Non-Destructive Testing of Multilayer Composite Materials

Abstract

Multilayer composite materials are used in advanced engineering as a material for heavy-duty products. However, the use of multilayer composite materials requires consideration of their inherent specific properties, such as anisotropy of mechanical characteristics and the possibility of the presence of hidden defects in the form of discontinuity of the material along the interfaces of individual layers (laminations). Evaluation of interlayer failures throughout the life cycle is critical to reducing composite product safety risks. In this article, the analysis of interlayer defects in composites employs comprehensive control, including several non-destructive testing methods: visual inspection, ultrasonic flaw detection, active thermography, and numerical modeling. Interlayer defects obtained as a result of low and high-speed impact on multilayer composite materials are considered. It has been found that the results from numerical modulation of interlayer defects and from non-destructive inspection of defects such as laminations, obtained by different methods, agree satisfactorily.

Keywords

Composite materials / Defects / Delamination / Non-destructive testing / Visual inspection / Ultrasonic flaw detection / Modeling

References

[1] Wang X, Ma Y, Wang L, Qiu Z . Advances in the optimization design study for aircraft composite structure. Sci. Sin.-Phys. Mech. Astron. 2018, 48, 014602. DOI: 10.1360/SSPMA2017-00043

[2] Towsyfyan H, Biguri A, Boardman R, Blumensath T. Successes and challenges in non-destructive testing of aircraft composite structures. Chin. J. Aeronaut. 2020, 33, 771-791. DOI: 10.1016/j.cja.2019.09.017

[3] Mohamed MH, Wetzel KK. 3D Woven Carbon/Glass Hybrid Spar Cap for Wind Turbine Rotor Blade. J. Sol. Energy Eng. 2006, 128, 562-573. DOI: 10.1115/1.2349543

[4] Salifu S, Desai D, Ogunbiyi O, Mwale K . Recent development in the additive manufacturing of polymer-based composites for automotive structures-A review. Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 2022, 119, 6877-6891. DOI: 10.1007/s00170-021-08569-z

[5] Zhang X, Zhao N, He C . The superior mechanical and physical properties of nanocarbon reinforced bulk composites achieved by architecture design-A review. Prog. Mater. Sci. 2020, 113, 100672. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2020.100672

[6] Bokhoeva LA, Rogov VE, Chermoshentseva AS. Stability of round defects such as delamination in structural elements taking into account transverse shear. Mod. Technol. Syst. Anal. Model. 2014, 4, 19-22. Available online: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/ustoychivost-kruglyh-defektov-tipa-otsloeniy-v-elementah-konstruktsiy-s-uchetom-poperechnogo-sdviga/viewer (accessed on 20 June 2026).

[7] Senthil K, Arockiarajan A, Palaninathan R, Santhosh B, Usha KM. Defects in composite structures: Its effects and prediction methods-A comprehensive review. Compos. Struct. 2013, 106, 139-149. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2013.06.008

[8] Chernushin VA, Rusakov DY, Kuryatin AA . Features of the research of the structure and assessment of the quality of composite materials by means of non-destructive testing techniques. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2021, 1758, 012033. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1758/1/012033

[9] Kuznetsov AO, Koshelnikov VS, Chernov LA, Budadin ON . Modeling of random geometric characteristics of inclusions in the material. J. Control. Diagn. 2020, 4, 40-45. DOI: 10.14489/td.2020.04.pp.040‑045

[10] Karimbaev TD, Palchikov DS . Methods of non-destructive testing of aircraft engine parts and composite materials. Identification of the boundaries of admissibility of defects. Bull. Samara State Aerosp. Univ. 2014, 13, 96-105. DOI: 10.18287/1998-6629-2014-0-5-1(47)-96-105

[11] Aniskovich VA, Budadin ON, Kozelskaya SO, Rykov AN . New technologies of non-destructive testing and technical diagnostics of structures made of composite materials. News Russ. Acad. Missile Artill. Sci. 2026, 1, 120-126. DOI: 10.53816/20753608_2026_1_120

[12] Katunin A, Dragan K, Nowak T, Chalimoniuk M . Quality Control Approach for the Detection of Internal Lower Density Areas in Composite Disks in Industrial Conditions Based on a Combination of NDT Techniques. Sensors 2021, 21, 7174. DOI: 10.3390/s21217174

[13] Katunin A, Wronkowicz-Katunin A, Dragan K. Impact Damage Evaluation in Composite Structures Based on Fusion of Results of Ultrasonic Testing and X-ray Computed Tomography. Sensors 2020, 20, 1867. DOI: 10.3390/s20071867

[14] Bokhoeva LA, Rogov VE, Baldanov AB, Ivanov YN. Modeling of the optimal multilayer plate made of composite materials to reduce the speed after impact. Mech. Eng. Eng. Educ. 2022, 3-4, 3-11. Available online: https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_50206179_57669351.pdf (accessed on 20 June 2026).

[15] Beklemysheva KA, Petrov IB . Modeling the destruction of hybrid composites under the influence of low-speed impact. Math. Model. 2018, 30, 27-43. Available online: https://ras.jes.su/mmod/s207987840001158-2-1 (accessed on 20 June 2026).

[16] Lubov B, Vitaly R, Shunqi M, Anna C, Anatoly I, Alexander N. Buckling and Post-Buckling Behavior of the Delaminated Composite Plates. Adv. Mater. Sustain. Manuf. 2026, 3, 10003. DOI: 10.70322/amsm.2026.10003

[17] Bokhoeva LA, Pnev AG, Filippova KA . Development of an algorithm for automatic processing of experimental results of samples from composite materials with defects. Bull. Kazan State Tech. Univ. Named After A.N. Tupolev 2010, 4, 10-16. Available online: https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_17846880_29460580.pdf (accessed on 20 June 2026).