Switched sensor array for non-destructive testing

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The project aims at developing a prototype of a microwave imaging sensor array that can aid in the non-destructive inspection for corrosion and structural integrity. In general, non-destructive testing encompasses methods to inspect an object without destroying it, i.e., employing non-invasive or stand-off measurements. In the proposed prototype, microwave radiation is used to detect the visibly obscured defects and to evaluate the severity of structural degradation and/or failure. The targeted application in this project is the detection of corrosion of structural components (e.g., pipes, steel frames, hull plates, etc.) hidden behind insulation or protective coverings. This highly sensitive sensor array will be reconfigurable and modular so that it can easily be applied to other non-destructive testing applications as well such as the imaging of visibly obscured infrastructure (pipes, electrical wiring and studs) located behind drywall, brick or concrete. In general, this project has the potential to open the way to a whole new line of products and services targeting structural integrity inspection, fault diagnostics, behind-the-wall imaging and detection, etc. The major advantage of the system is the high sensitivity to structural faults. This is achieved through a sensor design exploiting a new radio-frequency (RF) transceiver architecture. Some of the distinct advantages of the sensor include: (1) orders of magnitude better sensitivity compared to existing microwave systems; (2) deep penetration (on the order of tens of centimeters); (3) low fabrication cost; (4) one-sided access to the test object; (5) modular design allowing to re-use all modules in different imaging scenarios, except for the interchangeable RF front-end arrays.