A submarine cable bonding performance test system and a test method

Abstract

This invention discloses a testing system and method for testing the bonding performance of submarine cables. The system includes a testing device and a tensile testing machine. The testing device includes at least two bonding clamps. One side wall of each bonding clamp has a through hole, the inner contour of which matches the outer contour of the sample being tested. Each bonding clamp is equipped with at least two detachable pin plates and pins. A predetermined number of pin plate positioning holes and pin positioning holes are provided on the side wall of the bonding clamp near the through hole opening. The pin plates are embedded in the pin plate positioning holes to fix the bonding clamp and the sample being tested, and the pins are embedded in the pin plate positioning holes to fix the pin plates and the bonding clamp. The testing method of this invention uses the above-described testing system. This invention has a novel structure, a simple testing method, and wide applicability. It can flexibly test samples of different cable diameters, and can improve and enhance the manufacturing process of submarine cables.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the field of submarine cable performance testing technology, specifically to a submarine cable bonding performance testing system and testing method. [Background Technology]

[0002] Submarine cables are electrical cables wrapped in insulating material and laid on the seabed for telecommunications transmission. Submarine cables are categorized into submarine communication cables, submarine power cables, and submarine communication fiber optic cables. When laid on the seabed, submarine communication cables, submarine power cables, and submarine communication fiber optic cables are subjected to strong traction forces during construction or when hooked by ship anchors. For submarine cables containing copper tubes and polyethylene sheaths or similar layers, the adhesion strength between the copper tube and the sheath layer is related to the cable's performance. If the adhesion strength is too low, slippage will occur between the copper tube and the sheath layer under relatively small traction forces. The sheath layer will gradually thin under stress, resulting in a reduced sheath thickness and decreased insulation performance. The adhesion strength between the copper tube and the inner armored steel wire is also closely related to the finished product's performance. Insufficient adhesion strength in this area will create a large gap between the copper tube and the inner armored steel wire, affecting the finished product's water permeability. Furthermore, insufficient adhesion strength also indicates relative displacement between the copper tube and the inner armored steel wire under stress, potentially even breaking the copper tube and affecting the finished product's electrical signal transmission.

[0003] Currently, there are no clear standards that provide detailed testing methods and equipment for submarine cable bonding strength. There is insufficient monitoring of bonding performance and a lack of data support for the overall design, manufacturing process, and construction application of submarine cables. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a submarine cable bonding performance testing system that can flexibly test samples of different cable diameters and improve the submarine cable manufacturing process.

[0005] Another objective of this invention is to provide a testing method for a submarine cable bonding performance testing system that can flexibly test samples of different cable diameters and improve the submarine cable manufacturing process.

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned main objectives, the present invention provides a submarine cable bonding performance testing system comprising a testing device for locking the test sample and a tensile testing machine for applying tensile force to the locked submarine cable. The testing device includes at least two bonding force clamps, one side wall of which has a through hole. The inner contour of the through hole is configured to mate with the outer contour of the test sample. The bonding force clamp is provided with at least two detachable pin plates and pins. The side wall of the bonding force clamp near the opening of the through hole is provided with a predetermined number of pin plate positioning holes and pin positioning holes. The pin plates are embedded in the pin plate positioning holes to fix the bonding force clamp and the test sample, and the pins are embedded in the pin positioning holes of the pin plates to fix the pin plates and the bonding force clamp.

[0007] A further embodiment is that the first adhesive clamp has a first through hole on one side wall, the inner wall contour of the first through hole being configured to match the outer contour of one end of the sample being tested, and the second adhesive clamp has a second through hole on one side wall, the inner wall contour of the second through hole being configured to match the outer contour of the other end of the sample being tested.

[0008] A further embodiment is that the adhesive clamp includes a first end, a second end, and a third end that are fixedly connected to each other, wherein the diameter of the first end is larger than the diameter of the second end, and the diameter of the second end is larger than the diameter of the third end.

[0009] A further embodiment is that the first end is a first cylindrical structure, the middle of the first cylindrical structure is a first through hole, the side of the first cylindrical structure is provided with at least two pin plate positioning holes, the two pin plate positioning holes are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole, the upper surface and the lower surface of the first cylindrical structure are respectively provided with at least two pin positioning holes, the two pin positioning holes on the upper surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole, the two pin positioning holes on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole, the first pin positioning hole on the upper surface and the first pin positioning hole on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first pin plate positioning hole, and the second pin positioning hole on the upper surface and the second pin positioning hole on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the second pin plate positioning hole.

[0010] A further embodiment is that the second end is a second cylindrical structure, the middle part or all of which is a hollow structure, and the hollow structure of the second cylindrical structure is connected to the first through hole, wherein the through hole includes the first through hole and the hollow structure of the second cylindrical structure.

[0011] A further embodiment is that the third end is a second cylindrical structure, and the second cylindrical structure is provided with at least one tension fixing hole.

[0012] A further embodiment is that the pin plate includes an arc-shaped fixing part and a pin positioning hole. The arc-shaped fixing part is closely attached to the surface of the test sample to fix the adhesive force fixture and the test sample. The first pin passes through the first pin positioning hole on the upper surface of the first cylindrical structure, the pin positioning hole of the first pin plate, and the first pin positioning hole on the lower surface to fix the first pin plate and the first adhesive force fixture.

