Date of Award

3-9-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Matthew J. Bohn, PhD

Abstract

Five methods of non-destructive material evaluation (NDE) were used to inspect various forms of damage commonly found in aerospace fiberglass composites: voids, edge and sub-surface delaminations, surface burning, and cracking. The images produced by X-ray, X-ray Computed Tomography, terahertz (THz) imaging, ultrasound, and flash IR thermography were analyzed for the detection of defects. Test results and analysis of each NDE method's capabilities provide a comparison study of conventional techniques versus the emerging technology of THz imaging for the non-destructive evaluation of aerospace composite materials. A comparison guide to the five methods' damage detection effectiveness for fiberglass composites is provided by defect type.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GMS-ENP-09-M02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA499249

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