Abstract
This paper presents a failure analysis of a CFRP mast of a racing sailboat that collapsed on duty and an evaluation of NDT techniques, for failure assessment in composite materials. Visual inspection, pulsed thermography, radiography, and computed tomography tests were performed to obtain information about the locations, types, and orientations of the damage. Based on these results, four samples were taken and analyzed in an SEM, revealing information about the propagation directions of the defects and the predominance of mode II fracture. The weak interface between the composite layers, manufacturing defects, and the stress concentration effect due to the abrupt geometry transition, possibly caused the failure. The severe damage made it difficult to reach a clear conclusion about the cause of the failure and its origin. However, the inspection and characterization techniques applied made it possible to identify defects and potential causes that led to or contributed to the failure.
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