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The instrument uses two synchronized fixtures that rotate in equal and opposite directions, imparting fully reversible bending so the same surface experiences alternating tension and compression, mitigating buckling and alignment sensitivities common in uniaxial fatigue setups. A single motor, reduction gearbox, and shaft translate drive motion into counter rotation at both ends, while round tip, width spanning clamps distribute pressure to minimize corner stress concentrations and protect delicate specimens. Users can select pure bending or four point bending modes and adjust rotation amplitude and torque through an integrated controller, delivering repeatable cyclic loading in a compact, standalone system. Distinctive advantages include reliable testing of asymmetric geometries (laps, fillets), thin sheets, additively manufactured parts, and brittle ceramics without large dual actuator frames. This can consolidate multiple flexure methods into one benchtop mechanism. Its modular layout and adjustable fixtures integrate smoothly with common lab workflows and OEM platforms, helping teams accelerate evaluations without major reconfiguration of existing equipment. Potential commercial markets include instrument OEMs and suppliers of materials testing systems and accessories serving aerospace, automotive, academic, and contract laboratories. This technology is assessed at a TRL 6 and is ready for patent licensing.

NASA's System for In-situ Defect (e.g., porosity, fiber waviness) Detection in Composites During Cure consists of an ultrasonic portable automated C-Scan system with an attached ultrasonic contact probe. This scanner is placed inside of an insulated vessel that protects the temperature-sensitive components of the scanner. A liquid nitrogen cooling systems keeps the interior of the vessel below 38°C. A motorized X-Y raster scanner is mounted inside an unsealed cooling container made of porous insulation boards with a cantilever scanning arm protruding out of the cooling container through a slot. The cooling container that houses the X-Y raster scanner is periodically cooled using a liquid nitrogen (LN2) delivery system. Flexible bellows in the slot opening of the box minimize heat transfer between the box and the external autoclave environment. The box and scanning arm are located on a precision cast tool plate. A thin layer of ultrasonic couplant is placed between the transducer and the tool plate. The composite parts are vacuum bagged on the other side of the tool plate and inspected. The scanning system inside of the vessel is connected to the controller outside of the autoclave. The system can provide A-scan, B-scan, and C-scan images of the composite panel at multiple times during the cure process. The in-situ system provides higher resolution data to find, characterize, and track defects during cure better than other cure monitoring techniques. In addition, this system also shows the through-thickness location of any composite manufacturing defects during cure with real-time localization and tracking. This has been demonstrated for both intentionally introduced porosity (i.e., trapped during layup) as well processing induced porosity (e.g., resulting from uneven pressure distribution on a part). The technology can be used as a non-destructive evaluation system when making composite parts in in an oven or an autoclave, including thermosets, thermoplastics, composite laminates, high-temperature resins, and ceramics.