System and method for monochromatic x-ray gas excitation bond inspection

A method for determining the strength of a bond joining a composite structure, the method comprising:

• producing a short gas pulse by a gas gun that is directed normal to a surface of the composite structure and that creates a compression wave through the composite structure, wherein the gas gun is arranged at a first angle;
• producing a monochromatic x-ray by a monochromatic x-ray system to that is incident at a second angle to the surface and that passes through the composite structure;
• receiving transmitted x-rays by a scintillator screen through the composite structure;
• receiving radiation emitted from the scintillator screen by a mirror;
• magnifying the radiation reflected by the mirror by an optical lens;
• detecting the radiation from the Scintillator by a detector;
• processing the radiation detected by the detector;
• and
• synchronizing operation of the gas gun, the monochromatic x-ray system, and the detector.

A method for determining the strength of a bond joining a composite structure, the method comprising:

• producing a gas pulse that is directed normal to a surface of the composite structure and that creates a compression wave through the composite structure;
• producing a monochromatic x-ray that is incident at an angle to the surface and that passes through the composite structure;
• detecting radiation from a scintillator screen based on the x-ray;
• processing the radiation based on the detecting;
• and
• determining the strength of the bond based on the processing, wherein the gas pulse, the x-ray, and the detecting are synchronized.