DETECTION OF DEBONDING IN COMPOSITE-ALUMINUM JOINTS USING GAMMA-RAY COMPTON-SCATTERING

Gamma-ray Compton scattering is used for the detection of debonding in adhesively bonded composite-aluminum joints. A collimated narrow beam of monochromatic photons, generated by a Cs-137 source, is directed t owards the joint and scattered photons are recorded, using a detector located on the same side as the source. The energy of the scattered ra diation is measured and related to the angle of scattering. The occurr ence of debonding is indicated by a change in the count rate at an ene rgy corresponding to its location. The performance of the technique is successfully demonstrated experimentally for joints of different adhe sive-bonding thicknesses and for artificially induced debonds. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.