Quantifying Uncertainty in Pulsed Thermographic Inspection by Analysing the Thermal Diffusivity Measurements of Metals and Composites

Pulsed thermography has been used significantly over the years to detect near and sub-surface damage in both metals composites. Where most of research either improving detectability and/or its applicability specific parts scenarios, efforts analyse establish level uncertainty measurements have very limited. This paper presents analysis multiple uncertainties associated with thermographic under scenarios such as choice post-processing algorithms; flash power settings; repeat tests on four materials, i.e., aluminium, steel, carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) glass-fibre (GFRP). Thermal diffusivity measurement parameter determine all above categories. The results computed represented form a relative standard deviation (RSD) ratio cases, where RSD is mean. clearly indicate that thermal show large due algorithms case steel variability when it comes assessing GFRP laminates.