This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what

changes have been made to the previous version. Because

it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.

Designation: E2582 − 19 E2582 − 21

Standard Practice for

Infrared Flash Thermography of Composite Panels and
Repair Patches Used in Aerospace Applications1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2582; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes a procedure for detecting subsurface flaws in composite panels and repair patches using Flash
Thermography (FT), in which an infrared (IR) camera is used to detect anomalous cooling behavior of a sample surface after it
has been heated with a spatially uniform light pulse from a flash lamp array.

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1.2 This practice describes established FT test methods that are currently used by industry, and have demonstrated utility in quality
assurance of composite structures during post-manufacturing and in-service examinations.

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1.3 This practice has utility for testing of polymer composite panels and repair patches containing, but not limited to,
bismaleimide, epoxy, phenolic, poly(amide imide), polybenzimidazole, polyester (thermosetting and thermoplastic), poly(ether
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ether ketone), poly(ether imide), polyimide Preview
(thermosetting and thermoplastic), poly(phenylene sulfide), or polysulfone matrices;
and alumina, aramid, boron, carbon, glass, quartz, or silicon carbide fibers. Typical as-fabricated geometries include uniaxial, cross
ply, and angle ply laminates; as well as honeycomb core sandwich core materials.
ASTM E2582-21
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1.4 This practice has utility for testing of ceramic matrix composite panels containing, but not limited to, silicon carbide, silicon
nitride, and carbon matrix and fibers.

1.5 This practice applies to polymer or ceramic matrix composite structures with inspection surfaces that are sufficiently optically
opaque to absorb incident light, and that have sufficient emissivity to allow monitoring of the surface temperature with an IR
camera. Excessively thick samples, or samples with low thermal diffusivities, require long acquisition periods and yield weak
signals approaching background and noise levels, and may be impractical for this technique.

1.6 This practice applies to detection of flaws in a composite panel or repair patch, or at the bonded interface between the panel
and a supporting sandwich core or solid substrate. It does not apply to discontinuities in the sandwich core, or at the interface
between the sandwich core and a second panel on the far side of the core (with respect to the inspection apparatus).

1.7 This practice does not specify accept-reject criteria and is not intended to be used as a basis for approving composite structures
for service.

1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.10 on Specialized NDT
Methods.
Current edition approved July 1, 2019Feb. 1, 2021. Published August 2019March 2021. Originally approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 20142019 as
E2582E2582 – 19.- 07(2014). DOI: 10.1520/E2582-19.10.1520/E2582-21.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents

2.1 ASTM Standards:2

D3878 Terminology for Composite Materials
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
3. Terminology

3.1 Definitions—Terminology in accordance with Terminologies D3878 and E1316 and shall be used where applicable.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:

3.2.1 aspect ratio, n—the diameter to depth ratio of a flaw; for irregularly shaped flaws, diameter refers to the minor axis of an
equivalent rectangle that approximates the flaw shape and area.

3.2.2 discrete discontinuity, n—a thermal discontinuity whose projection onto the inspection surface is smaller than the field of
view of the inspection apparatus.

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3.2.3 extended discontinuity, n—a thermal discontinuity whose projection onto the inspection surface completely fills the field of
view of the inspection apparatus.
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3.2.4 first logarithmic derivative, n—the rate of change of the natural logarithm of temperature (with preflash temperature

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subtracted) with respect to the natural logarithm of time.

3.2.5 inspection surface, n—the surface of the specimen that is exposed to the FT apparatus.
ASTM E2582-21
3.2.6 logarithmic temperature-time plot, n—a plot of the natural logarithm of the surface temperature with preflash temperature
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subtracted on the y-axis versus the natural logarithm of time on the x-axis, where time t=0 is taken to be the midpoint of the flash
event; either temperature or radiance may be used to create the plot.

3.2.7 log plot, n—see logarithmic temperature-time plot.

3.2.8 second logarithmic derivative, n—the rate of change of the first logarithmic derivative with respect to the natural logarithm
of time.

3.2.9 thermal diffusivity, n—the ratio of thermal conductivity to the product of density and specific heat; a measure of the rate at
which heat propagates in a material; units [length2/time].

3.2.10 thermal discontinuity, n—a change in the thermophysical properties of a specimen that disrupts the diffusion of heat.
4. Summary of Practice

4.1 In FT, a brief pulse of light energy from a flash lamp array heats the inspection surface of a composite specimen, and an IR
camera monitors the surface temperature (or radiance) as the sample cools.

4.2 The surface temperature falls predictably as heat from the surface diffuses into the sample bulk over a period t* (Eq 1).

2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.

