Abstract
The presence of porosity in polymeric matrix composites degrades the en gineering performance, and for many critical applications it is necessary to ensure that the porosity of the as-manufactured composites is minimized. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, such as ultrasonics or X-ray, are often used to inspect composites for porosity and non-conforming parts are rejected. An infrared thermographic technique is described here, which can be used to determine the degree of porosity in polymeric matrix composite materials. The technique consists of heating one face of the part with a high power laser and observing the thermal response on the other face as the heat diffuses through the part. Internal defects such as porosity modify the apparent diffusivity and reduce the rate and quantity of heat transferred to the opposite face. Experiments were conducted on carbon-epoxy samples with a range of known porosities and varying thick nesses and the thermal response was measured. The results show that for...
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call