Ultrasonic Scan Characterization of Layup Using CFRP Composite Laminates

Abstract

Because the layup of composite laminates influences there properties, the strength of composites depends on layup sequence of CFRP laminates. They could result in the part being rejected and discarded if the layup orientation of a ply is misaligned. A nondestructive technique would be very beneficial, which could be used to test the part after curing and requires less time than the optical test. Scanners were set out for different measurement modalities for acquiring ultrasonic signals as a function of in-plane azimuthal angle. The first motorized scanner was built for making transmission measurements using a pair of normal-incidence shear wave transducers. A scanner was built for the acousto-ultrasonic configuration using contact transducers. And a ply-byply vector decomposition model has been developed, simplified, and implemented for composite laminates fabricated from unidirectional plies. We have compared the test results with model data. It is found that high probability shows between tests and the model developed in characterizing cured layups of the laminates.