Nondestructive inspection of tagged composites using real-time magneto-optic imaging

Gerald L. Fitzpatrick; David K. Thome; Richard L. Skaugset; William C.L. Shih

doi:10.1117/12.259061

15 November 1996 Nondestructive inspection of tagged composites using real-time magneto-optic imaging

Gerald L. Fitzpatrick, David K. Thome, Richard L. Skaugset, William C.L. Shih

Proceedings Volume 2944, Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials and Composites; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.259061
Event: Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques for Aging Infrastructure and Manufacturing, 1996, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Abstract

While magneto-optic/eddy current imagers (MOIs) are widely used for the nondestructive inspection (NDI) of aging aluminum airframes, they are not currently used to inspect aerospace composites for two reasons. First, most composites are essentially electrical insulators, which makes it difficult for the MOI to induce sufficient eddy currents in these materials for imaging. Second, unlike steel, which can be easily magnetized and inspected using the MOI, most composites are not appreciably magnetic. Exceptions to these two stated limitations are composites containing electrically conducting 'screens' of aluminum or copper for lighting-protection, 'stealthy' military composites containing iron particles for radar absorption, and some commercial composites containing nickel-coated carbon fibers for lighting protection and/or electromagnetic shielding. These existing composites can be inspected, to one degree or another,with the MOI. Moreover, by 'tagging' the matrix component of newly-manufactured composites with magnetic oxides, excellent MOI images of cracks, voids, potential disbonds and defects in fiber-weave are possible. Experimental results presented here demonstrate these facts. It is anticipated that when this new technology is perfected, and when magnetic 'tagging' at the time of manufacture becomes an accepted practice, the MOI will be widely used for the NDI of composites during their manufacture, in-service inspection or repair.

Citation Download Citation

Gerald L. Fitzpatrick, David K. Thome, Richard L. Skaugset, and William C.L. Shih "Nondestructive inspection of tagged composites using real-time magneto-optic imaging", Proc. SPIE 2944, Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials and Composites, (15 November 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.259061

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available