TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Guided wave-based system for cure monitoring of composites using piezoelectric discs and fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) (LAR-TOPS-303)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program 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: The use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites for structural components in aircraft, automotive and other applications has grown rapidly and is in extensive use today. A prime example is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner of which the entire fuselage and wings are constructed from CRFP's. Consequently, as a quality control measure, means to monitor the cure rate of the resins as well as means to detect defects has become critically important.

Inventors at NASA Langley have developed and demonstrated a system using fiber optic sensors to measure guided waves that propagate in a part as a cure monitoring system. Life-cycle monitoring is now possible because of optical fiber embedded in composite during cure. This system connects the properties of the guided waves to the phase changes of a composite part. The system measures temperature, strain, and guided waves during cure almost simultaneously.

During life-cycle monitoring, it is feasible to use embedded fiber optic sensors for both load monitoring because of the ability to measure strain and damage detection because of the ability to record ultrasonic guided waves. The guided wave system is incorporated directly into standard curing equipment and technique. It has also been tested and works with flat panels as well as complex structures.

The technology would be valuable to manufacturers of aircraft parts (fuselage, wing and other sections), marine hull sections, high speed rail sections, automotive parts and perhaps even building parts. One major application that exists presently, is the fabrication of fuselage and wing sections for aircraft where carbon fiber composite sections are used such as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LAR-TOPS-303 If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information.

For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program 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. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.