Non-destructive Damage Detection in Fibre Metal Laminates

The work explores the possibilities of application of ultrasonic testing in the assessment of fibre metal laminates. Basic problems concerning the use of ultrasonic methods in the research of laminates are explained, and methods for solving these problems are suggested. Tests were conducted using two phased array methods: ultrasonic pulse-echo and through transmission. The efficiency of both selected ultrasonic methods are compared with respect to detecting and dimensioning defects in laminate structures. Based on the analyses and proposed solutions, it has been proven that the developed through transmission phased array (TTPA) method ensures a much more effective, in terms of quality and quantity, assessment of the condition of hybrid laminates than conventional ultrasonic methods, irrespective of the degree of surface deformation and the type of laminate structure.