1. A method comprising: storing a plurality of time base functions into a variable time base generator, wherein each time base function of the plurality of stored time base functions is associated with a specific composite material to be tested, and further wherein each of the time base functions is associated with a composite material that is different from the composite material associated with each other time base function; selecting a time base function from the plurality of stored time base functions; capturing via an infra-red imaging device, a plurality of thermal images of a surface of a composite material associated with the time base function at non-linear time intervals over a period of time defined by the time base function, wherein the non-linear time intervals increase with the passing of time during the time period; varying the non-linear time intervals in response to a thermal transient; generating via a time module, temporal data unique to each captured thermal image; processing via a processor, the plurality of thermal images and the temporal data together such that the temporal data associated with each captured thermal image directly relates to features within the composite material associated with the time base function; and identifying features within the composite material associated with the time base function based on the processing.