Defects detection using a smart ultrasound pulse‐echo technique

Abstract The objective of this article is to demonstrate the practical usefulness of a simple but smart ultrasound pulse‐echo technique as a quality assurance tool to composite processors. The ultrasound pulse‐echo technique was applied to four composite slabs; two sheets for each type of fiberglass reinforced plastics, phenolic and polyester, manufactured under different processing conditions: one was made by the normal procedures and the other with deliberate flaws. The experiment was conducted under the double blind test protocol. After systematically analyzing the data and taking care of beam divergence effect, we are able to determine true properties of materials which allows to easily and accurately distinguish defects from controls and simultaneously define different types of defects involved. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers