Full-field optical and laser non destructive testing for aerospace applications - 1

In aerospace, nondestructive testing (NDT) is an essential activity in order to verify the structures behavior during stress or loading cycles. Also NDT is used for diagnosis and find defects which can be dangerous for the integrity of the structure during its life-cycle.
Among many NDT techniques, those based on optics and laser are contactless and usually based on imaging systems. This allows faster inspection compared to traditional methods based on point measurements with lengthy scanning.
In this lecture, we will give an overview of various methods and techniques developed at the Space Center of Liege since 25 years, with the aim of measuring the mechanical behavior of satellite structures under load, as well as detecting defects in aerospace composite structures.
In particular, we will discuss methods like analog and digital holographic interferometry, speckle and speckle shearing interferometry, thermography, terahertz imaging