Image Characterization of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites

A new methodology to detect fibres orientation in composite materials, using image processing tools is introduced. Several examples with manufacturing defects are studied using RIMAPS technique and the Variogram method. The characterization is made from digitized images of the samples. Combined use of RIMAPS and Variogram analyses identified the orientation of fibres and determined the values of the scale lengths that characterize the sample surfaces with every modification in the lamination process. All defects introduced were detected showing the outstanding features of these NDT techniques in determining any fibre orientation defect in plane composites manufacture.