Acoustic Mapping for the Detection of Voids Underneath Aluminum Matting Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Topic No.: N141-012 Topic Title: Acoustic Mapping for the Detection of Voids Underneath Aluminum Matting Proposal No.: N141-012-0984 Firm: Materials Systems Inc. 543 Great Road Littleton, Massachusetts 01460 Contact: Brian Pazol Phone: (978) 486-0404 Web Site: www.matsysinc.com Abstract: Through this effort, the team of Materials Systems Inc. (MSI) and Sonic Tech, Inc. (STI) will develop a non-destructive evaluation technique for detection of voids and defects underneath Aluminum Matting-2. The MSI scanning concept fully utilizes its expertise in the design and development of piezocomposite transducer arrays, combined with STI's experience in acoustic system development and signal processing, to develop a system to identify, locate and map surface and subsurface defects on Expeditionary Airfields. The system is lightweight and portable, amenable to scanning large areas at high speed, is self-calibrating and adaptable to scanning multitudes of soil conditions without prior characterization. Benefits: Development of a non-destructive evaluation technique for detection of voids and defects underneath Aluminum Matting-2 will lower the life cycle cost and increase the lifetime of military aerospace vehicles that use this type of landing platform by preventing damage associated with insecure landing strips. It is an adaptation of an evaluation technique developed by MSI for the lumber industry and further adaptations will enable it to be used in other civilian industries such as the construction industry and municipal public works. A device of this nature would provide the ability to detect soil erosion underneath buildings, roads, or runways, also increasing life cycle and decreasing maintenance costs. Return