Application of non destructive testing to the detection of aeronautical defects in composite structure

Abstract

A study of two Non-destructive Testing methods (NDT) was carried out in specimens with different kinds of simulated defects. Ultrasonics test (US) and Infrared Thermography (IRT) were applied with the aim to evaluate the detectability and the accuracy of each method. These techniques have acquired great importance in the aeronautics industry because they allow to control the aerostructures without intervening in their physical and mechanical integrity. In the second part of the study, a comparison of both techniques was achieved in order to analyse their limits and advantages. It appeared that detectability of defects was much better in a sample with flat-bottomed holes defects in the case of Ultrasonic Test. However it was found that Infrared Thermography is much more limited to the thickness of the specimen than the ultrasonic waves. On the other hand, defects were all revealed with IRT in a sandwich composite including Teflon inserts, which was not the case for US.