Method and apparatus for in-field measurement of permanent deformations on plant components

Abstract: A method for measuring deformations on plant components provides for the application of a first periodic structure on a component (2) and for the comparison at a distance in time of said first periodic structure on the component with a second periodic reference structure in order to detect the presence of moiré fringes of interference that are produced as a consequence of a dimensional variation of the periodic structure on the component associated to a deformation of the component. The method is characterised in that said first periodic structure is applied on the plant component directly in field, and includes the following phases: buffing of a portion (1) of surface of the component (2), on which the first periodic structure must be applied, in order to remove superficial layers of oxides and to obtain a prescribed degree of roughness; electro-deposition on said buffed portion of surface (1) of a protective coating against oxidation comprising a layer of nickel and a layer of rhodium; deposition on said portion of surface (1) covered with the protective coating of a layer of photo-sensitive resins; exposure of said layer of photo-sensitive resins to two interfering beams of monochromatic light that generate on its surface a grid of fringes of interference having a first pitch (P) with a prescribed value; development of the photo-sensitive resins layer for the selective removal of the same in a way as to obtain a periodic structure having said first pitch (P) and comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive resins bands interspaced with channels in correspondence of which the protective coating is left uncovered; electro-deposition of nickel bands (24) in said channels between the bands of photo-sensitive resins; removal of said photo-sensitive resins bands in such a way as to obtain a grid having said first pitch (P) made of a plurality of nickel bands (24) embossed on said portion of surface covered by the protective coating. All aforementioned phases are performed on the component directly in field.

Description: The present invention refers to a method for in-field measurement of permanent deformations on plant components, in particular for measuring permanent deformations on metal components of plants operating at high temperatures and in heavy ambient conditions, and to the assembly of instruments for performing said method. With the materials normally employed to produce metal components (piping, tubing etc.) of plants operating at high temperatures (in the range of 400-600 °C), the permanent deformation estimated during the project phase is within the range of 1-2% in a span of 100,000-200,000 hours of service. It is also known that dimensional alterations take place more evidently in the most critical areas of the plant, for example in the bending portions of pipes. In order to control the behaviour of components that are in service with respect to project expectations, it is necessary to avail of instruments that can provide for a high measuring sensitivity, as well as for the possibility to make surveys at rather long time intervals, typically every 10,000 or 20,000 hours. For the measurement of deformations various kinds of techniques are known, among which optical techniques have a considerable importance. Among these, one of the most promising is the one known as moiré interferometric technique. As known, the principle which the moiré interferometric technique is based on is the comparison of two periodic structures, called grids; when two grids with different pitch are superimposed, fringes of interference also called moiré fringes are generated, whose pitch is related to the difference in pitch between the two grids. From EP-A-0 275 982 it is known to engrave a grid on the object, to project a light grid on said object, and to detect object deformations from the moiré fringes. For the implementation of such principle, one possibility consists in physically applying a grid to the component whose deformations must be measured, and in comparing the grid applied to the component with a reference grid. Currently, the grid is applied (a process also referred to as "writing") to the component in a laboratory, under controlled ambient conditions, and not directly in field, where ambient conditions are more critical (high temperatures, presence of corrosive factors, presence of oxidation on the components, presence of fumes, of dust, of mechanical oils, of greases, etc.). The operations of comparing (reading) the grid created on the component with a reference grid in order to determine the component deformation are also not performed in field, but in laboratory. In other words, the assembly of the instruments for writing and reading the grid on the component is installed permanently in a laboratory, in order to operate under controlled ambient conditions, and it is the component whose deformation must be measured to be taken from the laboratory to the field and vice-versa. This obviously complicates the measurement operations, as it makes it necessary to remove the component from the plant in order to take it to the laboratory. In view of the state of the art described, object of the present invention is to provide for a method for the measurement of deformations undergone by plant components which allows to take the measurement of deformations on the component directly in field, without having to perform any operation in laboratory. