POLYMER COMPOSITE-MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION USING A LASER AIR-TRANSDUCER SYSTEM/

A wide bandwidth 1-3 connectivity piezocomposite air transducer has be en used to detect laser-generated ultrasound in a variety of composite materials. Through thickness waveforms in various carbon fibre reinfo rced polymer (CFRP) composite plates will be presented, as well as a s election of Lamb waves. Signals were also obtained in samples of pultr uded glass fibre reinforced composite of different thickness. Using th e laser/air-transducer system, images were obtained of machined defect s and delaminations by conventional C-scanning methods, and tomographi c reconstruction techniques.