Non-destructive evaluation of composites
The composite materials have been used in aerospace industries for quite some time. Several non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods have been developed to inspect composites in order to detect flaws, matrix cracking, and delamination. These methods include ultrasonics, acoustic emission, shearography, thermography, X-ray, and digital image correlation. The NDE Branch of Marshall Space Flight Center has recently acquired a thermal imaging NDE system. The same system has been used at NASA Langley Research Center for detecting disbonds. In order to compare different NDE methods, three carbon/carbon composite panels were used for experiment using ultrasonic C-scan, shearography, and thermography methods. These panels have teflon inserts to simulate the delamination between plies in a composite panel. All three methods have successfully located the insert.
- Research Organization:
- Alabama Univ., Huntsville, AL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 402036
- Report Number(s):
- N--96-27465; NASA-CR--199830; NAS--1.26:199830; NIPS--96-43981; CONF-9505382--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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