Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive experimental study of impact damage
detection for carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites using an
electromagnetic (EM) sensor with coupled spiral inductors (CSI). Two
representative types of damage are detected and evaluated, i.e., barely visible
impact damage (BVID) and delamination. A multi-frequency inspection is
performed, where the resultant images indicate the potential of the CSI sensor in
the characterisation of damage extent. The accuracy and efficiency of the CSI
sensor are compared with the open-ended waveguide imaging, near-field
microwave microscopy, microwave time-domain reflectometry, the
complementary split-ring resonator and ultrasonic scanning. Applications and
limitations of these non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for identifying impact
damage are discussed. There is a free edge effect on the electromagnetic signal,
which is illustrated for the first time with the proposed EM technique. Detection
of the air gap produced by inserting a thin piece into a machined subsurface
groove is carried out. It is found that the developed CSI sensor is able to
accurately resolve the location and extent of the air gap. The experimental
results demonstrate that the sensor could offer an alternative relatively low cost
method that can be fully automated for structural monitoring of aircraft and
other composite structures.
detection for carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites using an
electromagnetic (EM) sensor with coupled spiral inductors (CSI). Two
representative types of damage are detected and evaluated, i.e., barely visible
impact damage (BVID) and delamination. A multi-frequency inspection is
performed, where the resultant images indicate the potential of the CSI sensor in
the characterisation of damage extent. The accuracy and efficiency of the CSI
sensor are compared with the open-ended waveguide imaging, near-field
microwave microscopy, microwave time-domain reflectometry, the
complementary split-ring resonator and ultrasonic scanning. Applications and
limitations of these non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for identifying impact
damage are discussed. There is a free edge effect on the electromagnetic signal,
which is illustrated for the first time with the proposed EM technique. Detection
of the air gap produced by inserting a thin piece into a machined subsurface
groove is carried out. It is found that the developed CSI sensor is able to
accurately resolve the location and extent of the air gap. The experimental
results demonstrate that the sensor could offer an alternative relatively low cost
method that can be fully automated for structural monitoring of aircraft and
other composite structures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Research in Nondestructive Evaluation |
| Early online date | 9 Dec 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |