Active microwave thermography (AMT) is an integrated nondestructive testing (NDT) technique that utilizes a microwave-based thermal excitation and subsequent thermal measurement. AMT has shown potential for applications in the transportation, infrastructure, and aerospace industries. This paper investigates the potential of AMT for detection of defects referred to as flat-bottom holes (FBHs) in composites with high electrical conductivity such as carbon fiber-based composites. Specifically, FBHs of different dimensions machined in a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite sheet are considered. Simulation and measurement results illustrate the potential for AMT as a NDT tool for inspection of CFRP structures. In addition, a dimensional analysis of detectable defects is provided including a radius-to-depth ratio threshold for successful detection.
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November 2018
Research-Article
Detection of Flat-Bottom Holes in Conductive Composites Using Active Microwave Thermography
Ali Mirala,
Ali Mirala
Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla MO 65409-0040
e-mail: smq3b@mst.edu
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla MO 65409-0040
e-mail: smq3b@mst.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Ali Foudazi,
Ali Foudazi
Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: afz73@mst.edu
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: afz73@mst.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Mohammad Tayeb Ghasr,
Mohammad Tayeb Ghasr
Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: mtg7w6@mst.edu
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: mtg7w6@mst.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Kristen M. Donnell
Kristen M. Donnell
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
301 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: kmdgfd@mst.edu
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
301 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: kmdgfd@mst.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Ali Mirala
Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla MO 65409-0040
e-mail: smq3b@mst.edu
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla MO 65409-0040
e-mail: smq3b@mst.edu
Ali Foudazi
Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: afz73@mst.edu
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: afz73@mst.edu
Mohammad Tayeb Ghasr
Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: mtg7w6@mst.edu
Laboratory (AMNTL),
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
210 Engineering Research Laboratory,
500 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: mtg7w6@mst.edu
Kristen M. Donnell
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department,
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
301 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: kmdgfd@mst.edu
Missouri University of Science and Technology,
301 W. 16th Street,
Rolla, MO 65409-0040
e-mail: kmdgfd@mst.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received April 12, 2018; final manuscript received June 20, 2018; published online July 24, 2018. Assoc. Editor: K. Elliott Cramer.
ASME J Nondestructive Evaluation. Nov 2018, 1(4): 041005-041005-7 (7 pages)
Published Online: July 24, 2018
Article history
Received:
April 12, 2018
Revised:
June 20, 2018
Citation
Mirala, A., Foudazi, A., Ghasr, M. T., and Donnell, K. M. (July 24, 2018). "Detection of Flat-Bottom Holes in Conductive Composites Using Active Microwave Thermography." ASME. ASME J Nondestructive Evaluation. November 2018; 1(4): 041005–041005–7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040673
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