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide for an apparatus for performing the aforementioned method. According to the present invention, such object is attained thanks to a method for the measurement of deformations on plant components as defined in claim 1. Also according to the present invention, an apparatus is provided for the measurement of deformations of plant components, as defined in claim 25. The method according to the present invention, and the apparatus to implement it, have the peculiar and advantageous characteristic to allow the application of the periodic structures on the component and the subsequent measurement of deformations directly in field. These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be rendered even more evident by the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated as a non-limiting example in the enclosed drawings, wherein: Figure 1 schematically illustrates the moiré interferometric principle for the measurement of deformations; Figure 2 shows a portion of a plant component of which the deformation is to be measured; Figure 3 shows a portable equipment for the electro-deposition, directly in field, of a layer of protective material on one portion of surface of the plant component of which the deformation is to be measured; Figure 4 shows an equipment for the deposition of a layer of photo-sensitive resins on said portion of the component surface; Figure 5 shows in principle the optical scheme of a writing head for the impression of the photo-sensitive resin layer; Figures 6A and 6B are cross sectional views of the component referring to two different phases of the method for the creation of a first periodic structure on the same component; Figure 7 shows in principle the optical scheme of a reading head for reading the first periodic structure as formed on the component and for determining the deformations undergone by the same component; Figure 8A shows an image of the moiré fringes of interference in case of null deformation (no fringes); Figure 8B shows a range of offset moiré fringes used as a reference for subsequent measurements; and Figure 8C shows the comparison between the range of offset moiré fringes of Figure 8B, and a range of moiré fringes originated from a deformation of the component. In Figure 1 there is shown schematically the optical principle on which moiré interferometric techniques for the measurement of deformations are based. Let's suppose to superimpose two grids with equal pitch (P), one of which has been subject to a longitudinal deformation (perpendicular to the grid lines) δP (that is, the grid pitch is equal to P + δP): interference fringes called of moiré fringes form (the darker bands visible in the drawing), with a pitch Δ that depends on the pitch P of the non-deformed grid and on the extent δP of deformation undergone by the grid, according to the ratio: Δ=P/ε where as known ε is equal to δP/P. Therefore, once one knows the initial pitch P of the grid having undergone deformation (corresponding to the pitch of the other grid, used as reference grid) and one has measured the pitch Δ of the moiré fringes, it is possible to obtain the value of deformation ε. Measurement sensitivity is a function of the grids fineness, that is of the value of their pitch P. The method for the measurement of deformation according to the present invention, that is based on the aforementioned principle of moiré interferometrics, provides for the formation of a grid on a plant component directly in field. Such grid is created by means of electroforming, according to the procedure described later. With reference to Figure 2, a portion 1 of the surface of a plant component 2, on which the grid 3 (represented with dots and lines) must be created is first of all submitted to cleaning and buffing, in such a way as to make such portion of surface specular, with a degree of micro-roughness suitable for accommodating one or more grids. Surface cleaning can be executed by means of a sanding machine or sanding paper having progressively decreasing grain, starting for example from the value of 80 to a value of 600, so as to abrade the surface oxides that have formed on the component in field. For the buffing it is preferable to use abrading diamond pastes with progressively decreasing grain, as for example from 6 µm to 1 µm. The portion of surface to be submitted to this treatment can have for example an area of 200x150 mm 2 , sufficient to accommodate 2 to 4 grids each of 50x30 mm 2 . In correspondence of said cleaned and buffed portion of surface 1, some fixed references are then welded onto the component, by means of an appropriate jig, for the subsequent positioning of the writing and reading instrumentation of the grids. Such references, schematised in Figure 2, are preferably made of steel balls 4, preferably three in number, that are welded onto the component by means of appropriate supports 5 and suitable to engage in respective V section seats 6 that are provided for on the basements 7 of the grids