A system for in-situ inspection of a composite structure , the system comprising: a surface-strain imaging apparatus (102, 400, 500, 600, 704, 804, 904a-c) , either comprising a shearography system , or a light source and a retroreflective screen , or a three-dimensional scanner , and further comprising a camera , the surface-strain imaging apparatus configured to image an area of an outer surface of the composite structure while a temperature of the composite structure warms to thermal equilibrium with a surrounding environment and a temperature gradient exists between an inner surface of the composite structure and the outer surface of the composite structure, wherein the inner surface of the composite structure and the outer surface of the composite structure are separated by multiple internal layers ; and a controller comprising a processor and memory , the controller configured to: detect, using data received from the surface-strain imaging apparatus, an out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface in the area caused by the temperature gradient, determine if the out-of-plane displacement satisfies a threshold condition, determine if a height of the out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface exceeds a threshold height, based on determining that the height of the out-of-plane displacement exceeds the threshold condition, flag the area of the outer surface for further inspection; and determine if the data is indicative of a delamination between internal layers of the multiple internal layers of the composite structure. a surface-strain imaging apparatus (102, 400, 500, 600, 704, 804, 904a-c) , either comprising a shearography system , or a light source and a retroreflective screen , or a three-dimensional scanner , and further comprising a camera , the surface-strain imaging apparatus configured to image an area of an outer surface of the composite structure while a temperature of the composite structure warms to thermal equilibrium with a surrounding environment and a temperature gradient exists between an inner surface of the composite structure and the outer surface of the composite structure, wherein the inner surface of the composite structure and the outer surface of the composite structure are separated by multiple internal layers ; and a controller comprising a processor and memory , the controller configured to: detect, using data received from the surface-strain imaging apparatus, an out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface in the area caused by the temperature gradient, determine if the out-of-plane displacement satisfies a threshold condition, determine if a height of the out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface exceeds a threshold height, based on determining that the height of the out-of-plane displacement exceeds the threshold condition, flag the area of the outer surface for further inspection; and determine if the data is indicative of a delamination between internal layers of the multiple internal layers of the composite structure. detect, using data received from the surface-strain imaging apparatus, an out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface in the area caused by the temperature gradient, determine if the out-of-plane displacement satisfies a threshold condition, determine if a height of the out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface exceeds a threshold height, based on determining that the height of the out-of-plane displacement exceeds the threshold condition, flag the area of the outer surface for further inspection; and determine if the data is indicative of a delamination between internal layers of the multiple internal layers of the composite structure. <EOS>