Ultrasonic and thermographic fatigue monitoring on a full-scale CFRP aeronautical component after repairing

The identification of defects in real components made in composite material assumes considerable importance in the aeronautical field, as irregularities in the material can compromise its functionality. Also, the possibility (NDT) to verify the effectiveness of repairing on the component during exercise through non-destructive testing techniques has great importance. The goal of the present study is the application of the ultrasound and thermographic techniques for the identification of defects in a repaired component and the evaluation of the damage caused by the application of cyclical fatigue loads. All the important factors were studied, improving ultrasound scanning and allowing evaluating the effectiveness of the techniques used. In this paper, one case of study was proposed for non-destructive damage evaluation employing Phased Array ultrasonic and thermographic methods on aeronautical CFRP component. The structural element analysed is a spar with a double-T section with a hole and presents a repair by scarfing and hot bond process. The experimental results obtained shown the validity of the ultrasonic and thermographic technique for the sensitivity in detecting defects on full-scale aeronautical components with short execution and scan times.