Aeronautics composite material inspection with a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system

Frank Ospald, Wissem Zouaghi, René Beigang, Carsten Matheis, Joachim Jonuscheit, Benoit Recur, Jean Paul Guillet, Patrick Mounaix, Wouter Vleugels, Pablo Venegas Bosom, Laura Vega González, Ion López, Rafael Martínez Edo, Yehuda Sternberg, Marijke Vandewal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The usability of pulsed broadband terahertz radiation for the inspection of composite materials from the aeronautics industry is investigated, with the goal of developing a mobile time-domain spectroscopy system that operates in reflection geometry. A wide range of samples based on glass and carbon fiber reinforced plastics with various types of defects is examined using an imaging system; the results are evaluated both in time and frequency domain. The conductivity of carbon fibers prevents penetration of the respective samples but also allows analysis of coatings from the reflected THz pulses. Glass fiber composites are, in principle, transparent for THz radiation, but commonly with significant absorption for wavelengths 1 THz. Depending on depth, matrix material, and size, defects like foreign material inserts, delaminations, or moisture contamination can be visualized. If a defect is not too deep in the sample, its location can be correctly identified from the delay between partial reflections at the surface and the defect itself.

Original languageEnglish
Article number031208
JournalOptical Engineering
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • Rohacell
  • carbon fiber reinforced plastic
  • composite materials
  • glass fiber reinforced plastic
  • honeycomb
  • laminate
  • non-destructive testing
  • terahertz imaging

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