Non Linear Correlation between Statistically Sensitive Ultrasonic Features and the Strength of Composite Adhesive Joints

The motivation for the increasing use of fiber-reinforced materials as structural components in the aeronautical and automobile industries is their improved strength to weight ratio. The most widely used technique for the joining of composite components is adhesive bonding. However, the use of bonded composite joints has been hampered by the lack of a reliable nondestructive testing (NDT) technique for the evaluation of the interfacial condition of the joints, which has an essential role in establishing the joint strength.