Standard Practice for Inspection of Transparent Parts by Prism

SCOPE
1.1 Aerospace transparencies undergo high stresses induced by flight, environmental, or other factors. The transparency attachment points are especially subject to fatigue. These areas of fatigue are often obstructed or hidden from normal inspection. An inspector, following the techniques described in this practice, shall use a prism to view damage located near transparency bolt holes, voids, and delamination that are hidden by edge strips or frames.
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to provide acceptable methods for performing prism inspections of transparent materials with specific emphasis on aircraft windscreens and canopies. Caveats and lessons learned from experience are included to assist authors in writing tailored inspection instructions for specific applications.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Publication Date
09-May-2001
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ASTM F2108-01 - Standard Practice for Inspection of Transparent Parts by Prism
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F2108–01
Standard Practice for
Inspection of Transparent Parts by Prism
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 2108; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Summary of Practice
1.1 Aerospace transparencies undergo high stresses induced 3.1 Prism inspections shall be performed with the aid of a
by flight, environmental, or other factors. The transparency prism and a wetting agent. The wetting agent is between the
attachment points are especially subject to fatigue. These areas prism and transparency to ensure good visibility.The examiner
of fatigue are often obstructed or hidden from normal inspec- looks through the prism to see the area of the transparency
tion. An inspector, following the techniques described in this below the prism. The exam is best done without bright
practice, shall use a prism to view damage located near sunlight, which causes glare. The examiner changes his angle
transparency bolt holes, voids, and delamination that are of view and inspects the area seen in the prism. A trained eye
hidden by edge strips or frames. can detect anomalies such as cracks, delamination, and voids.
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to provide acceptable
4. Significance and Use
methods for performing prism inspections of transparent ma-
terials with specific emphasis on aircraft windscreens and 4.1 Prisms are useful tools for viewing areas otherwise
obstructed or hidden from normal viewing. For example,
canopies. Caveats and lessons learned from experience are
included to assist authors in writing tailored inspection instruc- transparency bolt holes, voids, and delamination that are
covered by edge strips or frames can be seen through a prism.
tions for specific applications.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the The prism, once put against the transparency, with a coupling
agent to wet the surfaces, allows viewing of the area below
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- where the prism is placed.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5. Apparatus
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 Prism—Material shall be of the same hardness or softer
2. Terminology
than the transparency to avoid scratches. The angles should be
developed to maximize the viewing area. In the case of a
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 coupler, n—a liquid refractive index matching agent complex shape, the position of the inspector’s head and
potential interference problems shall be considered to ensure
or wetting agent (for example, glycerol) used to create optical
contact (coupling) between the prism and transparency. the inspector can look through the prism at the proper angles.
Aprism,thoughtypicallya30º–60º–90ºtriangle,doesnotneed
2.1.2 delamination, n—the separation of a laminate into its
constituent parts. An edge delamination is open to the lami- to be triangular.
5.2 Flashlight—A high output, halogen bulb works best.
nate’s free edge. An internal delamination is contained within
the laminate. 5.3 Cover—To allow the inspector to shade the inspection
area if the inspection is done in bright sunlight.
2.1.3 edge attachment, n—the means of fastening the side
edges of a transparency to the aircraft structure. Edge attach-
6. Reagents
ments also include expansion joints and any other connection
6.1 Use glycerol (USPGrade) as a coupler or wetting agent.
between the transparency and the aircraft structure.
6.1.1 The wetting agent shall not harm the transparency (for
2.1.4 prism, n—a transparent optical element with polished
example, cause crazing), shall be clear, and shall have a high
plane faces for the entrance and exit sides. Prisms use
enough viscosity to stay in place reasonably well.
refraction or internal reflection or both to change the direction
6.2 Use distilled water.
of the propagation of light.
7. Procedure
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F07 on Aerospace
7.1 Use methods shall be approved by the procuring agency
andAircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F07.08 on Transparent
or parts manufacturer. One example is to use a water rinse to
Enclosures and Materials.
clean the area of the transparency thoroughly where the prism
Current edition approved May 10, 2001. Published July 2001.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F2108
will be placed. Assure the prism is also clean. Any debris will
cause scratches to the delicate optical surfaces.
7.1.1 Clean the prism with standard optical cleaning solu-
tions appropriate for the material from which it is made. See
Note 1.
7.2 If using glycerol, store it in a cool dry place, such as a
refrigerator designated for chemicals, so it will be thicker.
Apply several drops of coupler to the side of the prism that
goes against the transparency. Ensure there is enough coupling
between the prism and transparency to allow a good viewing
area. (Warning—Do not allow the prism to slide along the
transparency with no wetting agent between them or scratches
will occur.)
7.3 The prism is placed on the transparency and the viewing
area location as shown in Fig. 1.When moving the prism along
the transparency use light pressure. Do not allow the glycerol
to get on the viewing surface of the prism, as it will smear the
viewing area.
7.4 Acoupler is required to provide an optical path between
FIG. 2 Standard Nomenclature
theprismandcanopy.Placingsmallamounts(severaldrops)of
coupler on both the canopy and the prism tends to work best.
Glycerol is a good coupler. The coupler material shall be
bright sunlight. Bright sunlight causes glare that clouds the
compatible with the transparency material, clear, and the more
viewing area. The inspection works best at night while using a
viscous the better. Gentle pressure between the prism and
flashlight.
canopy keeps air out of the coupler and allows the coupler to
NOTE 1—Any debris will cause scratches to the delicate optical
spread farther. See Note 2.
surfaces.
7.5 Gently press the prism (of appropriate size and shape, as
NOTE 2—Using too much coupler will make cleanup more difficult and
described below) to the transparency.Alter the pressure on the
make it difficult to keep the prism viewing area clean.
prism corners to remove any trapped air. To keep the prism
7.7 Look through the top of the prism to view the area of
clean, the least amount of glycerol shall be used. Hold only the
interest. The prism shall be moved up or down to get the
edges of the prism and use gentle pressure. (Warning—If the
viewing area to the proper depth. When looking through the
coupler gets onto the viewing face of the prism, the area of
prism, change the angle of view (left to right). Begin to move
interest will be blurred. Keep the prism’s viewing face clean.)
the prism along the area of interest. Continue looking through
7.6 A light source, such as a flashlight aids in optical
the prism, altering angle of view. If an air bubble gets trapped
clarification. This inspection technique does not work well i
...

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