Experimental study on active infrared thermography as a NDI tool for carbon-carbon composites

Active infrared thermographic technique was used as a non-destructive inspection (NDI) tool for carbon carbon (C/C) composite with subsurface defects. A serial of representative carbon carbon composite test samples, consisting of cutouts and cracks as defects were investigated experimentally and analyzed using finite element method (FEM). Both transient pulsed thermography and lock-in thermography technique were investigated. The capability of two techniques to detect subsurface defects of C/C composite and to provide information about the location of defect was analyzed. Results indicate that active thermographic technique is available for the subsurface defect detection of carbon carbon composite. Crown Copyright (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.