Flash Infrared Thermography for Non-Destructive Test Evaluation

Researchers at the NASA Johnson Space Center have developed and refined Flash Infrared Thermography as a means of Non-Destructive Test Evaluation (NDE). The technology offers three complementary contrast tools that provide characterization of flaws and anomalies in nonmetallic composite structures using flash infrared thermography. The method can detect smaller flaws and provide quantitative and qualitative information about the shape, size, depth, and location of anomalies. NASA's designed methods assist the operator in defining the boundaries of flaws. For industries interested in NDE of composite materials, the technology can be integrated with existing infrared thermography hardware systems.

Transcript

00:00:00 {Music} For more than fifty years scientists and engineers at NASA's Johnson space Center, have pioneered breakthroughs in medicine, computing, thermal materials, and systems engineering. NASA technologies are innovative solutions that solve complex problems. NASA patented core technologies are available through license agreement and co-development partnerships. These effective entrepreneurial collaborations can create innovative new products, and opportunities for your business. Flash Infrared Thermography is an NDE non-destructive evaluation method and can typically be used

00:00:37 in the inspection of composites, non-metallic, or detection of void-like flaws and delaminations. With flash thermography, where we use a flash... of photographic light on to the part and then you take a video using an infrared camera. The software that NASA has developed method is called Infrared Contrast. It's a post processing software that essentially analyzes the data by converting it into a contrast data.

00:01:14 And you can measure that indication in terms of come normalized contrast and parameters based on normalized contrast so... so this way now you have quantifiable measurable signal response - that then correlates to the size of the flaw. And so you have a signal amplitude that can be measured with very accurately. And you also have the peak of that amplitude time measured very accurately. and both of these relate to the the size and the flaw as well as the depth of the flaw.

00:01:48 But if you are looking for detecting flaws in a composite structure this method will allow you to detect those flaws accurately... and reliably - and also in an efficient manner. {Narrator} Flash Infrared Thermography using NASA's patented IR contrast method technology is available for use through a license agreement through NASA. IR contrast method technology can analyze and evaluate composite materials used increasingly in the manufacturing of turbine blades... pressure vessels... fuselages...

00:02:20 airfoils... and can be applied to a wide range of industries. To find out more about NASA developed IR contrast method technology, and other technology license or partnership opportunities, visit - {music fade}