Non-destructive inspection of composite specimen with integrated lightning protection using pulsed thermography

This paper presents an inspection of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) panel using active infrared thermography method called pulsed thermography (PT). The inspected panel contains laminated artificial defects made of plastic foil. These circular defects with diameter 15, 20 and 25 mm are located between different layers. The delamination detection is made more difficult due to application of copper mesh as the very first layer, which improves CFRP electrical conductivity, but on the other hand it improves in-plane thermal conductivity as well and conceals the defects. Such panel is subjected to PT testing to determine optimal conditions for particular defect detection.