Combined application of NDE techniques for characterization of short fiber-reinforced thermoplastics in intact and damaged state

NDE methods differ in the way they display the specimen under test. This is caused by the specific interaction with the material and its physical properties. Combining electromagnetic, optical, thermal, and elastic wave techniques, surface or integral information is achieved, Fiber orientation of injection molded shortfiber reinforced thermoplastics can be measured, which determines the mechanical and thermomechanical features of these materials. NDE techniques show a broad range of lateral resolution. It will be shown how they can reveal different types of damages and monitor damage processes. Some of the investigations can be performed in-situ during tensile tests.