Investigation of Production Flaws in Thin Solid Carbon Laminates by Using Ultrasonic Phased Array Method

Composites are used in wide variety of markets, including aerospace, architecture, automotive, military, etc.. Along with increased use of composites, multiple Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods have been further developed specifically for inspecting them. Among them one can single out Ultrasonic Phased Arrays. Research described in this article focuses on the use of UT PA for production flaw investigation on an aileron. Examined part was made of up to 16 layers of BAER 3068 epoxy carbon prepreg. Investigation was done by using tap test, conventional ultrasonic measurement and phased array methods. Phased array method allowed us to thoroughly check the affected specimen and confirm the presence of production flaw in the form of epoxy resin buildup. Results show how effective this method can be and present its advantages over traditional UT inspections.