Investigation into the production flaws in thin solid carbon laminates by using the ultrasonic phased array method

Composites are used in a wide variety of markets, including the aerospace, architecture, automotive and military sectors. Along with the increased use of composites, multiple non-destructive testing (NDT) methods have been further developed specifically for inspecting them. Among them, one can single out ultrasonic phased arrays. Research described in this article focuses on the use of ultrasonic PAs for production flaw investigations into an aileron. The examined part was made of up to 16 layers of BAER 3068 epoxy carbon prepreg. The investigation was carried out by using the tap test, conventional ultrasonic measurement and phased array methods. The phased array method allowed us to thoroughly check the affected specimen and confirm the presence of a production flaw in the form of epoxy resin build-up. The results show how effective this method can be and emphasize its advantages over traditional ultrasonic inspections.