writing and reading instruments (that will be described later). The balls 4, engaging in the respective seats 6 of the basements of the grids writing and reading instruments, allow to position said instruments in a correct and substantially automatic way, thus neutralising the influence of ambient disturbances and relieving the operator from the burden of proceeding with micrometric progressions. In other words, thanks to the fact that fixed references are provided on the component, the precision in positioning the grids writing and reading instruments is ensured at the design level, and it does not depend on the operator's practice. Since pipe surface is exposed to atmospheric agents it is subject to considerable oxidation phenomena, that can be such as to damage the measurement grid thus making it unserviceable. It is thus opportune to proceed to the deposition, on the portion of surface 1 of the component that has undergone buffing, of an anticorrosive protective layer, serving the purpose to insulate the measurement grid from corrosion. Experimental testing showed that the best structure for this protective coating consists of a layer of nickel with an approximate thickness of 30 µm, plus a layer of rhodium with an approximate thickness of 2 µm, both being electro-deposited on the component in field. These operations are performed directly in field by means of a portable electroforming system, shown in Figure 3, comprising a small tank 8 open on one side that is applied to the plant component 2 (for example a cylindrical pipe) in such a way that the portion of surface 1 of the component 2 acts as the wall of the small tank 8. A nickel electrode 9 is inserted in the tank and connected to the positive pole of a power supply 10, while the negative pole of the power supply 10 is connected to the component 2. A delivery pump 11, followed by a filter 12, provides to feed the small tank 8 with a bath of sulphammic nickel (Ni(NH 2 SO 3 ) 2 ) contained in a main tank 13 provided with a thermostating system (not shown) that maintains the bath at an approximate temperature of 50 °C: a backflow pump 14 produces the return of the nickel bath from the small tank 8 to the main tank 13: the pumps 11 and 14 cause therefore the circulation of the nickel bath from the main tank 13 to the smaller tank 8 that is applied to the component, and the filter 12 allows to maintain the same bath free from residues. The nickel electrode 9 gives out the necessary material for the deposition of the nickel layer onto the surface of the component 2. In order to obtain a highly uniform deposition, the power provided by the power supply 10, should preferably be of approximately 1A/dm 2 , value with which about 12 µm/hour of nickel are deposited on the surface of the component 2. In the same way, a layer of rhodium approximately 2 µm thick is electro-deposited, on the portion of surface 1 of the component 2, to be associated with the anticorrosive nickel layer previously deposited. Differently from the process of deposition of the nickel layer, the rhodium bath is maintained at ambient temperature, and there is no recirculation: the small tank 8 contacting the component surface is simply filled with the solution, using an appropriate titanium electrode for the process of deposition. At this point, on the portion of surface 1 of the component 2 a layer of photo-sensitive resins (photoresist) is deposited. The deposition is carried out, as shown in Figure 4, by means of spraying with an aerograph, the layer of photoresist having preferably an approximate thickness of 2µm. The aerograph 15 is mounted on a motorised guide, for example an endless screw 16 operated by an electric engine 17 and coupled to the component 2 by means of clamps 18. In this way it is possible to make a predetermined and repeatable number of subsequent passages, using different orientations of the aerograph steaming nozzle 19, in order to obtain a uniform coating of the surface portion 1 of the component. The aerograph steaming nozzle 19, preferably a medium type ("M") one, is preferably located at a distance d from the component surface 1 of approximately 280 mm, and the velocity of the aerograph progression along the motorised guide is preferably of approximately 15 mm/s, with a travel c of approximately 180 mm. Since the material composing the photoresist is sensitive to the blue-violet components and to the ultraviolet components of the spectrum, the spraying procedure must be performed away from ambient light. This can be obtained by means of a screening with a red plastic screen (not shown) provided with openings that allow the access and the inspection of the work zone. Subsequently to the deposition of the layer of photo-sensitive resins, it is necessary to wait for the solvents present in the photoresist to evaporate. This operation is very important since the result affects the photographic characteristics of the material, and first of all its sensitivity. Normally, both the operation of photoresist deposition and of evaporation of the solvent contained in it are performed in a laboratory, and therefore in an ambient with controlled temperature and humidity; more precisely, based on the data provided by the suppliers of photo-sensitive resins, the solvent evaporation