Composites Design and Manufacture (BEng) - MATS 324
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of advanced composites.

PowerPoint presentation (778 KB file)
NetComposites NDT Selection Tool

Summerscales [1-3] and Burt and Smith [4] have reviewed the use of non-destructive evaluation/examination (NDE) or NDT for fibre-reinforced composite materials.  The applications of NDE/NDT can be considered to fulfil three functions:    

For samples in the laboratory For structures during manufacture and service
initial inspection of test samples confirmation of structural integrity
monitoring sample tests in progress monitoring components under service loads, especially when changing over time
analysis of reasons for failure analysis of reasons for failure

The various techniques can be arranged under three categories and further sub-divided by operating frequency albeit that some overlap may occur:

In the list which follows, references are provided for recent books or review articles pertinent to each topic (referencing under development).  Working from high frequency/short wavelength, the various techniques in each of the three categories are:

Leavey et al [27] have presented an introductory tutorial on the use of wavelet analysis for signal processing in this context.  Yella et al [28] have recently reviewed the use of artificial intelligence techniques for the automatic interpretation of data from NDT.  Addin et al [29] have reviewed the use of neural networks in the prediction and detection of failures in laminated composite materials, with specific reference to NDT by vibration mode and frequency, use of Lamb waves and electrical conductivity.  Gros [30, 31] has reviewed the use of data fusion for handling multiple data sources in NDT.

Backman [32, 33] has considered how safety methods can be made available to the engineering community without requiring huge statistical databases for use in reliability analysis.  The book considers the probability of safe flight, and is thus perhaps essential reading for those involved in aerospace structural design, although much of the analysis is undertaken at the level of orders of magnitude rather than in fine detail.  Of particular relevance here is the consideration of probability of detection against damage size for various regions [Figure 1] and the ability of each non-destructive testing technique relative to the respective damage sizes.  Wall et al [34] have considered probability of detection (POD) data in industrial applications and suggest that could be benefits from the use of simple POD generator models validated against experimental data with a more structured and standardised approach to the use and correction of POD data (using expert judgement, modelling and signal-based methods).

Figure 1: Probability of Detection (POD) against damage size (after Backman [32]).

The various NDT techniques have an important role to play in both Condition Monitoring (CM) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) which are covered in a lecture delivered to both module MECH512 Design for Structural Integrity and MECH 513 Smart Materials and Intelligent Structural Systems.

Resources:

  • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Seeing is believing: basic ultrasonics, Services Sound and Vision Corporation (Ministry of Defence), 1987. UOP Library. 
    This VHS videocassette recording used Schlieren photography to visualise ultrasound pulses travelling in a glass block.

References:

