Depth resolved thermal wave imaging approach for non-destructive testing and evaluation of steel sample

Reliability of sub-surface defects is imperative for safer functionality of critical materials/components/structures used in a wide variety of applications in various industries. The need for reliable, fast, remote, safe inspection and evaluation methods for detecting hidden defects increases in parallel with the demand for more sustainable solutions, which helps in inherent design and manufacturing specifications modifications. During in-service operations, the hidden defects are typically originated from various loading conditions leading to catastrophic failure. This work explores the best possible reliable, fast, remote, and safe inspection and evaluation experimental method and the associated post-processing approach using InfraRed Imaging (IRI) for Thermal Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation of mild steel materials. This proposed work provides an insight into the state-of-the-art research in the field of thermal/infrared non-destructive testing and evaluation methods and associated post processing approach to visualize the hidden subsurface defects not only resolved by spatial thermal gradients but also simultaneously provide temporal thermal gradients at the defective regions.