Repeatability Study of Flash-Pulse Thermographic Inspection of CFRP Samples

Thermographic flash-pulse inspection is one of popular methods non-destructive testing (NDT) materials. Despite the automation NDT methods, most them are based on visual inspections and results these influenced by skills operators. The repeatability reproducibility (R&R) therefore more important compared to exact gauge-type methods. This study was focused statistical evaluation flash pulse inspection. Space hardware representative carbon-fiber composite samples with 50 artificial defects were used as reference samples, which independently inspected three operators in two independent runs. A Gage R&R performed contrast noise ratio identification. It determined that at certain conditions, a total variability 29% can be achieved, assumed acceptable for this application.