The structural components of modern aircraft are commonly fabricated of high-performance composite materials. These materials are fabricated by impregnating mats of extremely strong fibers that are held within a form with an epoxy or thermoplastic liquid. After the liquid cures or cools, the resulting component is of extremely high strength and low weight. Periodically these components must be inspected to ensure that the fiber mats and bonding material do not become delaminated and, in turn, the component loses its airworthiness. One inspection method involves application of a uniform, constant radiation heat flux to the surface being inspected. The thermal response of the surface is measured with an infrared imaging system, which captures the emission from the surface and converts it to a color-coded map of the surface temperature distribution.

(a) An area where the material is structural1y intact and

(b) An adjacent area where delamination has occurred within the wing.