Methods for non-destructive inspection of thick fiber-reinforced composite parts

A method for non-destructive inspection of a composite part, comprising:

• (a) activating a multiplicity of linear acoustic sources embedded in a polymeric matrix of the composite part in sequence, thereby causing acoustic waves to emanate from each acoustic source and propagate toward external surfaces of the composite part;
• and
• (b) transducing acoustic waves received at external surfaces of the composite part from each acoustic source into electric signals having characteristics indicative of the run of each acoustic source,
• wherein each linear acoustic source comprises a pair of fiber strands made of electrically conductive material and coated or otherwise separated by piezoelectric or magnetostrictive material.

A system comprising:

• a composite part comprising a multiplicity of plies, wherein at least one of said multiplicity of plies comprises a polymeric matrix and a multiplicity of linear electromagnetic-to-acoustic transducers embedded in said polymeric matrix;
• a pulser for outputting pulsed electrical energy;
• a multiplicity of switches connected to said pulser and respectively connected to said linear electromagnetic-to-acoustic transducers, each of said switches electrically coupling a respective linear electromagnetic-to-acoustic transducer to said pulser when said switch is closed and said pulser is outputting pulsed electrical energy;
• and
• a computer system programmed to control said switches to select which linear electromagnetic-to-acoustic transducer receives pulsed electrical energy from said pulser.