Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation of Composite Materials and Structures

作者：Hsu David K^*

来源：SAMPE Journal, 2010, 46(1): 38-44.

This paper reviews the various ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods and techniques for characterizing the material properties of composites and for detecting flaws, defects, and damage in composite structures. Nondestructive testing methods using both water-coupled (immersion, squirter and bubbler modes) and air-coupled ultrasonic waves are used to meet the various inspection needs for solid laminate and honeycomb sandwich composite structures. The material conditions, defects, and damage of interest in the NDE of composites include elastic constants, porosity volume fraction, errors in stacking sequence and ply layup, disbonds between facesheet and core, delaminations in solid laminates, impact damage of honeycomb sandwich and solid laminates, thermal degradation and others. Several techniques that had progressed through the R&D, field test, and technology transfer phases will be described. The challenges and requirements placed on NDE by the growing usage of composite materials in primary, load-bearing aircraft structures will also be discussed.

• 出版日期2010-2