Rapid Nondestructive Optical Inspection of Advanced Composite Structures

Composite structures are lighter, stronger, and have more predictable performance than do components implemented with conventional metal structures. However, defense and industry have been slow to adopt composites components, even in application areas where firm cost justification arguments can be made, because of inexperience with composite structure failure modes and the difficulty of routine NDE inspection. The proposed development and testing activity will alleviate this problem by: (1) providing a strong database relating NDE measurements with destructively analyzed composite structure failure modes (i.e. quantitative data relating measurable external phenomena with internal structural integrity of the composite components). (2) providing validated NDE testing equipment on (1) above which eases customer acceptance of composite materials-based components by allowing easy on-site measurement of incoming and field-installed components to assure safety and reliability (quality assurance after installation, during operation, and after maintenance). (3) supporting low cost, 100% routing inspection of composite components during and after the manufacturing process (quality assurance during and after manufacture).