| The non-destructive/non-invasive evaluation of structures has significant applications in various industries. Here we are exploring one such technique, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to detect voids in fiber reinforced composite materials. MRI is primarily used in the medical field; however, recent applications include oil/water mapping in rocks, void detection in polymers, moisture profiling in wood, and in the food industry.; In this project, we build on the previous work to verify the applicability of MRI for detection of voids in fiber reinforced composite materials. The project entails fabricating a composite sample with a void carved in it, which is then placed in a conventional MRI scanner to image the void. To be able to image an object (a void) with MRI, the object must contain mobile hydrogen atoms. In our sample, this was done using water-filled capsules. The surface spatial resolution of the overall specimen was defined by submerging the sample in water. The results obtained were along expected lines; however, spatial resolutions of void and specimen surfaces need improvement. We also discussed other conventional non-destructive evaluation methods presently used for fiber reinforced composites, as well as possible applications for MRI as a non-destructive/non-invasive technique for composite materials. |
