Terahertz time domain spectroscopy (TDS) was assessed as a nondestructive evaluation technique for aircraft composites. Damage to glass fiber was studied including voids, delaminations, mechanical damage, and heat damage. Measurement of the material properties on samples with localized heat damage showed that burning did not change the refractive index or absorption coefficient noticeably; however, material blistering was detected. Voids were located by TDS transmissive imaging using amplitude and phase techniques. The depth of delaminations was measured via the timing of Fabry-Perot reflections after the main pulse. Evidence of bending stress damage and simulated hidden cracks was also detected with terahertz imaging.
a b s t r a c tTerahertz time domain spectroscopy in reflection configuration was assessed as a nondestructive evaluation technique for aircraft glass fiber composites. A technique for measuring the material properties of glass fiber composites using reflection geometry was demonstrated in addition to imaging of damaged glass fiber composites. Surface defects such as localized burn damage, puncture holes, and paint/composite removal were detected using amplitude and phase imaging methods. Hidden voids were also detected using the relative amplitude of the first Fabry-Perot reflection. The depths of discontinuities were then measured using a Fourier technique and then subtracting the incident pulse from the reflected pulse. Finally, nondestructive evaluation techniques for transmission and reflection configurations were compared.Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Terahertz (THz) time domain spectroscopy (TDS) was assessed as a nondestructive evaluation technique for aircraft composites. Material properties of glass fiber composite were measured using both transmission and reflection configuration. The interaction of THz with a glass fiber composite was then analyzed, including the effects of scattering, absorption, and the index of refraction, as well as effective medium approximations. THz TDS, in both transmission and reflection configuration, was used to study composite damage, including voids, delaminations, mechanical damage, and heat damage. Measurement of the material properties on samples with localized heat damage showed that burning did not change the refractive index or absorption coefficient noticeably; however, material blistering was detected. Voids were located by THz TDS transmission and reflection imaging using amplitude and phase techniques. The depth of delaminations was measured via the timing of Fabry-Perot reflections after the main pulse. Evidence of bending stress damage and simulated hidden cracks was also detected with terahertz imaging. v
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