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US 12,203,902 B2Granted
Under water acoustics plasma generator
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMorteza Safai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for evaluating a bond is provided. The system uses an underwater spark discharge to generate a compression wave in a first vessel containing a liquid. The system further includes a second vessel in which a vacuum is pulled to hold the first vessel against a bonded structure being inspected. The compression wave is directed to propagate from the liquid into the bonded structure to apply a known force to the bond being inspected.
Claims20
A method for evaluating a bond between a first composite material and a second material comprising:
- selecting a predetermined force for the composite material from a lookup table;
- placing an open portion of a first vessel against the first composite material;
- pulling a vacuum between an outer surface of the first vessel and an inner surface of a second vessel that encloses the first vessel, wherein pulling the vacuum seals the first vessel to a surface of the composite material;
- filling the first vessel with a liquid, wherein the liquid contacts the surface of the composite material at the open portion;
- initiating a spark discharge in the liquid to form a plasma that generates a compression wave with the predetermined force, wherein the compression wave propagates from the liquid into the composite material through the open portion to apply the predetermined force to the bond;
- and
- inspecting the bond by ultrasonic inspection.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.