3D InfraRed thermography applied in the inspection of curved laminate composites of thermoplastic matrix reinforced with continuous fibers subjected to ballistic subsonic impact in cryogenic environment

• Grant number: 15/22542-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
• Principal Investigator: José Ricardo Tarpani
• Grantee: Henrique Coelho Fernandes
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Because of their unique and advantageous properties, the use of high performance structural thermoplastic composite laminates of continuous fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix in aeronautics, aerospace, automotive, wind energy, oil & gas, and petrochemical industries is not only considered desirable but also as vital for the full development of these key areas for economic and social prosperity of a country. Methodologies, techniques and efficient protocols to ensure the quality of parts, components and structures made with such class of advanced materials, both in the manufacturing stage and throughout its lifetime, are indispensable, and, towards this strategy and approach, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods play today a fundamental role. Among the most valuable NDT methods for the inspection of thermoplastic composite materials reinforced with continuous fibers, InfraRed Thermography (IRT) currently holds a prestigious place of prominence. In this project, the objective is to use pulsed thermography (PT) in the inspection and quantitative characterization of defects in structural thermoplastic composite laminates of complex geometry shape (curvature) previously submitted to ballistic subsonic impact in cryogenic environment. In this sense, in order to achieve the best results, a framework is proposed, and is going to be tested, which merges results obtained with two-dimensional infrared imaging (IRT-2D) and three-dimensional computational imaging (3D vision) of the sample's surface, in a way that the distortions present in the thermal profile formed on the sample's surface will be corrected. Subsequently, virtual patterns of 3D IRT are generated allowing precise defect characterization (shape and position) presents in the inspected sample.