Electromagnetic inspection systems and methods

1 . A system comprising:

an electromagnetic inspection device including:

an electromagnetic radiation source to generate pulsed electromagnetic radiation that penetrates through a coating of a component of an engine;

a detector to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from the component; and

a controller in operative communication with the electromagnetic inspection device, the controller being configured to:

cause the electromagnetic radiation source to direct at least some pulsed electromagnetic radiation through the coating;

receive an electromagnetic radiation waveform that is representative of reflected electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from the coating;

determine a change in a dielectric property of the coating based on the electromagnetic radiation waveform;

receive calibration data that includes a relationship between the change in the dielectric property and a level of foreign material infiltration into the coating;

determine the level of foreign material infiltration into the coating based at least in part upon the relationship;

determine a remaining life of the coating based at least in part upon a relationship between foreign material infiltration of the coating and remaining life of the coating; and

update a model of the engine based on the remaining life of the coating.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation source is to generate pulsed electromagnetic radiation in a terahertz frequency range.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the level of foreign material infiltration is representative of a depth of foreign material infiltration into the coating.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare the electromagnetic radiation waveform to baseline data indicative of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the coating in a prior state.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a change between the electromagnetic radiation waveform relative to the baseline data.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the remaining life of the coating based at least in part upon the comparison.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveform includes a first electromagnetic radiation waveform and a second electromagnetic radiation waveform, and wherein the controller is to determine the dielectric property of the coating based on at least one of: a time shift between a first peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform and a first peak of the second electromagnetic radiation waveform; a change in amplitude or electric field between the first peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform and the first peak of the second electromagnetic radiation waveform; an additional peak present in the second electromagnetic radiation waveform; or a transit time between the first peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform and a second peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the first electromagnetic radiation waveform is from a first scan of the component at a first time and the second electromagnetic radiation waveform is from a second scan of the component at a second time.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric property is a refractive index.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine an action for the engine or the coating based on the remaining life.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the remaining life of the coating to a threshold value, wherein the controller determines an action for the engine upon determining that the remaining life of the coating falls below the threshold value.

12 . A method comprising:

at an electromagnetic radiation source, directing at least some pulsed electromagnetic radiation through a coating of a component of an engine;

at a detector, receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from at least one of the coating or the component;

determining a change in a dielectric property of the coating based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation;

receiving calibration data that includes a relationship between the change in the dielectric property and a level of foreign material infiltration into the coating;

determining the level of foreign material infiltration into the coating based at least in part upon the relationship;

determining a remaining life of the coating based at least in part upon a relationship between foreign material infiltration of the coating and remaining life of the coating; and

adjusting operation or maintenance of the engine based on the remaining life.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation source generates pulsed electromagnetic radiation in a terahertz frequency range.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the level of foreign material infiltration is representative of a depth of foreign material infiltration into the coating.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

comparing data indicative of the reflected electromagnetic radiation to baseline data indicative of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the coating in a prior state, wherein the remaining life is based at least in part upon the comparison.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining an action for the engine or the component based on the remaining life.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the dielectric property is a refractive index.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

receiving a reflected electromagnetic waveform that is representative of the reflected electromagnetic radiation, the reflected electromagnetic waveform including a first electromagnetic radiation waveform and a second electromagnetic radiation waveform, wherein determining the dielectric property of the coating is based on at least one of a time shift between a first peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform and a first peak of the second electromagnetic radiation waveform; a change in amplitude or electric field between the first peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform and the first peak of the second electromagnetic radiation waveform; an additional peak present in the second electromagnetic radiation waveform; or a transit time between the first peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform and a second peak of the first electromagnetic radiation waveform; and

comparing the first electromagnetic radiation waveform to the second electromagnetic radiation waveform, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation waveform is from a first scan of the component at a first time and the second electromagnetic radiation waveform is from a second scan of the component at a second time.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a controller to:

cause an electromagnetic radiation source to direct at least some pulsed electromagnetic radiation through a coating of a component of an engine;

receive electromagnetic radiation waveform reflected from at least one of the coating or the component;

determine a change in a dielectric property of the coating based on the electromagnetic radiation waveform;

receive calibration data that includes a relationship between the change in the dielectric property and a level of foreign material infiltration into the coating;

determine the level of foreign material infiltration into the coating based at least in part upon the relationship;

determine a remaining life of the coating based at least in part upon a relationship between foreign material infiltration of the coating and remaining life of the coating; and

update a model of the engine based on the remaining life.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the level of foreign material infiltration is representative of a depth of foreign material infiltration into the coating, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine an action for at least one of the engine or the component based on the remaining life.