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 E2582 − 21

FIG. 1 Variation of Heat Flow Into a Composite With Variable Ply Thickness (Scenarios 1, 3, and 4), Bridging (Scenario 2) And an Insert
(Scenario 5) (Left), And a Post Layup Line Scan Showing Bright Spots Attributed to Bridging (Right) (Courtesy of NASA Langley Re-
search Center)

L2
t* 5 (1)
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where:
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L = the specimen thickness, and

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α = the thermal diffusivity.

4.3 Internal thermal discontinuities (for example, voids, delaminations, or a wall or interface between the host material and a void
or inclusion) modify the local cooling of the surface, and the corresponding radiation flux from the surface that is detected by the
IR camera. ASTM E2582-21
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4.4 Fundamental detectability of a flaw will depend on its size, depth, and the degree to which its thermal properties differ from
those of the surrounding host material. For a given flaw-host combination, detectability is a function of the aspect ratio of the flaw.
The minimum detectable flaw size increases with the depth of the flaw. Detectability is highest for larger flaws that are closer to
the sample surface and have thermal properties that are significantly different from the host matrix material.

4.5 Operational parameters affecting detectability include component surface emissivity and optical reflectivity, data acquisition
period, flash lamp energy, and camera wavelength, frame rate, sensitivity, optics, and spatial resolution.

4.6 This practice describes a single-side access examination, in which the flash lamp or heat lamp array (excitation source) and
IR camera (temperature sensor) are both located on the same (inspection) side of the component or material under examination.

4.7 In common practice, signal processing algorithms (for example, Thermographic Signal Reconstruction, Principal Component
Analysis) are used to enhance detectability of flaws that are not detectable in the raw IR camera signal, and to assist in evaluation
and characterization of indications.

5. Significance and Use

5.1 Typically, FT is typically used to identify flaws that occur in the manufacture of composite structures, or to identify and track
flaws that develop during the service lifetime of the structure. Flaws detected with FT include delamination, disbonds, voids,
inclusions, foreign object debris, porosity, or the presence of fluid that is in contact with the back side backside of the inspection
surface. For example, the effect of variable ply number (or thickness), bridging, and an insert simulating delamination on heat flow
into a composite is shown in Fig. 1 (left). Bridging (Fig. 1, right) or delaminated areas show up as hot spots due to discontinuous

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FIG. 2 Thermal Scan of a Complex Composite Shape (Left) Showing Less Effective Heating of a High Curvature Saddle-Region, Result-
ing in a Darker Diagonal Streak in the Thermographic Image (Right) (Courtesy of NASA Langley Research Center)

heat flow, causing heating to be localized close to the inspection surface. With dedicated signal processing and the use of
representative test samples, characterization of flaw depth and size, or measurement of component thickness and thermal
diffusivity, may be performed.

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5.2 Since FT is based on the diffusion of thermal energy from the inspection surface of the specimen to the opposing surface (or

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the depth plane of interest), the practice requires that data acquisition allows sufficient time for this process to occur, and that at
the completion of the acquisition process, the radiated surface temperature signal collected by the IR camera is strong enough to
be distinguished from spurious IR contributions from background sources or system noise.
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5.3 This method is based on accurate detection of changes in the emitted IR energy emanating from the inspection surface during
the cooling process. As the emissivity of the inspection surface falls below that of an ideal blackbody (blackbody emissivity = 1),
ASTM E2582-21
the signal detected by the IR camera may include components that are reflected from the inspection surface. Most composite
materials can be examined without special surface preparation. However, it may be necessary to coat low-emissivity, optically
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translucent inspection surfaces with an optically opaque, high-emissivity water-washable paint.

5.4 This practice applies to the detection of flaws with aspect ratio greater than one.

5.5 This practice is based on the thermal response of a specimen to a light pulse that is uniformly distributed over the plane of
the inspection surface. To ensure that 1- dimensional 1-dimensional heat flow from the surface into the sample is the primary
cooling mechanism during the data acquisition period, the height and width dimensions of the heated area should be significantly
greater than the thickness of the specimen, or the depth plane of interest. To minimize edge effects, the height and width dimensions
of the heated area should be at least 5 % greater than the height and width dimensions of the inspection area.