requires the employment of ventilated type ovens kept at approximately 80 °C for 20 minutes. Instead, having to operate directly in field, a method has been developed that is applicable in any temperature and humidity condition. This method provides, after the photoresist deposition as described above, repaired by the plexiglass protecting screen, for the wait, always under the protecting screen, for a sufficient time for the diluents in the photoresist to evaporate even in condition of ambient temperature and humidity. Experimental testing showed that as a photoresist the product marketed with the name Shipley Microposit 1813 can be utilised advantageously, while as a diluent glycol diethylenicom dimethyl ether in proportion of 25 cc to 15 cc. After the spraying according to what described above of the diluted photoresist over surface of the component, there is expected to be a 12 to 24 hour wait at ambient temperature and humidity, under the plexiglass screen, for the evaporation of solvents. It has been verified that variations in temperature and humidity, as well as in the time spent for the evaporation of solvents, produce slight variations in the photoresist sensitivity value; these variations require some adjustments in the exposure time. In order to determine the correct timing of the exposure is it possible to make a preliminary sample test on one portion of the measurement area with a jig of any geometric shape. Upon completion of the photoresist solvents evaporation, the latter is ready to be exposed. The exposure of photoresist is effected by means of an instrument also called "writing head", the optical scheme thereof is shown in principle in Figure 5. The writing head, which comprises a basement 7 of the type shown in Figure 2, is laid on the component 2, the correct positioning being ensured by the engagement of the steel balls 4 in the V-shape seats 6 of the basement 7. The writing head comprises a laser source 20, preferably of the He-Cd type which produces light at a wavelength of 442 nm with a power of approximately 80 mW; the light produced by the laser 20 is conveyed to a collimator 21 (preferably having a diameter of approximately 50 mm) by means of an optical fibre 22, that allows to uncouple mechanically the laser source 20 from the writing head placed on the component 2. The writing head comprises also an assembly of prisms 23 that provides to splitting the light beam exiting the collimator 21 into two beams, and to recomposing the two beams thus obtained; the two light beams form a certain angle with each other, and interfere forming a grid of fringes of interference on the photoresist layer. As known, when two beams of monochromatic light with a wavelength λ forming between them an angle 2ϑ interfere with each other, a grid of fringes of interference is formed, where the pitch P of the grid fringes is given by: P = λ/(2senϑ). The assembly of prisms 23 is designed in such a way as to minimise volume (important aspect in that the equipment must be portable, having to function directly in field) and work distance form the component surface, in such a way as to minimise the influence of the ambient disturbances on the grid writing. The exposed area is preferably of 50x30 mm 2 . The grid formed by the fringes of interference exiting the writing head impresses the photoresist. It has been experimentally verified that, using the aforementioned material as a photoresist, diluted as described previously, the sensibility of photoresist in field is approximately equal to 200 mJ/cm 2 , at the wavelength of the lights generated by the laser source (442 nm). After the photoresist has been exposed to the light for a time of preferably 9 minutes after it exits the writing head, it must immediately be developed. In case the aforementioned material is employed as photoresist, as a development solution it is preferable to use the one known on the market with the name of Shipley Microposit 351 Developer, diluted with distilled water; the dilution that has been demonstrated to be optimal is the one providing for one part of developer solution for every five parts of distilled water. The developer solution, diluted in the aforementioned manner, is sprayed on the photoresist surface preferably for a time of 30 s. Subsequently, the photoresist is dried with clean air. At the end of these operations, as shown in Figure 6A, the photoresist surface will appear to be furrowed by parallel channels, interspaced with bands of photoresist, in correspondence of which channels the component metal surface (coated by the protective layer of nickel and rhodium) is left uncovered. The photoresist bands thus remained typically have a height of 1.5 µm and a width of 2.5 µm, and they extend over the entire area of measurement, while the channels where the photoresist has been removed also have a typical width of 2.5 µm. The component is submitted once more to electro-nickelplating by means of the equipment in Figure 3, by applying to a portion of surface 1 the small tank 8. A layer of nickel is thus deposited on the channels furrowing the photoresist with an approximate thickness of 1.5 µm, that is a thickness equal to the height of the remaining photoresist bands. The nickel plating tank is then removed from the component 2, and