Low-Power Vibrothermography for Detecting and Quantifying Defects on CFRP Composites

Detecting and quantifying barely visible impact damage (BVID) in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials is a key challenge in maintaining the safety and reliability of composite structures. This study presents the application of low-power vibrothermography to identify and quantify such defects. Using a long-wave infrared (LWIR) camera, thermal data were captured from the CFRP specimens that inhibit BVID. How image processing, specifically principal component analysis (PCA) and sparse principal component analysis (SPCA), can enhance thermal contrast and improve the accuracy of defect size is also explored. By combining low-energy excitation with advanced data analysis, this research aims to develop a more accessible and reliable approach to non-destructive testing (NDT) for composite materials.