SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MAP A THERMAL PROFILE OF A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE USING A THERMOCHROMATIC WITNESS ASSEMBLY

摘要

There is provided a system and a method to map a thermal profile of a composite structure during curing in at least one of manufacture or repair of the composite structure. The system has a thermochromatic witness assembly having a first series of probes with a thermochromatic material applied either to a composite lay-up, or applied to a removable material adjacent the composite lay-up. The system further has a process assembly with a heat source to cure the thermochromatic witness assembly to form the composite structure. The system further has a light source to activate the thermochromatic material of the first series of probes to prompt an onset of color changes in the thermochromatic material to determine one or more maximum temperatures of the composite structure, to map the thermal profile of the composite structure during curing in at least one of manufacture or repair of the composite structure.

主权项

1. A system to map a thermal profile of a composite structure during curing in at least one of manufacture of the composite structure, or repair of the composite structure, the system comprising:
a thermochromatic witness assembly comprising a first series of probes comprising a thermochromatic material either applied to a composite lay-up, or applied to a removable material adjacent the composite lay-up; a process assembly with a heat source configured to cure the thermochromatic witness assembly to form the composite structure; and, a light source configured to activate the thermochromatic material of the first series of probes to prompt an onset of color changes in the thermochromatic material to determine one or more maximum temperatures of the composite structure, in order to map the thermal profile of the composite structure during curing in at least one of manufacture of the composite structure, or repair of the composite structure.