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QualiTi is a collaboration between EU companies and research organisations. Its aim is the development of a new and novel automated Non-Destructive Testing technique and system for the inspection of titanium billet destined for use in aerospace applications. The system will inspect billet components using novel phased array and eddy current probes in an automated system.The manufacturing process of billets can, and does, produce multiple sub-surface defects that are particularly difficult to detect at this stage of production. Failure to detect these incipient defects leads to subsequent in-service failure. The in-service failure is often catastrophic. As an example, the crash of flight UA 232 at Sioux City, Iowa USA, resulting in 111 fatalities due to a titanium engine disc failure, is the most well known of a series of such incidents. The cause of this disaster was directly attributable to metallurgical defects not detected during the manufacturing process.
A new and novel automated quality control system for the inspection of titanium billet, destined for use in aerospace applications, will be developed in the QualiTi project. The sensors will be applied by an automated system to minimise the use of manual inspections, hence improving quality and reliability of these critical inspections early in the manufacturing process.