Method and apparatus for non-destructive detection of defects in composite laminate structures

摘要

The present invention provides a probe apparatus and method as described below for use as a non-destructive testing (NDT) device to detect and locate structural flaws in a composite laminate. In preferred embodiments, the method includes measuring effective thermal conductivity (Ke) of the laminate using one contact surface, non-invasively. The device is preferably portable and battery-operated. The thermal conductivity method on which the device is based is much simpler to use than the known devices for NDT and allows the utilization of a direct correlation between thermal conductivity and mechanical strength in the case of polymer composites. The device may also be used for process control in manufacturing and monitoring materials in service.