Surface Deformation Inspection on Delaminated Flax Laminate for Aerospace Structure Application

Abstract

Natural fibre-based composites are gaining momentum in the aerospace sector, driven by their sustainable characteristics, including environmental friendliness and renewability, that align with the increasing demand for eco-friendly solutions in aerospace structural applications. However, ensuring the structural integrity of these composites remains critical to meet the aerospace industry's rigorous safety and performance standards. The flax unidirectional prepreg laminates using pressure and temperature-assisted curing methods. To simulate defects, delamination was introduced into the laminates using Teflon tape as an artificial flaw during fabrication. The samples were then cured using two distinct methods: autoclave curing and hot bonder curing. This research applies speckle shearing interferometry method as an advanced non-destructive technique to detect defects, specifically delamination, in flax unidirectional prepreg composites. Defects in autoclave-cured are visibly detected with detection efficiencies ranging from 31% to 41%. The primary objective is to investigate how the curing methods impact the effectiveness of speckle shearing interferometry in identifying these defects. By exploring the interaction between the curing process and the detection capabilities of speckle shearing interferometry, this study aims to provide insights into optimizing inspection methods for natural fibre-based composites, ensuring their reliability and safety in aerospace applications.