Impact Damage Detection in GFRP Laminates through Ultrasonic Imaging

Abstract

Composite materials are increasingly used in aerospace, naval and automotive vehicles due to their high specific strength and stiffness. In the area of Non destructive testing, ultrasonic C-scans are used frequently to detect defects in composite components caused during fabrication and damage resulting from service conditions. Ultrasonic testing uses transmission of high frequency sound waves into a material to detect imperfections or to locate changes in material properties. The most commonly used ultrasonic testing technique is pulse echo and through transmission wherein sound is introduced into a test object and reflections (echoes) are returned to a receiver from internal imperfections. Under low-velocity impact loading delaminating is observed to be a major failure mode. This report presents the use of above two techniques to detect the damage in glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) laminates. Pulse echo is used to locate the exact position of damage and through transmission is used to know the magnitude of damage in composite. This paper work will be carried out on two different thicknesses and at impact energy levels varying from 7 to 53J. The ensuring delamination damage will be determined by ultrasonic C-scans using the pulse-echo immersion method for through transmission. Delamination areas were quantified accurately by processing the raw image data using a digital image processing technique. Based on the data obtained, correlation will be established between the delamination area and the impact energy.