COMPOSITE NDT

Composites non-destructive testing (NDT) is essential for verifying the strength and integrity of CFRP, GFRP, and other composite materials without damaging the very components being inspected. The dolphicam2 is designed for composites NDT across a wide range of materials, including Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP), Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP), metallics, and bonded structures. What makes Dolphitech unique is our core technology, Matrix Array Ultrasonic Testing (MAUT), the most powerful and data-rich composite NDT equipment on the market, giving operators the unrivalled ability to view a material’s internal features with live C-Scans. Servicing Aerospace, Defense, Energy (wind and power generation), Space, Marine, and Automotive, the dolphicam2 is designed for composite inspection and is unrivalled in its capabilities.

Composite materials are specially engineered by combining two or more distinct materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. This combination results in a composite with unique characteristics that differ from its individual components. The most common types of composites are fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), which include materials like carbon fibre (CFRP) and glass fibre (GFRP). Given the widespread use of composite materials, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) has become essential for detecting flaws, assessing structural integrity, and maintaining safety standards.

Common examples of composite materials include:

• Fiberglass: Made from fine glass fibres embedded in a resin matrix, fiberglass is widely used in boat hulls, automotive bodies, wind turbine blades and sports equipment due to its lightweight and high strength.
• Carbon Fibre Composites: Known for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, carbon fibre composites are extensively used in aerospace, automotive, and high-performance sporting goods. For instance, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 both use carbon fibre composites for the fuselage and wings, significantly reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency.
• Kevlar: A high-strength synthetic fibre, Kevlar is used in bulletproof vests, helmets, and other protective gear. Its lightweight and high tensile strength make it ideal for personal protection and military applications.

Composite NDT with the dolphicam2 can detect a wide range of defects depending on material type and construction. Across CFRP and GFRP composites, this includes delamination, debonding, porosity, voids, impact damage, cracking, and foreign object debris (FOD) in composites.

GFRP components, such as wind turbine blades and marine structures, benefit from inspections that look for porosity, debonding and delamination through impact or fatigue. Defects that are often invisible on the surface (BVID) but can significantly compromise structural integrity.

Thick CFRP used in marine spars and similar structures can also be assessed for delamination, impact damage, corrosion, erosion, and voids using the same composite NDT platform.

Use our quick reference table below to see the typical types of features that can can be detected depending on the construction of your assets.