the remaining photoresist bands are dissolved by means of acetone. At the end of these operations, on the surface 1 of the component coated with the protecting nickel and rhodium layer a grid made of embossed nickel bands 24 is obtained. In this way, directly on the surface of component whose deformations are to be measured, a nickel grid is formed, in such a way as to being integral with to the component itself, having the required pitch. This grid, for the very material that is made of, is capable of resisting high servicing plant temperatures, that can even be very high, and it is especially capable of following the deformations of the component itself, whether elastic or plastic, without introduction of intrinsic deformations that would affect measurement negatively. Once the grid is written on the component, the deformation measurements are taken by means of an instrument also called "reading head", the optical scheme thereof is shown in principle in Figure 7. This device comprises a laser source 25, and optical fibre 26 conveying a light generated by the laser 25 to a collimator 27, and an optical prism 28. The prism 28 splits the light beam exiting the collimator 27 into two beams forming a certain angle with respect to each other, and the two beams then recombine in correspondence of surface 1 of the component giving origin to fringes of interference that form a measurement grid to be compared to the nickel grid applied on the component. The laser 25 can be for example of the type Nd-YAG duplicated in the green at the 532 nm wavelength; this laser is normally less voluminous, more compact and more suitable for the employment in field. The collimator 27 is identical to the one employed in the writing head, while the prism is designed and produced as a function of the wavelength of the laser 25, in such a way that the thus obtained measurement grid has a pitch that is half the pitch of the grid of nickel bands on the component. Halving the pitch of the measurement grid generated by the reading head allows to double measurement sensitivity. In addition, the prism 28 has a configuration such as to allow a variation in the pitch of the measurement grid following a rotation of the same prism 28 around the axis orthogonal to the plane of the drawing in Figure 7. The possibility to vary the pitch of the measurement grid allows to add, during the reading head calibration phase, some moiré fringes with a Δ 0 offset pitch (Fig. 8B), which stand as a reference for the measurement of subsequent variations. This artifice serves the purpose to eliminate ambiguities in terms of sign relating to the formation of fringes from a field without any pre-existing fringes (Fig. 8), which corresponds to a condition of null deformation, and to allow to measure the pitch of moire fringes even in conditions where deformation gives rise to moiré fringes having a pitch value similar to the view range of the reading instrument, that would otherwise make it difficult to determine the value of the same pitch. The reading head also comprises a CCD video camera 29 filming the image of the moiré fringes produced by the superimposition of the measurement grid to the nickel grid created on the component. The CCD video camera 29 is connected to a processor 30, for example a portable personal computer, that by means of a specific software processes the image taken by the CCD video camera 29 and calculates the value of the component deformation. In order to compensate the effect produced by the variation of the ambient temperature between the instant of the grid writing and the instants of each subsequent reading, the software calculates the thermic deformation, knowing the thermic variation as measured by thermocouples and knowing the coefficient of the component dilatation α, consequently obtained during the grid writing, by means of the reading of the range of the moiré fringes at two different temperatures of the component, in a way as to obtain directly the specific value of the thermic dilatation coefficient to be employed in the calculation algorithm. Figure 8C shows an example of moiré fringes with a pitch Δ as they are filmed by the CCD camera 29, compared with the moiré fringes with an offset pitch Δ 0 memorised during the reading head calibration phase. The ratio (reported above) Δ = P/ε (where P is the pitch of the grid formed on the component) allows to obtain immediately the value of the deformation ε. As an example, some numeric data relative to a deformation measurement are listed herein. If we suppose a pitch P on the component grid to be 2.5 µm, with a measuring range (that is grid dimension) of 50 mm, and three initial offset fringes corresponding to an offset pitch Δ 0 equal to 16.66 mm, we obtain an offset value of ε 0 of 150 µstrain that should be considered in computing the component deformation. Estimating to be able to distinguish Δ pitch fringes of 15 mm, the corresponding value of ε is 166 µstrain, that by subtracting the offset 150 µstrain, gives a minimum sensitivity of 16 µstrain. As concerns the measurement dynamics, estimating to be able to distinguish Δ pitch moiré fringes up to 0.5 mm, the corresponding value of ε is 5.000 µstrain, that, by subtracting the offset 150 µstrain, gives a total dynamics of 4850 µstrain.

