Bodycote Testing - Aerospace Testing Services

Bodycote Testing Group is one of the world’s leading independent testing laboratory organisations. The Bodycote Testing Group provides 17025 UKAS and SWEDAC accredited services that range from the routine processing of large numbers of production release samples to highly innovative materials development test programmes. These include:

• Non-destructive examination of castings in light alloys and investment castings in high nickel and other exotic alloys
• Chemical and physical testing of polymers, composites, oil and fuel
• Metallurgical support in terms of mechanical testing and microstructural examination, mainly for quality control purposes
• A consultancy service based on our long-standing metallurgical expertise and experience to investigate in-service or in-production failures

AIRFRAME AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENT DESIGN AND PRODUCT VERIFICATION CHECKS

Bodycote Testing Group plays a vital supporting role to the aerospace industry with its accredited and industry approved testing laboratories. These work in partnership with many aerospace OEMs and their suppliers, frequently undertaking design and product verification checks through proof loading, fatigue testing, fracture toughness testing, mechanical testing, metallography, chemical analysis and radiographic inspection. Amongst the many components tested, airframe, engine components and structural components are an important and safety critical group.

SUPERALLOY, TITANIUM, ALUMINIUM AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS MATERIAL / PRODUCT VERIFICATION AND TESTING

Bodycote work with materials suppliers at all levels, particularly casting and forging companies, assisting clients with initial material and product verification. Superalloys, titanium, aluminium and composite materials are amongst the complex range of raw materials used in the aerospace industry. Assuming a satisfactory outcome, the client may progress to a programme of sequential testing and statistical process control. In the case of forgings destined for aero-engine use, the testing regime can be complex.

• Compression and flexular strength / modulus
• Fatigue
• Fracture toughness
• Hydrostatic pressure (pipes)
• In plane shear test
• Interlaminer shear and tension
• Peel test
• Poisson's ratio
• Puncture – slow and impact
• Tensile strength

FATIGUE, CREEP, FRACTURE TOUGHNESS, CORROSION, AND MECHANICAL TESTING

Bodycote extract samples for specimen manufacture from precisely defined positions within the component, many of which are made from difficult to machine alloys. Bodycote’s CNC machine tools ensure reproducibility and efficient operation. Typical products include aluminium plate, forged rings and shafts and precision cast components. The tests performed include fatigue testing (low cycle and high cycle, strain or load controlled), at ambient or elevated temperatures; creep testing; fracture toughness testing; crack growth determinations; corrosion testing; mechanical testing and metallographic examination.

FATIGUE AND STATIC TESTING OF CARBON AND GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC

Composite materials feature extensively in modern aerospace design and Bodycote specialise in the fatigue and static testing of bolted and bonded joints and complex structures, manufactured from Carbon and Glass Reinforced Plastics (CRP/GRP). Bodycote is experienced in applying static loads or dynamic multi-axial loads and can apply complex spectrum loads derived from in-service data.

TURBINE BLADE TESTING – CREEP TESTING AND RADIOGRAPHY

Aerospace engine components experience extreme operating conditions and require testing to ensure safe performance. Bodycote operates one of Europe’s largest creep laboratories, specialising in turbine blade testing. Radiography is also a core service and Bodycote has heavily invested in modern facilities for efficient product support.

Other services offered by Bodycote Testing Group include:

• Low cycle fatigue
• Ambient and elevated tensile testing
• Failure and chemical analysis
• Ultrasonic examination
• Metallography
• Magnetic particle inspection
• Creep, creep rupture and creep crack growth
• Coatings assessments
• Cold soak tests
• X-ray
• Crack propagation
• Dye-penetrant inspection