Department of the Navy, Carderock Division Headquarters, Naval Surface Warfare Center, West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700

A -- FIRST-GENERATION MICROWAVE SENSOR FOR INSPECTION OF THICK COMPOSITE JOINTS SOL N0016797Q4043 DUE 021397 POC Contract Specialist: Fran Cooley 301-227-5669; Contracting Officer: Joyce Bell 301-227-1113. The Carderock Division Naval Surface Warfare Center (CDNSWC) intends to negotiate a sole source procurement on or about 13 Feb 1997 with the Colorado State University (CSU), under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. CDNSWC'S requirement is for the development and evaluation of a prototype microwave sensor, capable of detecting disbonds and voids in composite joints contained in an advanced enclosed mast/sensor (AEM/S) System. CDNSWC requires that the CSU Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing Laboratory (CSU-AMNTL) conduct numerical investigations, using their proprietary Electromagnetic Model that describes the interaction of open-ended, rectangular waveguide sensors with multi-layered composite structures. These investigations shall determine near-optimal measurement-parameter boundaries for AEM/S joint configurations and defects of interest (disbonds and voids). Laboratory microwave instruments and systems shall be used to perform measurements on composite joint samples containing known and unknown discontinuities. CDNSWC will provide the samples (maximum of two). The samples will be full-scale replicas of the deck joints to be contructed on the AEM/S structure. Results of the numerical and laboratory investigations shall be used to design a first-generation microwave sensor for disbond and void detection in composite joints. Inspection of the CDNSWC furnished samples shall be performed using the first-generation sensor to determine its ability to detect disbonds and voids. Sensor optimization shall be performed, if needed, to ensure detection of the disbonds and voids. CSU-AMNTL shall assist CDNSWC personnel during field testing of the proto-type sensor on the full-scale AEM/S structure. CSU-AMNTL shall deliver, within three months of award: (1) a Microwave Sensor suitable for inspecting composite joints on the AEM/S system, which includes written instructions for using the sensor; and (2) a Technical Report detailing procedures employed and results obtained during the task. See Numbered Note(s): 22. (0027)

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