US 12,492,977 B2
System and method for testing
Seamus D Garvey, Nottingham (GB); Christopher J Bennett, Nottingham (GB); David Hills, Oxford (GB); and James Rouse, Nottingham (GB)
Assigned to ROLLS-ROYCE PLC, London (GB)
Filed by ROLLS-ROYCE plc, London (GB)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/169,932.
Claims priority of application No. 2203102 (GB), filed on Mar. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0280252 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 3/36 (2006.01); G01M 7/00 (2006.01); G01M 13/00 (2019.01); G01M 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 3/36 (2013.01) [G01N 2203/0005 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0044 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0048 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for testing at least one test piece, the system comprising:
a pressure vessel comprising:
a first chamber receiving a first fluid (F1) at a first pressure (P1);
a second chamber fluidly separated from the first chamber and receiving a second fluid (F2); and
an actuating membrane fluidly separating the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the actuating membrane is configured to apply a second pressure (P2) on the second fluid (F2) within the second chamber in response to the application of the first pressure (P1) by the first fluid (F1) on the actuating membrane;
a test vessel comprising an internal chamber disposed in fluid communication with the second chamber and at least one test wall defining at least one boundary of the internal chamber, wherein the at least one test wall is coupled to the at least one test piece, wherein the internal chamber is configured to receive the second fluid (F2) at the second pressure (P2), and wherein the at least one test wall is configured to apply a first force (N1) on the at least one test piece in response to the application of the second pressure (P2) by the second fluid (F2) on the at least one test wall; and
an actuator engaged with the actuating membrane and configured to apply a time-varying force (N4) on the actuating membrane while the first pressure (P1) is being applied by the first fluid (F1) on the actuating membrane,
wherein the at least one test wall is further configured to apply a second force (N2) on the at least one test piece in addition to the first force (N1) in response to the application of the time-varying force (N4) by the actuator on the actuating membrane, and wherein the second force (N2) is time-varying and is different from the first force (N1).