Component heating sub-systems and methods for laser shearography testing systems

A laser shearography testing method for non-destructively testing a component, the laser shearography testing method comprising:

• coupling a component heating sub-system to a component;
• exciting the component into a loaded state with the component heating sub-system, wherein the exciting comprises passing an electric current through the component;
• and
• uniformly heating an internal region of the component through the exciting due to a resistivity of the component.

A laser shearography testing system for non-destructively testing a component, the laser shearography testing system comprising:

• a laser-emitting device that is configured to emit a laser beam onto the component;
• a beam expander, wherein the laser beam emitted by the laser-emitting device passes through the beam expander before impinging on the component;
• a camera that acquires at least one first image of the component in a neutral state, in which the component is not excited, and at least one second image of the component in a loaded state;
• and
• a component heating sub-system coupled to the component, wherein the component heating sub-system excites the component into the loaded state by passing an electric current through the component, wherein a resistivity of the component causes the component to internally and uniformly heat as the electric current passes through the component, wherein the component heating sub-system further comprises:
• a first lead that extends from a power source and couples to a first portion of the component;
• a second lead that extends from a second portion of the component and couples to the power source;
• a heating control unit that is operatively coupled to the power source, wherein the heating control unit selectively activates the power source in order to selectively pass the electric current through the component;
• and
• one or more heat sensors coupled to the component.