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Residual Stress Determination for Cold Expanded Holes

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8117-14-C-0022
Agency Tracking Number: F141-207-1091
Amount: $149,999.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF141-207
Solicitation Number: 2014.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2015
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2014-10-08
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2015-04-25
Small Business Information
9063 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX -
United States
DUNS: 625120902
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 David Forsyth
 Principal Investigator
 (512) 263-2101
 dforsyth@tri-austin.com
Business Contact
 Monte Fellingham
Title: Contracts Administrator
Phone: (512) 263-2101
Email: mfellingham@tri-austin.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

ABSTRACT: Cold working has been used for holes in aircraft structure to extend fatigue life for decades. This procedure can be used as a terminating action or as an inspection interval extension. To have confidence in the process, the Air Force needs an inspection tool that can conclusively determine of the cold work process has been applied to a hole, and if the results are within process specifications. TRI/Austin has already developed a prototype tool, the FastenerCam, that performs this inspection on straight shank holes, using a contact fixture. In this effort, we will enhance the FastenerCam by making it non contact, and by developing the analysis software to assess countersunk holes. BENEFIT: The Air Force currently allows only a conservative approximation of the benefit of cold working fastener holes. The FastenerCam ensures that holes have been properly cold worked, allowing extension of inspection intervals, and often elimination of inspections for the life of structure. A review of the A-10 shows that 25% of the 120 inspection locations specified in Durability and Damage Tolerance Analysis involve cold worked holes. Eliminating only one inspection cycle for each of these locations would result in lower cost and increased availability, and this can be applied across all Air Force fleets.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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