Claims: Method for measuring a deformation of a plant component (2), the method comprising the following phases, all performed on the component directly in field: buffing of a surface portion (1) of the component in order to remove surface oxide layers and to obtain a prescribed degree of roughness; electro-deposition of a protective coating against oxidation on said buffed surface portion (1), said protective coating comprising a layer of nickel and a layer of rhodium; deposition of a layer of photo-sensitive resins on said surface portion covered with the protective coating; exposure of said layer of photo-sensitive resins to two interfering monochromatic light beams that generate on the surface thereof a first grid of fringes of interference having a first pitch (P) with a prescribed value; development of the layer of photo-sensitive resins for the selective removal of the same in such a way as to obtain a periodic structure having said first pitch (P) and comprising a plurality of bands of photo-sensitive resins interspaced with channels where the protective coating of nickel and rhodium is left uncovered; electro-deposition of nickel bands (24) in said channels between bands of photo-sensitive resins; removal of the photo-sensitive resin bands in such a way as to obtain a grid, having said first pitch (P), formed by a plurality of nickel bands (24) embossed on said surface portion covered with the protective coating, so to provide a first periodic structure on said portion (1) of the said component surface (2); generation of a second periodic structure with a second grid of fringes of interference on the same surface portion (1) of the component; comparison of said first periodic structure with said second periodic reference structure for detecting the presence of moiré fringes of interference that are produced as a consequence of a dimensional variation of the first periodic structure on the component associated with a deformation of the component. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that phase of said electro-deposition of a layer of protective coating comprises the electro-deposition on the buffed portion of surface (1) of a layer of nickel and the subsequent electro-deposition of a layer of rhodium on the nickel layer. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said layer of nickel has a thickness of approximately 30 µm. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said layer of rhodium has a thickness of approximately 2 µm. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said phase of electro-deposition of the nickel layer includes the application on the component (2), in correspondence of said portion of buffed surface (1), of a small tank (8) in which a nickel electrode (9) is inserted and connected to the positive pole of a power supply (10), while the negative pole of the power supply (10) is connected to the component (2), and the circulation of a solution containing nickel between the small tank (8) and a main tank (13) in which the solution containing nickel is maintained at a prescribed temperature. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that said circulation of the solution containing nickel includes a filtering of the solution itself. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said electro-deposition phase of the rhodium layer includes the application to the component (2), in correspondence of said portion of buffed surface (1) on which the nickel layer has been electro-deposited, of a small tank (8) in which a nickel electrode (9) is inserted and connected to the positive pole of a power supply (10), while the negative pole of the power supply (10) is connected to the component, said small tank containing a solution including rhodium that is maintained at ambient temperature. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the deposition on the surface portion (1) of the photo-sensitive resins layer is carried out by means of spraying with an aerograph (15). Method according to claim 8, characterised in that said aerograph is mobile along a motorised guide. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that during the deposition of the photo-sensitive resins layer, the surface portion (1) of the component is protected with a screen to eliminate the electromagnetic spectrum components impressing the photo-sensitive resins. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that subsequently to the phase of deposition of the photo-sensitive resins layer there is a phase for the evaporation of the solvents found in the photo-sensitive layer. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that said phase for the evaporation of the solvents found in the photo-sensitive resins layer provides for waiting for a prescribed time at ambient conditions maintaining the photo-sensitive resins layer protected by said screen. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that said prescribed wait period is a time comprised between 12 and 24 hours. