Use of CIVA to determine optimal settings for the inspection of bonded 1.6 mm aluminium plates with thermography

Abstract

In the pursuit of efficient Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques for inspecting adhesively bonded metals, thermography has emerged as a promising approach. This study leverages the thermography module from the Extende CIVA software to optimize inspection settings for two 1.6 mm aluminium plates which are adhesively joined together. The research focuses on comparing various excitation techniques, including Flash, long pulsed thermography and lock-in thermography, both in single-sided and through-transmission inspection modes. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques in detecting defects such as porosity, inserts, and debonds in adhesively bonded metallic structures. Simulated results are compared to experiments to ensure accuracy and reliability. By analysing the outcomes of different thermography techniques, this study aims to identify the most efficient and accurate approach for inspecting adhesively bonded metallic structures. The findings of this research have significant implications for the development of fast and reliable NDT techniques in the aerospace and automotive industries, where adhesively bonded metals are widely used.