Laser-based ultrasonics-applications to NDE and process monitoring

Laser-based ultrasonic inspection techniques for rapidly inspecting contoured structures offer significant advantages over conventional immersion and squirter ultrasonic technologies. Furthermore, the noncontacting nature of the technique allows in situ process monitoring to be performed in hostile environments. An automated laser-based ultrasound system that has sufficient sensitivity to detect typical flaws of interest in composite materials without causing surface damage to the part under test is described. Progress is also reported concerning the application of the laser-based ultrasound system for noncontacting in situ process monitoring of compression molded thermosets