In this paper, a novel approach to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of defective materials for the aircraft industry is proposed, which utilizes an approach based on multifrequency and spectrogram eddy current method combined with an image analysis method previously applied for general-purpose full-reference image quality assessment (FR IQA). The proposed defect identification method is based on the use of the modified SSIM4 image quality metric. The developed method was thoroughly tested for various locations, sizes, and configurations of defects in the examined structure. Its application makes it possible to not only determine the presence of cracks but also estimate their size.

This paper presents two techniques of active thermography i.e. the pulsed thermography technique and the step heating technique. The aim of this article is to compare these two techniques and present the possibilities, advantages and limitations of their use in the context of non-destructive testing of composite materials. The experimental section presents the results of tests carried out on samples of the polymer composites reinforced with glass fiber.

We built a high-speed TDS setup with the use of electronically controlled optical sampling (ECOPS), which can measure up to 1600 terahertz pulses per second. The movement of the sample was provided by two fast-speed motorized linear stages constituting the gantry. We developed a flat-bar-based metal marker approach for the synchronization of continuous line-by-line scans. We carefully compared the performance of the terahertz reflection time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) scanner operating in a slow point-by-point and a one-hundred-times faster line-by-line imaging scheme. We analyzed images obtained for both schemes for a uniform metallic breadboard with holes, as well as a glass composite sample with defects. Although the measurement time was reduced by 100 times in terms of the line-by-line scheme, the overall performance in both schemes was almost identical in terms of the defects’ sizes, shapes and locations. The results proved that the proposed ECOPS TDS system can provide uniform and extremely fast scanning without any deterioration in image quality.

The robotization of the non-destructive inspection of aircraft is essential for improving the accuracy and duration of performed inspections, being an integral part of inspection and data management systems within the currently developed NDT 4.0 concept. In this paper, the authors presented the design and testing of a universal mobile platform with interchangeable sensing systems for the non-destructive inspection of aircraft structures with various angles of inclination. As a result of the performed studies, a low-cost approach of automation of existing measurement devices used for inspection was proposed. The constructed prototype of the mobile platform was equipped with eddy current testing probe and successfully passed both laboratory and environmental tests, demonstrating its performance in various conditions. The presented approach confirms the effectiveness of the automation of the inspection process using climbing robots and defining the directions of possible development of automation in non-destructive testing in aviation.

The aim of the study was to determine the traceability of damage growth caused by inclusions of water in the composite sandwich structure. It was assumed that as a result of temperature changes during the flight and accompanying phase transformation, the zone containing water inclusions increases. The growth is caused by the destruction (mainly the tearing of walls) of the core. As part of the work, this assumption was verified experimentally. For the experiment to be successful it was necessary to simulate actual flight conditions. The simulation involved inducing phase transformations of water in the core cell as a function of time and temperature. Before and after the experiments the non-destructive tests using pulsed thermography were performed. The test results revealed an increase in the number of cells occupied by water. Adequate specimens were designed and manufactured. The study showed that cyclical changes in temperature affected the propagation of water in core sandwich structures. Further, it was found that the increase in the surface area of water-containing inclusions could be monitored using thermographic techniques.