Patent ID: 11953471
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G

Claim 9:
10. A method for evaluating a bond, comprising:
placing an open portion of a first vessel against a bonded structure being inspected;
pulling a vacuum between an outer surface of the first vessel and an inner surface of a second vessel that encloses the first vessel, wherein pulling the vacuum seals the first vessel to the bonded structure;
filling the first vessel with a liquid, wherein the liquid contacts a surface of the bonded structure to be inspected at the open portion;
initiating a spark discharge in the liquid to form a plasma that generates a compression wave in the liquid, wherein the compression wave propagates from the liquid into the bonded structure through the open portion to apply a force to a bond in the bonded structure; and
inspecting the bond in the bonded structure.