5.6 This practice applies to flat panels, or to curved panels where the local surface normal angle between the line normal to the
inspection surface and the IR camera optical axis is less than 30 degrees from the IR camera optical axis.30°. Analysis of regions
with higher curvature can result in streaking artifacts due to nonuniform heating (Fig. 2).
6. Equipment and Materials

6.1 IR Camera—The camera should be capable of uninterrupted monitoring of the sample surface for the entire duration of the
acquisition. The camera should allow automatic recalibration, non-uniformity correction, or other operations that interrupt the
continuous data stream to be disabled during the data acquisition period. The camera should provide real-time digital output of the
acquired signal. The camera output signal response should be approximately linear over the (post-flash) temperature range of the
sample. The camera wavelength should be in either the 2–5 micron range or the 8–14 micron range, selected such that the test
material is not IR translucent in the spectral range of the camera. The optics and focal plane should be sufficient so that the
projection of 15 contiguous pixels onto the sample plane is less than or equal to the minimum flaw area that is to be detected.

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6.2 Flash Lamp Array—At least one flash lamp should be employed to provide uniform illumination to the sample surface. The
full width at half maximum duration of the flash pulse should be less than five milliseconds. The array should be placed to avoid
a direct path of the flash energy into the IR camera lens opening. The flash lamp array should be enclosed in a protective hood
to prevent workers in the inspection area from direct exposure to the flash, or alternately, the apparatus should be operated in a
partitioned area with appropriate safety warnings to prevent inadvertent exposure.

6.3 Heat Lamp Array—A heat lamp array may be used as an alternative to a flash lamp array for the purposes of illuminating the
sample surface. At least one heat lamp (for example, 500W linear halogen bulb in a parabolic reflector) should be employed to
provide uniform illumination. The lamps should be enclosed in a reflector and covered by an optically transparent window that
suppresses IR radiation in the camera wavelength range (for example, borosilicate glass). The duration of the heating pulse should
be less than 25 % of t* (see Eq 1). The array should be placed to avoid a direct path of the reflected energy into the IR camera
lens opening.

6.4 Acquisition System—The acquisition system includes the IR camera, flash lamps, and a dedicated computer that is interfaced
to both the camera and flash lamps. The acquisition system should be capable of synchronizing the triggering of the flash lamps
and IR camera data acquisition. The system should allow data to be acquired before, during, and after the flash occurs.

6.5 Analysis Software—The computer software should allow acquired sequences to be archived and retrieved for evaluation, and
allow real time display of the IR camera signal, as well as frame-by-frame display of previously acquired flash sequences which
have been archived. The software should allow viewing of the logarithmic temperature-time for specified pixels. Additional
processing operations on each raw image sequence (for example, averaging, pre-flash image subtraction, noise-reduction,
calculation of first or second logarithmic derivatives) may be performed to improve detectability of subsurface features.

7. Reference Standards iTeh Standards

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7.1 Detectability Standard—A reference standard with known thermal discontinuities is used to establish operating parameters of

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the apparatus and limits of detectability for a particular application, and to periodically verify proper performance of the apparatus
for that application.

7.1.1 Known discontinuities may be actual flaws, or artificial features that simulate the thermophysical behavior of typical flaws
that are known to occur in the structure of interest. ASTM E2582-21
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7.1.2 At least five known flaws of a particular type should be included in the reference standard. The known flaws should represent
the range of aspect ratios, diameters, and depths for anticipated flaws, and should include the minimum required detectable flaw
size for a given application, as determined by the cognizant engineering organization.

7.1.3 If the minimum detectable flaw size requirement is not known, the reference standard should include at least five known
flaws of a given type, spanning the range of aspect ratios from 1 to 10 or higher.

7.1.4 If different types of known flaws are to be used, at least five instances of each type should be included.

7.1.5 Known flaws should be arranged so that edge-to-edge separation of adjacent flaws is at least one diameter of the larger
neighboring flaw.

7.1.6 Known flaws should be arranged so that the edges of each flaw are at least one diameter from the edge of the test sample.

7.1.7 If a test standard containing actual or simulated flaws is not available, one may be constructed using flat bottom holes
machined into the back side of the panel. It should be recognized that flat bottom holes represent a best case scenario for
detectability, where no heat transfer through the flaw occurs. Actual flaws are likely to be less detectable.

7.2 System Performance Standard—A reference standard with specific programmed thermal features and discontinuities is used
to validate the operating performance characteristics, and the consistency and repeatability of the FT system.

7.2.1 The standard should be a plate of a homogeneous material (for example, aluminum, steel, carbon fiber) with thickness ≥3
mm.

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FIG. 13 Logarithmic Temperature-time Plot

7.2.2 The plate may be free standing or attached to a core material (for example, aluminum or fiberglass honeycomb, foam).

7.2.3 The plate surface should fully cover the field of view of the apparatus.

7.2.4 The examination surface of the plate should have a uniform high emissivity finish (for example, flat black paint). Under static
conditions, the paint coating should appear uniform when viewed with an IR camera.

