Method of and apparatus for non-destructive composite laminate characterization
OwnerCornelis G. Van Hengel, Hendrik A. Vuilinventors
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Abstract
A method for the non-destructive determination of the stacking order and the fiber orientation of a fiber reinforced composite laminate comprises illuminating optically successively a series of spots of a cross sectional surface of the laminate under examination and detecting light radiated from the respective illuminated spots. An electrical output signal relative to the amount of light detected is provided and a characterization of the laminate indicative of the stacking order and fiber orientation is determined from the electrical output signal. An apparatus is provided for carrying out the method of the present invention.
Claims15
A method for non-destructive determination of the stacking order and the fiber orientation of a fiber reinforced composite laminate (1), comprising the steps of:
- illuminating optically successively a series of spots of a cross-sectional surface (6, 7, 8;
- 10) of a laminate (1) under examination;
- detecting light radiated from respective illuminated spots;
- providing an electrical output signal relative to the amount of light received;
- and
- forming from said electrical output signal a characterization of the laminate (1) under examination, indicative of the stacking order and the fiber orientation thereof.
An apparatus for non-destructive determination of the stacking order and the fiber orientation of a fiber reinforced composite laminate (1), comprising:
- light source means (11), for illuminating optically a series of spots of a cross-sectional surface (6,7,8;10) of a composite laminate (1) under examination;
- detector means (18), for generating an electrical output signal relative to the amount of light received from an illuminated spot;
- probe means (14), optically coupled with said light source means (11) and detector means (18), for providing a light beam to be directed to said cross-sectional surface (6,7,8;10);
- drive means (24,25;26,27), for moving relative to each other said probe means (14) and said cross-sectional surface (6,7,8;10) of the composite laminate (1) under examination;
- support means (29;23), supporting said light source means (11), detector means (18), probe means (14) and drive means (24,25;26,27), said support means (29) having adjustment means for adjusting said cross-sectional surface (6,7,8;10) of the composite laminate (1) under examination and said probe means (14);
- and
- processor means (21), equipped for controlling said drive means (24,25;26,27) in a programmable manner, and for processing the electrical output signal of said detector means (18) to generate a characterization of the composite laminate (1) under examination indicative of the stacking order and the fiber orientation thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.