Automatic monitoring of composite prepregs
US5181421A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jan 26, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/2632
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for non-destructively determining fiber volume fraction and resin porosity of a composite material or prepreg wherein the composite material or prepreg is moved between a roller and a roller-transducer housing. A transducer assembly is supported in the roller-transducer housing for propagating two independent acoustic waves through the composite material. A water medium is disposed in the roller-transducer housing. The two acoustic waves are propagated through the water medium, through the thickness of the roller-transducer housing and through the composite material or prepreg. The velocity of each of two acoustic waves, V.sub.1 and V.sub.2, are determined and the thickness of the composite material or prepreg is determined. The fiber volume fraction in resin porosity of the composite material or prepreg are then determined using the velocities V.sub.1 and V.sub.2, the thickness and known parameters of density, elastic modulii of the constituent material and layup sequence.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.