Normalization and sound zone determination in pulse thermographic NDE

Thermographic nondestructive evaluation is quick and effective in detecting damage particularly for composite structures. Pulse thermographic nondestructive evaluation (TNDE) technique can potentially provide information on defect dimensions, such as the depth at which the defect is located. However, there are a number of extraneous variables that affect the signal obtained during these tests, such as non-uniformity in the heat pulse applied and differences in the emissivity of the surfaces from specimen to specimen. In addition, the identification of defect free areas in the image is a challenge. As in other NDE procedures calibration specimens would be of help, but calibration specimens corresponding to complex damage states in composite materials are difficult to fabricate. Results from validated numerical simulations can complement calibration specimens. However, the thermo-mechanical properties of the test object as well as the amount of heat energy absorbed in the field tests are not readily available for such models. This paper presents an extension of the thermographic signal reconstruction (TSR) procedure in which the temperature and the time scales are respectively normalized with equilibrium temperature and the break time. A benefit of such normalization is the ability to directly measure the defect depth as a fraction of plate thickness. In order to implement this normalization procedure, sound zone profile definition is required. A new approach for determining sound zone profile has been developed. Finally, determination of sound zone is affected by non-uniform heating, and a method of minimizing the effects of non-uniform heating is proposed. The performance of these new approaches on actual experimental results are presented.