ABSTRACT
Nondestructive inspection (NDI) methods are employed in the repair process of composite and bonded structures in three ways:
1. Damage location 2. Damage evaluation, i.e., type, size, shape, and internal
position 3. Post-repair quality assurance
The first and most important activity in a repair process is to identify the defect or damage. Assessment of the damage is initially achieved by visual inspection. This localizes the damaged area, and then a more sensitive NDI method is employed to map the extent of any internal damage. Detailed NDI is very important when dealing with composite and bonded structures because damage is often hidden within the structure, with little to no surface indication. See Figures 3.1 and 3.2 for respective examples of visible and nonvisible composite damage.
