CONTINUOUS SURFACE DEFORMATION MEASUREMENT

摘要

A surface deformation measurement apparatus (30), system and method for locating and measuring relatively small surface deformations in the exterior surface of aircraft, submarines and other similar structures that are subject to substantial pressure change during operation. The apparatus (30) includes a light source (34) generating a narrow curtain of light (46), an optical viewer (36) and a mounting arrangement (32). The light source (34) is affixed to the mounting arrangement (32) to project a narrow curtain of light (46) onto the surface to be measured substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface. The mounting arrangement (32) also has the optical viewer (36) affixed thereto and aligned such that the nominal viewing axis of the viewer substantially intersects said surface in a region illuminated by said light source (34). The narrow curtain of light (46) illuminates the surface to be measured and enables the detail of any surface deformations to be viewed by the optical viewer (36). The mounting arrangement (32) is moveable such that the apparatus (30) may be moved along the surface to thereby provide a continuous image of any surface deformations.