Inspection of fiberglass tanks vessels and piping using IR thermograph

[Paulx1]

Inspection of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks vessels and piping using infrared thermography. Has it been done and what is the techneque?

 

[hotspot]

Yes, flash thermography among others. The American Americas Cup vessels are one example of use of the questioned inspection capability. The vessels hull is fiberglass and water intrusion can slow or damage it. Key your internet queries on transmissive or front surface thermography/ir and flash or pulsed thermography/ir.
Good luck.

 

[JKEngineer]

If the FRP is in service and operating at a non-ambient temperature then it can be looked at directly to detect delaminations. Jack M. Kleinfeld, P.E. Kleinfeld Technical Services, Inc.
Infrared Thermography, Finite Element Analysis, Process Engineering

http://www.KleinfeldTechnical.com

 

[IRJohn]

YES! It can work beautifully!

You can find several papers published on this and related topics in the Proceedings of Thermosense, available from the publisher (

http://www.spie.org)

or at any college library. Several of the papers are included in an excellent CDRom available from SPIE or at our webstore (

http://www.snellinfrared.com)

as I was the co-editor of the volume.

Depending on the needs and environment, the necessary techniques can be simple or more complex. All involve differential conduction, diffusivity or capacitance of heat energy. The most repeatable use a process of "injecting" heat energy into the laminate with a heat gun, heat lamp, or flash lamp.

It may be possible to analyze the images directly but the big gains are being made using computer analysis. I suggest you check out Thermal Wave Imaging, the leader in the technology. They've developed some remarkable processes and software that can be used with various IR cameras with unbelievable results.
Thermally yours,
John Snell
Snell Infrared

http://www.snellinfrared.com

http://www.thermal-solutions.org