS system by developing models of these damages and then experimentally validating them, which enabled damage quantification. Thanks to the implementation of the project, the D-Sight assessment technique was significantly improved, allowing for a qualitative assessment of detected damage, including determining their size. Validation tests were carried out on aircraft operated by the Polish Air Force.

Representative publications:

Katunin A., Dragan K., Nagode M., Lis K., Joszko K., Cholewa A., Klemenc J., Oman S., Żak P., Synaszko P., Towards quantification of hidden corrosion using D-Sight non-destructive testing technique, U.Porto Journal of Engineering 11(1), 2025, 1-16.

Katunin A., Synaszko P., Dragan K., Automated identification of hidden corrosion based on the D-sight technique: A case study on a military helicopter, Sensors 23, 2023, 7131.

Katunin A., Lis K., Joszko K., Żak P., Dragan K., Quantification of hidden corrosion in aircraft structures using enhanced D-Sight NDT technique, Measurement 216, 2023, 112997.

Katunin A., Nagode M., Oman S., Cholewa A., Dragan K., Monitoring of hidden corrosion growth in aircraft structures based on D-Sight inspections and image processing, Sensors 22, 2022, 7616.