Planning guide · Published by Atlantis NDT
Composite inspection: document construction and access before requesting a method
Prepare a component-specific brief for laminates, sandwich structures and bonded assemblies with uncertainty made explicit.
Start with the decision you need to make
Describe the construction and the question before requesting a generic composite scan. A laminate, sandwich panel and bonded assembly can present different examination challenges. Drawings, material information, repairs and accessible surfaces help the technical reviewer decide what evidence a proposed method could provide. Keep uncertain construction details visible. An inspection plan should state the intended coverage and limitations; it should not imply that one demonstration sample represents every layup, thickness transition or repair configuration.
What to check and why it matters
| Decision area | Evidence to prepare | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Construction record | Gather layup or construction information, thickness transitions, core or bond details and known repairs where available. Mark inferred information separately. | Which differences between the actual component and the reference sample matter to the review? |
| Access and surface | Map accessible faces, curvature, coatings and obstacles. Explain whether the inspection can be performed in the proposed maintenance condition. | What areas cannot be examined as intended, and who reviews that limitation? |
| Damage question | Describe the observed event or condition and the evidence needed by the design or maintenance authority. Avoid translating an observation into a confirmed damage type. | What decision will the report support, and what is outside the examination scope? |
Illustrative example · Not a customer case study
Apply the questions to a real-world situation
Hypothetical component: a repaired sandwich panel has accessible skin on one side and incomplete repair drawings. The planner records the repair boundary and uncertain core details, then asks the technical reviewer what additional information or representative sample is needed. The proposed examination is scoped around those known limits. A report should preserve the uncertainty rather than label the whole assembly sound based only on accessible areas.
Prepare your working brief
Capture what is known and name the unresolved questions. You can use the worksheet without registering or sending information to Atlantis.
- Construction
- Describe laminate, sandwich or bonded assembly and available material evidence.
- Condition of interest
- Record the event or observation that prompted inspection.
- Access map
- Identify accessible faces, transitions, obstacles and surface condition.
- Reference evidence
- List representative samples, drawings and repair records available.
- Review decision
- State the responsible authority and what it needs to decide.
When you need project-specific support
Request a scope discussion for composite inspection planning support. Confirm the current deliverables and fit for your requirement with the Atlantis team.
Confirm application-specific availability under NDT inspection services. Confirm the current deliverables and fit for your requirement with the Atlantis team.
For a US enquiry, include the project state and time zone, the responsible employer or owner, and the documents governing the work. For other countries, include the relevant recognition or customer requirements. Delivery and availability are confirmed for the engagement.
Discuss Level III supportScope and further reading
Method suitability and acceptance require the applicable component requirements and competent technical review. Composite delivery capability must be confirmed for the specific construction.
Continue with the detailed companion guide, Preserving Reference-Panel and Geometry Records for Repeat Composite Review, for a related evidence-handling workflow and its source references. The planning suggestions here are original discussion aids, not approved procedures or reproductions of standards.
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