Device and method for measuring the deformations of a sample
AssigneeInstitute Francais du Petrole
InventorsJacques Lessi, Philippe Perreau, Daniel Bary, Guy Grard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method for measuring the deformations of a sample, which deformations particularly result from the relaxation of the stresses to which the samples was previously subjected. The device and method include the use of a cell inside which the sample is placed with the cell containing a thermal mass whose heat capacity and/or thermal conductibility are appreciably greater than those of air under normal temperature and pressure conditions.
Claims24
A device for measuring deformations of a sample, said deformations particularly resulting from relaxation of stresses to which the sample was previously subjected, the device comprising a cell inside which the sample is placed, said cell contains a fluid thermal mass whose heat capacity and thermal conductibility are appreciably greater than those of air under normal temperature and pressure conditions, and sensor means cooperable with said sample for sensing displacements of the sample so as to enable a measurement of deformations thereof, wherein the sample is a solid impregnated by at least one fluid, the fluid thermal mass is chosen so that said impregnation fluid concentration in the sample is not substantially modified during measurement of the deformations and wherein said fluid thermal mass is chosen so as not to be introduced into the sample.
A method of measuring deformations of a sample, said deformations particularly resulting from relaxation of stresses to which the sample was previously subjected, said sample being a solid impregnated by at least one fluid the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cell means for accommodating the sample;
- disposing a fluid thermal mass having at least one of a heat capacity and a thermal conductibility appreciably greater than air under normal temperature and pressure conditions in said cell means surrounding said sample, said fluid thermal mass being such that the impregnation fluid concentration in the sample is not substantially modified during measurements, and wherein said fluid thermal mass is chosen so as not to be introduced into the sample;
- measuring of the deformations of the sample;
- providing at least two temperature sensors;
- disposing a first of the two temperature sensors at a first distance from the sample;
- disposing a second of the two temperature sensors at a second distance greater than said first distance;
- and determining a thermal gradient existing in the thermal mass by values of the temperature sensed by the at least two temperature sensors.
A device for measuring deformations of a sample, said deformations particularly resulting from relaxation of stress as to which the sample was previously subjected, the device comprising a cell inside which the sample is placed, said cell contains a fluid thermal mass having a heat capacity and thermal conductibility which are appreciably greater than those of air under normal temperature and pressure conditions, said fluid thermal mass is chosen so as not to be introduced into the sample, and wherein means cooperable with the sample are provided for sensing displacements of the sample so as to enable a measurement of deformation thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.