CEN/TC 138/WG 11 - Infrared thermographic testing

This document specifies a method and establishes guidelines for non-destructive testing using active thermography with laser excitation.
Active thermography with laser excitation is mainly applicable, but not limited, to different materials (e.g. composites, metals, ceramics) and to:
- the detection of surface-breaking discontinuities, particularly cracks;
- the detection of discontinuities located just below the surface or below coatings with an efficiency that diminishes rapidly with a few mm depth;
- the detection of disbonds and delamination parallel to the examined surface;
- the measurement of thermal material properties, like thermal diffusivity;
- the measurement of coating thickness.
The requirements for the equipment, for the verification of the system, for the surface condition of the test object, for the scanning conditions, for the recording, the processing and the interpretation of the results are specified. This document does not apply to the definition of acceptance criteria.
Active thermography with laser excitation can be applied in industrial production as well as in maintenance and repair (vehicle parts, engine parts, power plant, aerospace, etc.).

This document defines the procedures for non-destructive testing using active thermography.
These testing procedures can be applied to different materials (e.g. composites, metals and coatings) and are appointed, but not limited to the:
—   detection of discontinuities (e.g. voids, cracks, inclusions, delaminations);
—   determination of layer or part thicknesses;
—   determination and comparison of thermophysical properties.
This standard is describing data acquisition and analysis principles for active thermography and is giving an informative guideline for appropriate selection of the excitation source. Acceptance criteria are not defined in this standard.
Active thermography is applied in industrial production (e.g. compound materials, vehicle parts, engine parts, power plant parts, joining technology, electronic devices) and in maintenance and repair (e.g. aerospace, power plants, civil engineering).

This European Standard specifies the general principles for thermography of non-destructive testing. Thermographic testing is used for the detection and localization of discontinuities (e.g. cracks, delamination and inclusions) in different materials (e.g. composites, metals and coatings).
Usually a thermal stimulation is required. The choice of thermal stimulation depends on the application (e.g. type of material, geometry of test object, type of defects to be determined).
Acceptance criteria are not defined in this standard.

This European Standard describes properties and requirements of infrared cameras used for thermographic testing for non-destructive testing.
This document gives also examples of excitation sources, the properties and requirements are described in application standards for active thermography.

This Europen Standard establishes terms and definitions for thermographic testing.