New Ways of Detecting Cracks, Delaminations, and Other Defects in Materials and Objects via High Frame-Rate Thermal Imaging

Abstract

A number of advanced nondestructive thermographic tools are described that are based on the video recording of surfaces using thermal imaging cameras in which infrared radiation is induced by shortterm heating with an electric current or a stream of hot air. The tools allow the detection of cracks, delaminations, gaps, and other types of defects both inside and outside the shell of a structure that cannot be reached for direct inspection.