Imaging of Impact Damage in Composites Using Optical Coherence Tomography

Published

February 1, 2000

Author(s)

Joy Dunkers, D P. Sanders, Donald L. Hunston, M J. Everett

Abstract

Resistance to impact damage is extremely important for most composites. Such damage can initiate delamination, one of the most common failure modes in composites.. Because this is such an important failure mode, many studies have tried to develop matrix resins and composite designs that are more resistant to impact. Such studies have been hampered by the difficulty in quantifying impact damage non-destructively. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can address this issue for glass and Kevlar reinforced systems. One way to evaluate the success of any new technique is to compare it to an existing one. In this work, OCT will be compared to laser scanning confocal microscopy.OCT is a confocal technique that is enhanced by interferometric rejection of out-of-plane image scattering. Briefly, OCT uses a low coherence source such as a superluminescent diode laser with a fiber optic based Michelson interferometer. In this configuration, the composite is the fixed arm of the interferometer and the fiber optic acts as the confocal aperture. Reflections from heterogeneities within the sample are mapped as a function of thickness for any one position. Volume information is generated by translating the sample on a motorized stage. Quantitative information about the location and size of a feature within the composite is obtained.

Proceedings Title

Adhesion Society, Annual Meeting | 23rd | | Adhesion Society

Volume

41(2)

Conference Dates

February 20-23, 2000

Conference Location

Blacksburg, VA

Conference Title

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting - Adhesion Society

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

composites, confocal microscopy, damage, impact, non-destructive evaluation, optical coherence tomography

Citation

Dunkers, J. , Sanders, D. , Hunston, D. and Everett, M. (2000), Imaging of Impact Damage in Composites Using Optical Coherence Tomography, Adhesion Society, Annual Meeting | 23rd | | Adhesion Society, Blacksburg, VA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851666 (Accessed April 19, 2024)