8. Calibration and Standardization of Apparatus

8.1 IR Camera Calibration—The IR camera should be calibrated and maintained at regular intervals, following the procedure

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recommended by the manufacturer. Non-uniformity or flat field correction should be performed according to the manufacturer’s
instructions, or more frequently, if required to achieve optimum performance.

8.2 System Check Procedure—A (https://standards.iteh.ai)

comprehensive system check may be used to verify the acceptable operational performance
characteristics, at the beginning and conclusion of each work cycle, such as a standard 8 h work day. Tested characteristics may

Linear Measurement Calibration, Flaw SizeDocument Preview

include Camera Alignment and Focus, Lamp Array Alignment, Excitation Uniformity, Excitation Levels, Response Linearity,
Measurement, and Signal/Noise Measurement.

8.2.1 The system check shall utilize the System Performance Standard.
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The system check shall be performed at the beginning of each operating shift prior to performing the standardization and
prior to inspecting any specimens.

8.2.3 The system check shall be performed at the conclusion of each operating shift (maximum 12 h). If the result of the system
check reveals a discrepancy in the acceptability of the operational performance characteristics, all of the inspection results since
the last acceptable system check shall be deemed invalid.

8.2.4 The results of each system check shall be recorded and archived as part of the inspection record for the specimens.

8.3 Standardization—Operating parameters for FT inspection will vary with the thickness, surface characteristics, and
composition of the component under test, as well as the geometry and thermophysical characteristics of a rejectable flaw, as
determined by the cognizant engineering organization. Standardization should be performed prior to examination of a component
or material, on a detectability standard (see 7.1) that is representative of the structure to be examined, to establish appropriate
operating parameters.

8.3.1 Acquire a data sequence for the reference standard using the normal FT examination procedure.

8.3.2 Using the analysis software, view the logarithmic temperature-time plot for a point on the surface that corresponds to the
deepest feature or interface that must be detected.

8.3.3 The log plot should be a monotonically decreasing straight line with slope approximately equal to -0.5, and a pronounced
“knee” in the curve at a later time (t*), indicating the presence of a back wall or flaw interface, as shown in Fig. 13. The knee may
bend either higher or lower than the straight line, according to whether the backing layer acts as a thermal insulator (for example,
air, vacuum) or a heat sink (for example, metal).

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FIG. 24 Typical Acquisition Problems

8.3.4 Incorrect acquisition parameters or procedures may be diagnosed by viewing the log plot. Common acquisition errors are
illustrated in Fig. 24.

8.3.5 If the knee does not appear in the log plot, the duration of the acquisition should be increased and the examination and
analysis should be repeated until the knee appears. The acquisition period may be increased by either increasing the number of
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frames acquired, or by decreasing the rate at which frames are acquired (that is, by acquiring every nth frame).

background. If the value of the(https://standards.iteh.ai)

8.3.6 The amplitude of the log curve at the time that the knee occurs should be sufficient to allow it to be discriminated from the
log amplitude in the vicinity of the knee intersects becomes excessively noisy, or cannot be

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discerned, the flash or heat lamp amplitude or duration should be increased.

8.3.7 The initial post-flash frames in the data sequence may be saturated due to excessive IR radiation input to the camera detector,
as a result of reflection of the flash signal from the inspection surface or background.
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8.3.7.1 Saturation should be minimized, and should not mask the knee associated with the back wall in the logarithmic
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temperature-time curve.

8.3.7.2 Saturation may be minimized by reducing the flash amplitude or duration, reducing the camera integration period, or by
adjusting the onset of the flash relative to the integration period of the IR camera.

8.3.8 The initial portion of the logarithmic temperature-time plot should have a slope approximately equal to -0.5. However,
different slope values may occur due to the influence of time-varying IR sources in the background. In general, slope values should
be in the range -0.55 to -0.35.

8.3.8.1 Early slope values outside the prescribed range may be improved by isolating the system from IR radiation sources such
as space heaters, incandescent lamps, direct sunlight, or other hot objects. Isolation should block sight lines from the source to the
camera.

8.3.8.2 If the initial slope value is not in the range -0.55 to -0.35 after the previous steps have been taken, the following steps may
be performed to improve performance:
(1) The sample surface may be coated with a water washable black paint to increase the optical absorption and emissivity of
the sample.
(2) The sample may be IR translucent in the spectral range of the camera, and a camera that operates in a different spectral
range may be required.
(3) The sample may be too thin or heat transfer through the sample may be too fast to be detected at the IR camera frame rate.
An IR camera capable of operation at a higher frame rate may be required.

8.3.8.3 If the knee associated with the back wall does not appear after the previous steps have been taken to optimize slope
performance and acquisition period, the material or structure under consideration may not be appropriate for FT.