Active Thermal Testing of Delaminations in Heat-Shielding Structures

Abstract

We describe possibilities offered by active thermal testing when detecting delaminations of heat-shielding coatings from a metal base using an optical thermal-stimulation source that implements heating in a scanning mode. Results of numerical simulation of thermal processes are given for various defective situations. The thermophysical characteristics of heat-shielding materials have been experimentally determined, and the limits of the thermal method have been estimated for heat-shielding thickness and defect size.