An inspection system is provided to examine internal structures of a
target material. This inspection system combines an ultrasonic inspection
system and a thermographic inspection system. The thermographic
inspection system is attached to ultrasonic inspection and modified to
enable thermographic inspection of target materials at distances
compatible with laser ultrasonic inspection. Quantitative information is
obtained using depth infrared (IR) imaging on the target material. The IR
imaging and laser-ultrasound results are combined and projected on a 3D
projection of complex shape composites. The thermographic results
complement the laser-ultrasound results and yield information about the
target material's internal structure that is more complete and more
reliable, especially when the target materials are thin composite parts.