Assessing Impact Damage on Composites Using Line Scanning Thermography

Abstract This article compares two nondestructive test methods that are widely used to assess impact damage in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Infrared line scanning thermography (LST) and immersion ultrasonic testing (UT) are shown to be equally capable of detecting delaminations and internal cracking caused by low-velocity impacts, although LST was easier to use and provided results more quickly that were easier to interpret.