The full title of the DETECT-ION project is “Model-supported non-destructive testing for the detection of defects in lightweight structures: an industrial solution”.

The general objective of this ICON project is to develop industrial non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for damage and defect detection and characterisation in composite and 3D-printed structures. The proposed methodologies aim at bringing together innovations in excitation, sensing, digital data processing and numerical modelling. Sensing techniques range from point-wise to full-field measurements and use both contact sensors and contactless technologies.

Damage identification and characterisation will be achieved by digital signal processing or model-supported inverse estimation, targeting both local and global damage/defect localisation and characterisation. The application framework of the current project includes post-production quality control and periodic inspection and excludes continuous monitoring of structures during their use.

The project is coordinated by Siemens Industry Software and the project consortium comprises the componies Materialise, MatchID, Brussels Airlines and OptoMET and the academic partners UGent (Mechanics of Materials and Structures Group), KULeuven (Dept. of Materials Engineering and Dept. of Mechanical Engineering) and VUB (Acoustics and Vibration Group).