Laser-ultrasound inspection using infrared thermography

An inspection system operable to inspect an internal structure of a target comprising:

• a laser ultrasonic inspection system operable to inspect the internal structure of the target by creating and detecting ultrasonic displacements in the target;
• a thermographic inspection system operable to inspect the internal structure of the target and obtain thermal imagery of the target and mounted on the same positioning system as the laser ultrasonic inspection system that is disposed at a standoff distance from the target typical for a laser ultrasonic inspection system but greater than typically used for thermography;
• a processing and control system operable to:
• analyze the thermal imagery of the target to yield thermographic inspection results about the internal structure of the target;
• analyze the detected ultrasonic displacements at the target to yield ultrasonic inspection results about the internal structure of the target;
• and
• combine the ultrasonic inspection results and the thermographic inspection results of the target materials to obtain information about the internal structure of the target.

A large area composite inspection system, comprising:

• a generation laser operable to generate a pulsed laser beam operable to induce ultrasonic displacements and thermal transients at a composite material under test;
• a laser ultrasonic detection system operable to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements at the composite material;
• a thermal imaging system operable to detect the thermal transient at the composite material and mounted with the laser ultrasonic detection system together at a standoff distance from the composite material under test typical for a laser ultrasonic inspection system but greater than typically used for thermography;
• a control module operable to match thermal imaging frame acquisition to a pulse rate of the generation laser beam;
• a processor operable to:
• analyze both detected ultrasonic displacements at the composite material and thermal imagery of the composite material to yield information about the internal structure of the composite material.