摘要：

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for gauging the amount of warpage in a composite panel. In the gauging operation, elongate spacer strips (18) of uniform thickness are placed on the layup surface (14) of a mold (12) to support a panel (10) spaced apart from the mold layup surface (14) by a gap (22) of dimension equal to the thickness of the spacer strips (18). A sensor wand (26) that includes a strain gauge sensor assembly (32) is inserted in the gap (22) to detect and measure gap variations. Instrumentation (66,68) is utilized to operate strain gauges (52) that are included in the strain gauge sensor assembly (32) as a conventional bridge circuit. Measurement error caused by twisting and tilting of sensor wand (26) is minimized by smoothly contoured contact protrusions (54) of the strain gauge sensor assembly (32) that bear against panel surface (16) and layup surface (14). The width of sensor wand (26) and the mounting location of the strain gauge sensor assembly (32) also are established to minimize measurement error caused by twisting and tilting of sensor wand (26). Also included is a calibration fixture (70) for determining the relationship between electrical signals supplied by strain gauges (52) and gap dimension so that variations in gap dimension and hence the contour of panel surface (16) can accurately be determined.

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