Brief Review of Vibrothermography and Optical Thermography for Defect Quantification in CFRP Material

Abstract

Quantifying defects in carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites is crucial for ensuring quality control and structural integrity. Among non-destructive evaluation techniques, thermography has emerged as a promising solution for defect detection and characterization. This literature review synthesizes current advancements in active thermography methods, with a particular focus on vibrothermography and optical thermography, in identifying defects such as delaminations and barely visible impact damage (BVID) in CFRP composites. The review evaluates state-of-the-art techniques, highlighting the advanced applications of optical thermography. It identifies a critical research gap in the integration of vibrothermography with advanced image-processing methods, such as computer vision, which is more commonly applied in optical thermography. Addressing this gap holds significant potential to enhance defect quantification accuracy, improve maintenance practices, and ensure the safety of composite structures.

Keywords

• thermography
• pulsed thermography
• vibrothermography
• defect quantification
• principal component analysis
• variant of principal component analysis