Method for the quality control of a component at least partially made of filled elastomer

A method for non-destructive testing a quality of an elastic part made of filled elastomer (P) and two metallic frames (1,2), said method comprising:

• receiving, in a recess of a testing machine the part to be tested, the part being positioned in the recess but not fixed within the recess;
• applying, via a stress application cell (11) that includes an electric jack (3), a part accommodation cycle consisting in a gradual first application of compressive force by the jack (3) onto the part, and a subsequent gradual release of the compressive force with no traction;
• applying, via the stress application cell, a gradual second application of compressive force onto the part with a quasi-static regime until a maximum strain of the part is reached, where the maximum strain of the part occurs in a field where the relationship between the applied force and the strain is linear;
• measuring, via a filler sensor (15) connected to the stress application cell (11) the force applied by the application cell (11) when the stress application cell (11) applies the compressive force onto the part;
• measuring, via a position sensor (16) connected to the stress application cell (11), a strain upon the part when the stress application cell (11) applies the compressive force onto the part;
• determining, via a computer in communication with the filler sensor (15) and the position sensor (16), a conformity of the part from the measured strain and the measured compressive force,
• wherein the computer (14) is configured to determine from the measured strain and the measured compressive force at least one mechanical characteristic of the part selected from the group consisting of quasi-static stiffness and the quasi-static phase, and
• to determine therefrom the conformity of the part according to the Standard Triboelastic Solid (STS) model.

A method for producing and controlling an elastic parts made of filled elastomer (P) and two metallic frames (1,2), the method comprising:

• receiving a series of said parts at a testing machine located along a production line for producing said parts,
• where for each part received at the testing machine,
• the part is placed, but not fixed, in a recess of the testing machine,
• a stress application cell (11) of the testing machine, including an electric jack (3), executes an accommodation cycle consisting in a gradual first application of compressive force by the jack (3) onto the part, and a subsequent gradual release of the compressive force with no traction,
• a stress application cell (11) of the testing machine executes a gradual second application of compressive force onto the part with a quasi-static regime until a maximum strain of the part is reached, where the maximum strain of the part occurs in a field where the relationship between the applied force and the strain is linear,
• a filler sensor (15) connected to the stress application cell (11) measures the force applied by the application cell (11) when the stress application cell (11) applies the compressive force onto the part,
• a position sensor (16) connected to the stress application cell (11) measures a strain upon the part when the stress application cell (11) applies the compressive force onto the part, and
• a computer in communication with the filler sensor (15) and the position sensor (16), a conformity of the part from the measured strain and the measured compressive force,
• the computer (14) configured to determine from the measured strain and the measured compressive force at least one mechanical characteristic of the part selected from the group consisting of quasi-static stiffness and the quasi-static phase, and to determine therefrom the conformity of the part according to the Standard Triboelastic Solid (STS) model;
• and
• causing a switching station, located along the production line, to separate parts which do not meet the quality control criteria from parts which meet the quality control criteria.