Uncertainty evaluation of composite inspection methods based on the use of polarized camera

The filament winding process is commonly used in the manufacturing of axially symmetric composite structures for automotive and aerospace applications where strength and safety requirements are critical. However, defects in the winding process can lead to issues such as incorrect winding angles and presence of gaps and voids inside the structure. This paper aims to use a polarized camera to identify and quantify the orientation and width of tows in a component manufactured through a filament winding process. The methods highlight interesting trends for these characteristics along the component. In addition, results show a variability in the order of 0.3° for the winding angle measurement and 0.4 mm for the tow width. Polarization cameras shows potential for improving process control and diagnostics. It also results that the polarization camera computational load seems negligible compared to a high-resolution camera making it suitable for an online implementation.