US 11,703,472 B2
Systems and methods for accelerated conditioning of composite core sandwich coupons
Keith D. Humfeld, Chicago, IL (US); and Joseph A. Bolton, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/712,303.
Prior Publication US 2021/0181133 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 25/58 (2006.01); G01N 17/00 (2006.01); G01N 25/56 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 25/58 (2013.01) [G01N 17/002 (2013.01); G01N 25/56 (2013.01); G01N 2033/0083 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for accelerated conditioning of a composite core sandwich coupon within a conditioning apparatus, wherein the composite core sandwich coupon comprises (i) an outer composite layer and (ii) an inner core layer, and wherein the inner core layer comprises a plurality of cells, the method comprising:
creating a plurality of holes through the outer composite layer;
setting, at a first time by a controller of the conditioning apparatus after creating the plurality of holes, a first temperature of the conditioning apparatus between 140 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit and a first relative humidity level of the conditioning apparatus between 5% and 9%, and wherein a combination of the first temperature and the first relative humidity level correspond to a desired relative humidity level of the plurality of cells of the inner core layer at room temperature;
maintaining, by the controller, the first temperature and the first relative humidity level for a first period, wherein during the first period a core humidity of the plurality of cells in the inner core layer approaches the first relative humidity level;
determining that the core humidity has reached the first relative humidity level; and
based on determining that the core humidity has reached the first relative humidity level, adjusting, at a second time by the controller of the conditioning apparatus, the first temperature to a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is between the first temperature and room temperature, and wherein, responsive to adjusting the first temperature to the second temperature, the outer composite layer absorbs moisture from the inner core layer to approach the desired relative humidity level.