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the exposure of the photo-sensitive resins coating is effected by means of a portable writing head that is placed on the component (2) in correspondence of said surface portion (1), said writing head comprising a laser source (20), means for conveying the light with optical fibre (22) for transmitting the light generated by the laser source (20) to a collimator (21) and to a assembly of prisms (23) exiting said collimator in order to split a light beam exiting the collimator (21) into two beams forming a prescribed angle with each other and interfering at the surface of said layer of photo-sensitive resins. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that said laser source (20) is of the He-Cd type. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that on said component (2), in correspondence of said surface portion (1), there are applied first positioning means (4) co-operating with second positioning means (6) associated with said writing head, said first and second positioning means co-operating to allow the automatic positioning of the component writing head. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that said first positioning means are made of steel balls (4) welded on the surface of the component (2), and said second positioning means are made of corresponding V-shape seats suitable to accommodate said balls (4). Method according to claim 17, characterised in that said balls (4) are three in number. Method according to claim 18, characterised in that said comparison of the first periodic structure on the component (2) with the second reference periodic structure is effected by means of a portable reading head that is placed on the component in correspondence of said surface portion (1), said reading head comprising a second laser source (25), light conveyor means of optical fibre (26) for conveying the light generated by the laser source to a collimator (27), and an optical prism (28) exiting the collimator that provides to splitting a light beam exiting the collimator into two beams forming a prescribed angle with respect to each other, and interfering in correspondence of the surface portion (1) of the component, in such a way as to generate an interference grid having a second prescribed pitch (P/2) that is a submultiple of said first pitch (P). Method according to claim 19, characterised in that said second laser source (25) is of the type Nd-YAG. Method according to claim 19, characterised in that said reading head comprises third positioning means, made of V-shaped seats, in which said steel balls are engaged for the automatic positioning of the reading head on the component (2). Method according to claim 21, characterised in that said reading head comprises a video camera (29) for filming the image generated by the superimposition of the interference grid generated by the reading head at the first periodic structure found on the component (2), said video camera being connected to a portable processor (30). Method according to claim 22, characterised in that it provides for a phase for the calibration of the reading head in which phase at the exit of the reading head an interference grid is formed, having a third pitch that is not a submultiple of said first pitch (P), so that by the superimposition of said interference grid to the first periodic structure formed on the component (2) there is created an image comprising a plurality of moiré fringes having an offset pitch (Δ 0 ). Method according to claim 22, characterised in that said image is filmed by the video camera (29) and memorised in the processor (30) as a reference image. Apparatus for the measurement of a deformation of a plant component (2) directly in field, the apparatus comprising: an assembly of portable instruments for forming, directly in field, a first periodic structure having a first prescribed pitch (P) on a plant component (2); and a portable reading instrument for generating a second periodic structure having a second prescribed pitch (P/2), that is a sub-multiple of said first pitch (P), for comparing said second periodic structure with the first periodic structure and for elaborating an image containing moiré fringes of interference generated by the superimposition of the second periodic structure to the first periodic structure, once the first periodic structure has undergone a pitch variation as a consequence of a deformation of the component (2); said assembly of portable instruments including: means for electro-deposition of a protective coating against oxidation on a buffed surface portion (1) of the component (2), said protective coating comprising a layer of nickel and a layer of rhodium; means for deposition of a layer of photo-sensitive resins on said surface portion covered with the protective coating; means for exposure of said layer of photo-sensitive resins to two interfering monochromatic light beams that generate on the surface thereof a first grid of fringes of interference having a first pitch (P) with a prescribed value; means for development of the layer of photo-sensitive resins for the selective removal of the same in such a way as to obtain a periodic structure having said first pitch (P) and comprising a plurality of bands of photo-sensitive resins interspaced with channels where the protective coating is left uncovered; means for electro-deposition of nickel bands (24) in said channels between bands of photo-sensitive resins; means for removal of the photo-sensitive resin bands in such a way as to obtain a grid, having said first pitch (P), formed by a plurality of nickel bands (24) embossed on said surface portion covered with the protective coating, so to provide a first periodic structure on said portion (1) of the said component surface (2); said portable reading instrument including: means for generating a second periodic structure with a second grid of fringes of interference on the same surface portion (1) of the component and comparing said second periodic structure with said first periodic structure for detecting the presence of moiré fringes of interference that are produced as a consequence of a dimensional variation of the first periodic structure on the component associated with a deformation of the component. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterised in that said assembly of portable instruments comprises: a first portable equipment including said means for the electro-deposition of layers of material on said surface portion (1) of the component (2) on which the first periodic structure must be formed; a second portable equipment including said means for the deposition of a layer of photo-sensitive resins; a portable writing head for generating a first image containing said first grid of fringes of interference having a first prescribed pitch (P) to impress said photo-sensitive resins layer. Apparatus according to claim 26, characterised in that said first portable equipment comprises a small tank (8) to be applied on the component (2) and in which is immersed an electrode (9) that is made of the material of the layer that is to be deposited on the component surface, said electrode being connected to a positive pole of a power supply (10) whose negative pole is connected to the component, a main tank (13) containing a solution, means for recirculation (11, 14) to allow the recirculation of the solution between the main tank and the small tank applied to the component, means for filtering (12) interspaced between the main tank and the small tank applied to the component, and means for thermostating connected to said main tank to maintain the solution at a prescribed temperature. Apparatus according to claim 26, characterised in that said second portable equipment comprises an aerograph (15) mobile along a motorised guide (16, 17) that is applicable to the component in order to spray on the surface portion (1) of the component a photo-sensitive resins, and screening means to screen said portion of surface from electromagnetic spectrum component suitable to impress the photo-sensitive resins. Apparatus according to claim 26, characterised in that said writing head comprises a first source of laser light (20), light conveyor means of optic fibre (22) to convey the light generated by the laser source (20) to a collimator (21) and an assembly of optical prisms (23) exiting said collimator serving the purpose to split a light beam exiting the collimator into two beams forming with respect to each other a prescribed angle and interfering in correspondence, of said layer of photo-sensitive resins. Apparatus according to claim 29, characterised in that said first laser source (20) is of the type He-Cd. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterised in that said reading instrument comprises a reading head to be applied to the component (2) in correspondence of said surface portion (1), said reading head comprising a second laser source (25), light conveyor optic fibre means (26) for conveying the light generated by the laser source to a collimator (27), and a first optical prism (28) exiting said collimator which provides to split a beam of light exiting the collimator into two beams forming a prescribed angle with respect to each other and interfering in correspondence of the surface portion (1) of the component, in a way to generate a second periodic structure with a second grid of fringes of interference having a second prescribed pitch (P/2) that is a submultiple of said first pitch (P), the reading head also including a video camera (29) for taking the image of moiré fringes produced by the superimposition of the second grid of fringes of interference onto the first grid and a processor (30) for processing the image taken by the video camera (29) and calculating the value of the component deformation according to said image. Apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that said portable writing head comprises: said means for exposure of said layer of photo-sensitive resins to two interfering monochromatic light beams that generate on the surface thereof a first grid of fringes of interference having a first pitch (P); means for development of the layer of photo-sensitive resins for the selective removal of the same in such a way as to obtain a first periodic structure having said first pitch (P) and comprising a plurality of bands of photo-sensitive resins interspaced with channels where the protective coating is left uncovered.

Inventors: DELVO' PIERINO, GHIA SERGIO, GRAMATICA PAOLO, RIZZI MARIA LUCIANA, DELVO', PIERINO, GHIA, SERGIO, GRAMATICA, PAOLO, RIZZI, MARIA LUCIANA
Applicants: CESI CT ELETTROTECNICO SPERIME, CESI CENTRO ELETTROTECNICO SPERIMENTALE ITALIANO GIACINTO MOTTA S.P.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G01B11
IPC codes: G01B11