Study on probability of detection (POD) determination using lock-in thermography for nondestructive inspection (NDI) of CFRP composite materials

In this work, an extension laser beam was used as heating source to evaluate the composite material by active thermographic method. In particular, a series of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) specimens with various depth and sizes of flat-bottom holes (FBH) were inspected using lock-in thermography (LIT). The quantitative LIT phase was employed to identification the subsurface defect using the phase decision threshold (PDT, a phase deference between defective area and the sound one), and then the detectable and undetectable defects were expressed as 1 and 0 (hit/miss data), respectively. The POD curves of continuous phase response data and the hit/miss data processing were used for estimation the detection capability and reliability of LIT phase image for NDI&E of CFRP composites, and the effects of PDT value and modulation frequency on POD curves were compared.