Which common failure in composites is primarily detected by thermography?

Thermography is an effective non-destructive testing method primarily used to detect variations in temperature that can indicate underlying issues within composite materials, such as delamination. Delamination occurs when layers of composite materials separate, creating a thermal barrier that affects the heat transfer properties and surface temperature.

As thermography detects these temperature differences, it can reveal areas where delamination has developed, allowing for early intervention and repair. This technique does not typically identify surface cracks, impact damage, or bonding failures as effectively, as those issues present different thermal signatures or may not result in significant temperature changes that thermography can detect. Therefore, the ability of thermography to visualize and characterize the hidden delaminations makes it particularly suited for identifying this type of failure in composite structures.