Non-Destructive Testing of Multilayer Composite Materials

ABSTRACT: Multilayer composite materials are used in advanced engineering as a material for heavy-duty products. However, the use of multilayer composite materials requires consideration of their inherent specific properties, such as anisotropy of mechanical characteristics and the possibility of the presence of hidden defects in the form of discontinuity of the material along the interfaces of individual layers (laminations). Evaluation of interlayer failures throughout the life cycle is critical to reducing composite product safety risks. In this article, the analysis of interlayer defects in composites employs comprehensive control, including several non-destructive testing methods: visual inspection, ultrasonic flaw detection, active thermography, and numerical modeling. Interlayer defects obtained as a result of low and high-speed impact on multilayer composite materials are considered. It has been found that the results from numerical modulation of interlayer defects and from non-destructive inspection of defects such as laminations, obtained by different methods, agree satisfactorily.