Transient thermography in the assessment of defects of aircraft composites

Transient thermography was employed in the inspection of defects in various aircraft composite panels. Three different categories of defects were investigated in the laboratory; notches on aluminium alloy panels under carbon or boron composite patching, a simulation of delamination on a boron composite patch, and fibre breakout on carbon composites. In all situations, the defects were artificially created. After detecting the defects, quantitative analysis concerning the contrast of the detected defects was carried out. Finally, information about the size of the artificial delaminated panel in relation to transient time was also performed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.