Methods for analyzing absorbent articles

A method for analyzing an absorbent article, the method comprising:

• providing a three-dimensional computed tomography data set comprising a mannequin image and an article image, wherein the article image is constructed from projections collected while the absorbent article is fitted to a mannequin;
• identifying an outer surface of the mannequin image;
• identifying a spatial location of the article image;
• calculating, using a processor, a shortest distance from the spatial location of the article image to the outer surface of the mannequin image;
• and
• generating a predicted performance characteristic, wherein the predicted performance characteristic is based at least in part upon the shortest distance.

A method for analyzing an absorbent article, the method comprising:

• providing a predicted performance characteristic of the absorbent article;
• providing, using a processor, a first three-dimensional computed tomography data set comprising a first article image;
• providing a second three-dimensional computed tomography data set comprising a second article image;
• and
• comparing the first article image and the second article image to the predicted performance characteristic, wherein:
• the first three-dimensional computed tomography data set and the second three-dimensional computed tomography data set are constructed from projections collected while the absorbent article is fitted to a mannequin;
• the first article image is indicative of the absorbent article throughout a first time period;
• and
• the second article image is indicative of the absorbent article throughout a second time period.