Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study
This study explores the application of low-power vibrothermography (LVT) for detecting barely visible impact damage (BVID) in carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Composite specimens with varying impact energies (2.5–20 J) were excited using a single piezoelectric transducer with a nomi...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8514 |
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| author | Zulham Hidayat Muhammet Ebubekir Torbali Nicolas P. Avdelidis Henrique Fernandes |
| author_facet | Zulham Hidayat Muhammet Ebubekir Torbali Nicolas P. Avdelidis Henrique Fernandes |
| author_sort | Zulham Hidayat |
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| description | This study explores the application of low-power vibrothermography (LVT) for detecting barely visible impact damage (BVID) in carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Composite specimens with varying impact energies (2.5–20 J) were excited using a single piezoelectric transducer with a nominal centre frequency of 28 kHz, operated at a fixed excitation frequency of 28 kHz. Thermal data were captured using an infrared camera. To enhance defect visibility and suppress background noise, the raw thermal sequences were processed using principal component analysis (PCA) and robust principal component analysis (RPCA). In LVT, RPCA and PCA provided comparable signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), with no consistent advantage for either method across all cases. In contrast, for pulsed thermography (PT) data, RPCA consistently resulted in higher SNR values, except for one sample. The LVT results were further validated by comparison with PT and phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) data to confirm the location and shape of detected damage. These findings demonstrate that LVT, when combined with PCA or RPCA, offers a reliable method for identifying BVID and can support safer, more efficient structural health monitoring of composite materials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7380abef051c4a7581314d8415b56daf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-7380abef051c4a7581314d8415b56daf2025-08-20T04:00:54ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515851410.3390/app15158514Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging StudyZulham Hidayat0Muhammet Ebubekir Torbali1Nicolas P. Avdelidis2Henrique Fernandes3IVHM Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKIVHM Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKDepartment of Aeronautics & Astronautics, School of Engineering, Boldrewood Innovation Campus, University of Southampton, Burgess Road, Southampton SO16 7QF, UKIVHM Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKThis study explores the application of low-power vibrothermography (LVT) for detecting barely visible impact damage (BVID) in carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Composite specimens with varying impact energies (2.5–20 J) were excited using a single piezoelectric transducer with a nominal centre frequency of 28 kHz, operated at a fixed excitation frequency of 28 kHz. Thermal data were captured using an infrared camera. To enhance defect visibility and suppress background noise, the raw thermal sequences were processed using principal component analysis (PCA) and robust principal component analysis (RPCA). In LVT, RPCA and PCA provided comparable signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), with no consistent advantage for either method across all cases. In contrast, for pulsed thermography (PT) data, RPCA consistently resulted in higher SNR values, except for one sample. The LVT results were further validated by comparison with PT and phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) data to confirm the location and shape of detected damage. These findings demonstrate that LVT, when combined with PCA or RPCA, offers a reliable method for identifying BVID and can support safer, more efficient structural health monitoring of composite materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8514barely visible impact damagevibrothermographyprincipal component analysisrobust principal component analysis |
| spellingShingle | Zulham Hidayat Muhammet Ebubekir Torbali Nicolas P. Avdelidis Henrique Fernandes Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study Applied Sciences barely visible impact damage vibrothermography principal component analysis robust principal component analysis |
| title | Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study |
| title_full | Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study |
| title_fullStr | Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study |
| title_short | Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting Barely Visible Impact Damage in CFRP Laminates: A Comparative Imaging Study |
| title_sort | low power vibrothermography for detecting barely visible impact damage in cfrp laminates a comparative imaging study |
| topic | barely visible impact damage vibrothermography principal component analysis robust principal component analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8514 |
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