  1. John Summerscales, Non-destructive testing of advanced composites: a review of recent advances,
    British Journal of Non-Destructive Testing, November 1990, 32(11) pp 568-577. Restricted: Download 2.25MB .doc file.
    This version has additional images.
  2. J Summerscales, Non-destructive measurement of the moisture content in fibre reinforced plastics,
    British Journal of Non-Destructive Testing, February 1994, 36(2), pp 64-72. Restricted: Download 1.21 MB .pdf file
  3. J Summerscales, Manufacturing Defects in Fibre Reinforced Plastics Composites,
    Insight, December 1994, 36(12), pp 936-942.Restricted: Download 1.04 MB .pdf file.
    This paper considers the appropriate NDT techniques.
  4. EA Birt and RA Smith, A review of NDE methods for porosity measurement in fibre-reinforced polymer composites
    This paper - which first appeared in Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring
    (The Journal of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing), November 2004, Vol. 46, No. 11, pp 681-686.
    - is made available here to University of Plymouth students Restricted: Download 565KB .pdf file with the kind permission of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, the authors and QinetiQ Ltd.
    The authors are with the NDE Group, QinetiQ, A7 Building, Cody Technology Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0LX. E-mail: eabirt~@~QinetiQ.com (remove the tildes from the quoted e-mail before use).
  5. SR Stock, X-ray microtomography of materials, International Materials Reviews, April 1999, 44(4), 141-164.
  6. F Desplentere, SV Lomov, DL Woerderman, I Verpoest, M Wevers and A Bogdanovich, Micro-CT characterization of variability in 3D textile architecture, Composites Science and Technology, October 2005, 65(13), 1920-1930.
  7. PJ Schilling, BPR Karedla, AK Tatiparthi, MA Verges and PD Herrington, X-ray computed microtomography of internal damage in fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites, Composites Science and Technology, November 2005, 65(14), 2071-2078.
  8. H Shang and J Gao, Theories and industrial applications of optical interferometric NDT techniques: a review, Insight, May 2009, 51(5), 240-251.
  9. A Mujeeb, VU Nayar and VR Ravindran, Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry techniques for non-destructive evaluation: a review, Insight, May 2006, 48(5), 275-281.
  10. P Pallav, G Diamond, D Hutchins and TH Gan, A near infrared technique for non-destructive evaluation, Insight, May 2008, 50(5), 244-248.
  11. Infrared Thermography Handbooks (British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing Condition Monitoring Series):
        Norman Walker, Volume 1 - Principles and Practice. ISBN 0-903132-33-8.  AN Nowicki, Volume 2 - Applications. ISBN 0-903132-32-x.
  12. KK Ghosh and VM Karbhari, A critical review of infrared thermography as a method for non-destructive evaluation of FRP rehabilitated structures, International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2006, 25(4), 241-266.
  13. PH Siegel, Terahertz technology, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, March 2002, 50(3), 910-928.
  14. DL Woolard, ER Brown, M Pepper and M Kemp, Terahertz frequency sensing and imaging: a time of reckoning future applications?, Proceedings of the IEEE, October 2005, 93(10), 1722-1743.
  15. Roger Appleby and H Bruce Wallace, Standoff detection of weapons and contraband in the 100 GHz to 1 THz Region, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, November 2007, 55(11/1), 2944-2956.
  16. AG Davies, AD Burnett, W Fan, EH Linfield and JE Cunningham, Terahertz spectroscopy of explosives and drugs, Materials Today, March 2008, 11(3), 18-26.
  17. N Yu, QJ Wang, MA Kats, JA Fan, SP Khanna, L Li, AG Davies, EH Linfield and F Capasso, Designer spoof surface plasmon structures collimate terahertz laser beams, Nature: Materials, September 2010, 9(.), 730-735.
  18. RA Pethrick and D Hayward, Real time dielectric relaxation studies of dynamic polymeric systems, Progress in Polymer Science, 2002, 27(9), 1983-2017.
  19. Koji Asami, Characterization of heterogeneous systems by dielectric spectroscopy, Progress in Polymer Science, 2002, 27(8), 1617-1659.
  20. Gi Xue, Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy and its application for the analysis of polymeric materials, Progress in Polymer Science, 1997, 22(2) 313-406.
  21. G Kotsikos, AG Gibson and J Mawella, Assessment of moisture absorption in marine GRP laminates with aid of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 2007, 36(9), 413-418.
  22. BW Drinkwater and PD Wilcox, Ultrasonic arrays for non-destructive evaluation: a review, NDT & E International, 2006, 39(7), 525-541.
  23. M Moles, N Dubé, S Labbé and E Ginzel, Review of ultrasonic phased arrays for pressure vessel and pipeline weld inspections, Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, August 2005, 127(3), 351-356.
  24. RA Smith, LJ Nelson, MJ Mienczakowski and RE Challis, Automated analysis and advanced defect characterisation from ultrasonic scans of composites, Insight, February 2009, 51(2), 82-87.
  25. R Chandra, SP Singh and K Gupta, Damping studies in fibre-reinforced composites, Composite Structures, 1999, 46(1), 41-51.
  26. Y Zou, L Tong and GP Steven, Vibration-based model-dependent damage (delamination) identification and health monitoring for composite structures - a review, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2000, 230(2), 357-378.
  27. CM Leavey, MN James, J Summerscales and R Sutton, An introduction to wavelet transforms: a tutorial approach, Insight, May 2003, 45(5), 344-353. Restricted: Download 1.04MB .pdf file.  This paper describes recent developments in signal processing.
  28. S Yella, MS Dougherty and NK Gupta, Artificial intelligence techniques for the automatic interpretation of data from non-destructive testing, Insight, January 2006, 48(1), 10-20.
  29. AO Addin, SM Sapuan, E Mahdi and M Othman, Prediction and detection of failures in laminated composite materials using neural networks - a review, Polymers and Polymer Composites, 2006, 14(4), 433-441.
  30. XE Gros, NDT Data Fusion, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1997.  ISBN: 0-340-67648-5.  UOP Library
  31. XE Gros, Applications of NDT Data Fusion, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (NL), 2001.  ISBN: 0-7923-7412-6.
  32. Bjorn Backman, Composite Structures, Design, Safety and Innovation, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2005.  ISBN 0-08-044545-4.  UOP Library
  33. Bjorn Backman, Composite Structures: Safety Management, Elsevier Science, May 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-08-054809-8.
  34. M Wall, SF Burch and J Lilley, Review of models and simulators for NDT reliability (POD), Insight, November 2009, 51(11), 612-619.

TeraHertz spectroscopy for NDT of composites

Further reading

  1. David J Smith, Reliability, Maintainability and Risk - Practical Methods for Engineers including Reliability Centred Maintenance and Safety-Related Systems - seventh edition, Elsevier, 2005.  ISBN13: 9780-7506-6694-7.  UOP Library
  2. J Summerscales, Non-Destructive Testing of Fibre Reinforced Plastics Composites - volume 1, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, Barking UK, September 1987. ISBN 1-85166-093-3. Now distributed by Springer.   UOP Library
  3. J Summerscales, Non-Destructive Testing of Fibre Reinforced Plastics Composites - volume 2, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, Barking, 1990. ISBN 1-85166-468-8. Now distributed by Springer.  UOP Library
  4. BW Drinkwater and PD Wilcox - Ultrasonic arrays for non-destructive evaluation: A review, NDT & E International, 2006, 39(7), 525-541.
  5. RA Pethrick and D Hayward - Real time dielectric relaxation studies of dynamic polymeric systems, Progress in Polymer Science, 2002, 27(9), 1983-2017.
  6. Koji Asami - Characterization of heterogeneous systems by dielectric spectroscopy, Progress in Polymer Science, 2002, 27(8), 1617-1659.
    Elsevier ScienceDirect
  7. R Chandra, SP Singh and K Gupta - Damping studies in fiber-reinforced composites: a review, Composite Structures, 1999, 46(1), 41-51.
  8. Gi Xue [231 references], Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy and its application for the analysis of polymeric materials, Progress in Polymer Science, 1997, 22(2) 313-406.
  9. MA Drewry and GA Georgiou [10 references], A review of NDT techniques for wind turbines, Insight, March 2007, 49(3), 137-141.

The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing has published a useful series of introductory texts under the title NDT Fundamentals,
The ultrasonics papers are made available here to University of Plymouth students with the kind permission of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing and of the author.

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Updated by John Summerscales on 10 October 2011 13:10. Terms and conditions. Errors and omissions. Corrections.