Composite

International NDT’s Non Destructive Testing (NDT) service is available for all composite components and structures including carbon fibre, glass fibre, monolithic and cored laminates.

Inspections are carried out using aerospace grade flaw detection equipment adapting aerospace inspection procedures. The assessments made can be used to develop an understanding of the make-up of the material including the detection of defects or flaws.

The information gained from the inspection is used for quality assurance in manufacture and through service as well as enabling risk management from an insurer’s perspective and the development of improved manufacturing methods through an understanding of the material’s characteristics.

The NDT techniques that International NDT uses can find a range of anomalies and defect types in metallic and composite structures. Examples of production and in-service defects that we detect include:

Non Destructive Testing for Void Detection – Voiding and porosity can be indication of poor manufacturing processes or a problem during moulding and curing of the laminate. Evidence of porosity can be detected using conventional ultrasound. In some cases the degree of porosity can be quantified using techniques similar to those employed in the aerospace industry.

Non Destructive Testing for Impact Damage – Impact damage in monolithic composites can quickly be identified using ultrasonic inspection to detect the extent of the damaged area and evaluate the nature of the damage. This provides important data to the designer and manufacturer so that an effective repair schedule can be formulated.

Non Destructive Testing for Skin To Core Delamination – Skin to core delamination is usually detected using acoustic methods which ‘listen’ to the changes in the natural resonance of the structure caused by defects. The specific acoustic method used depends on the type of laminate, its thickness and the type of core.

Non Destructive Testing for Foreign inclusion – Between turning raw materials into completed composite structures there are many essential consumables involved in the process. When these materials are accidentally included in the completed part the consequences can be severe. Non-destructive methods can detect these foreign materials and map the extent of their impact, enabling engineering assessment to create an effective and efficient repair solution.