This five-day course is designed for the repair technician, fabricator, or inspector tasked with identifying and quantifying defects in new or damaged composite panels using the latest equipment, methods, and techniques.

The course is very “hands-on” in nature, and quite busy. The instruction is performed by an ASNT certified Level III, and is designed to cover the training certification requirements for personnel in ultrasonic inspection to Level I in accordance with ASNT SNT-TC-1A.

Four of the most commonly used NDI techniques will be discussed and practiced in class. These techniques include Visual Inspection, Tap Testing (both manual and instrumented tap testing), Resonance Bond Testing, and Ultrasonic Inspection. Some of the more sophisticated techniques, such as Pulsed Thermography, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Laser Shearography, and Laser Holographic Interferometry may be presented, but not actively used in the class.

The students will inspect fiber-reinforced composite panels, of both solid laminate and sandwich construction. These panels will include deliberate defects in specified areas and will be inspected using different techniques to determine which methods or techniques work best for detecting the different types of defects.

Through actual hands-on practice, the students will learn what methods work best and what may not work as well on different structures and with different types of defects. The goal is for the student to obtain a thorough understanding of why these differences exist, and which methods of inspection are most applicable to a specific structure.

Training begins with a discussion of the basic elements of composite materials, and construction techniques. This leads into conversation about common flaws, defects, and typical damage scenarios, including hidden damage issues. Other topics include a review of damage types and causes, as well as damage from unexpected sources such as water, paint stripper, hydraulic fluid, and low-intensity impacts.

The inherent Pros and Cons of all techniques and lessons learned will be discussed in detail; including a discussion about defects which cannot currently be detected with existing NDI methods or techniques.