Method for analyzing a separation in a deformable structure
AssigneeMichelin North America, Inc.
InventorJohn W. Newman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A deformable structure is subjected to a plurality of reduced pressures, causing a bulge in the surface of the deformable structure above a separation in the deformable structure. The cross sectional area of the bulge is measured for each reduced pressure in a plane parallel to the surface of the deformable structure. When the cross sectional area of the bulge does not increase with a reduction in the pressure, the cross sectional area of the bulge approximates the area of the separation. The depth of the separation is calculated using the change in cross sectional area of the bulge per change in pressure.
Claims5
Method for determining the location of a separation in the material of a test deformable structure comprising the steps of:
- subjecting the test deformable structure to a predetermined pressure, thereby causing a bulge in a surface of the test deformable structure due to the separation in the material of the test deformable structure;
- measuring the cross sectional area in a predetermined plane of the bulge formed in the surface of the test deformable structure at the predetermined pressure;
- determining the size of the separation in the test deformable structure;
- providing a reference deformable structure having at least one reference separation in the material of the reference deformable structure the same size as the separation in the material of the test deformable structure and at a predetermined depth;
- subjecting the reference deformable structure to the predetermined pressure, thereby causing a reference bulge in a surface of the test deformable structure due to the reference separation in the material of the test deformable structure;
- measuring the cross sectional area in a predetermined plane of the reference bulge formed in the surface of the reference deformable structure at the predetermined pressure;
- and
- comparing the cross sectional area of the bulge formed in the surface of the test deformable structure at the predetermined pressure with the cross sectional area of the reference bulge formed in the surface of the reference deformable structure at the predetermined pressure to determine the depth of the separation in the test deformable structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.