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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Quantitative thermal imaging of laminated composites

Conference ·
OSTI ID:550022
;  [1]
  1. Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes

Thermal image analysis offers many advantages over other methods of nondestructive evaluation. It provides for the rapid, noncontact, whole-field characterization of a variety of materials. In this paper, a summary is given of applying new thermal imaging techniques for the quantitative characterization of delaminations in composites. The method utilizes an applied heat pulse to introduce temperature transients upon the surface of a specimen. Digital images of the thermal response are video captured through the color change of a thin coating of liquid crystals applied to the surface or by infrared camera observation. The striking color images are calibrated to temperature so that analysis techniques can then be used to determine thermal properties such as thermal diffusivity or to quantitatively characterize the existence of delaminations.

OSTI ID:
550022
Report Number(s):
CONF-9610109--; ISBN 1-57117-053-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English