Through-the-thickness identification of impact damage in composite laminates through pulsed phase thermography

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate through-the-thickness imaging of barely visible impact damage in a two-dimensional woven, carbon fiber epoxy laminate using pulsed phase thermography (PPT). Specifically we calibrate the defect depth with blind frequency for the particular material system using a specimen with simulated defects in the form of polymer foam inclusions. The calibrated depth versus blind frequency relation is then applied to specimens with barely visible impact damage due to low-velocity impacts. The polymer foam reproduces the irregular boundaries and thin nature of the delaminations, but does not reproduce through-the-thickness variations. The extent of delamination at different depths was reconstructed as a function of depth for varying levels of impact energy. The extent of damage imaged using PPT corresponded well with visual observations and microscopy images.