Nondestructive assessment of glass fibre composites by mid-wave and near infrared vision

Abstract

The nondestructive testing (NDT) of composites is a critical step for the early detection and repair of industrial components. Infrared (IR) vision has demonstrated to be an attractive inspection technique, allowing a fast and straightforward examination of the integrity of materials and parts in a non-invasive and non-contact manner. In this study, mid-wave infrared (MWIR) thermography and near infrared (NIR) vision are investigated for the NDT inspection of a glass fibre sample with fabricated subsurface defects of different types. The main advantages and limitations of each technique are discussed and some comparative experimental results are provided. © 2012 The Japan Institute of Metals.