[0013] Therefore, the system provided by the present invention mainly consists of a testing device and a tensile testing machine. The testing device mainly consists of an adhesive clamp, a pin plate, and a pin. The two ends of the sample to be tested are placed in the adhesive clamp, and the pin plate and the adhesive clamp are fixed together with the pin. The tensile testing machine can be started to measure the tensile force. The magnitude of the tensile force can characterize the bonding performance of the submarine cable.

[0014] Therefore, the device has a novel structure, simple testing methods, and wide applicability. It can flexibly test samples of different cable diameters, and can improve and enhance the manufacturing process of submarine cables.

[0015] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a testing method for a testing system of submarine cable bonding performance, comprising the following steps: Step S1, placing both ends of the sample to be tested into two bonding force clamps respectively; Step S2, inserting a pin plate into the positioning hole of the pin plate and abutting against the sample to lock the sample; Step S3, inserting pins into the pin positioning holes of the corresponding pin plates to fix the pin plates and bonding force clamps; Step S4, placing the sample to be tested, locked by the pins, pin plates, and bonding force clamps, into the upper and lower tensile-specific fixing holes of the tensile testing machine; Step S5, starting the tensile testing machine to perform the test, obtaining the maximum value of the tensile force at the interface of the tensile testing machine, thereby obtaining the bonding force of the sample to be tested.

[0016] Therefore, the present invention places both ends of the test sample into the adhesive force fixture, fixes the pin plate and the adhesive force fixture together with pins, and starts the tensile testing machine to measure the tensile force. The magnitude of the tensile force can characterize the bonding performance of the submarine cable.

[0017] Therefore, this test method is simple to operate, widely applicable, and can be flexibly tested for samples of different cable diameters, which can improve and enhance the manufacturing process of submarine cables. [Attached Image Description]

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the test device in an embodiment of the submarine cable bonding performance test system of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the testing device in an embodiment of a submarine cable bonding performance testing system of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the pin structure in an embodiment of a submarine cable bonding performance testing system of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pin plate in an embodiment of the submarine cable bonding performance testing system of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the test sample after circumferential cutting in an embodiment of the submarine cable bonding performance testing system of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the adhesive force clamp in an embodiment of a submarine cable bonding performance testing system of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a typical submarine cable structure in an embodiment of a submarine cable bonding performance testing system of the present invention.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit its application.

[0026] An embodiment of a submarine cable bonding performance testing system:

[0027] See Figures 1 to 6 The present invention provides a submarine cable bonding performance testing system, comprising a testing device for locking a test sample 4 and a tensile testing machine for applying tension to the locked submarine cable. The testing device includes at least two bonding clamps 3, one side wall of which has a through hole. The inner contour of the through hole is configured to match the outer contour of the test sample 4. The bonding clamp 3 is provided with at least two detachable pin plates 2 and pins 1. The side wall of the bonding clamp 3 near the opening of the through hole is provided with a predetermined number of pin plate positioning holes 15 and pin positioning holes 13. The pin plates 2 are embedded in the pin plate positioning holes 15 to fix the bonding clamp 3 and the test sample 4, and the pins 1 are embedded in the pin positioning holes 13 of the pin plates 2 to fix the pin plates 2 and the bonding clamp 3.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first adhesive clamp 3 has a first through hole on one side wall, and the inner wall contour of the first through hole is configured to match the outer contour of one end of the test sample 4. The second adhesive clamp 3 has a second through hole on one side wall, and the inner wall contour of the second through hole is configured to match the outer contour of the other end of the test sample 4.

[0029] In this embodiment, the adhesive clamp 3 includes a first end 12, a second end 11, and a third end 10 that are fixedly connected to each other. The diameter of the first end 12 is larger than the diameter of the second end 11, and the diameter of the second end 11 is larger than the diameter of the third end 10. It can be seen that the adhesive clamp 3 is composed of three parts: a large end, a middle end, and a small end.

[0030] The first end 12 is a first cylindrical structure with a first through hole in the middle. At least two pin-plate positioning holes 15 are provided on the side of the first cylindrical structure, symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole. At least two pin-positioning holes 13 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the first cylindrical structure, symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole on the upper surface and the lower surface. The first pin-positioning hole 13 on the upper surface and the first pin-positioning hole 13 on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first pin-plate positioning hole 15, and the second pin-positioning hole 13 on the upper surface and the second pin-positioning hole 13 on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the second pin-plate positioning hole 15. Therefore, the large end has at least two symmetrical pin-plate positioning holes 15 and pin-positioning holes 13. The large end of the adhesive clamp 3 is a hollow structure with an outer diameter of 40-50 mm, an inner diameter of 15-25 mm, and a length of 20-30 mm. The pin positioning hole 15 has a width of 15-25mm, and the pin positioning hole 13 is a through hole with a diameter of 5-10mm. The distance from its center to the center of the large end is 15-20mm.

[0031] The second end 11 is a second cylindrical structure, the middle part of which is hollow. This hollow structure is connected to the first through hole, which includes both the first through hole and the hollow structure of the second cylinder. The middle part is hollow, with an outer diameter of 20-30 mm, an inner diameter of 15-20 mm, and a length of 50-60 mm. The hollow middle part is connected to the hollow structure of the larger end.

[0032] The third end 10 is a second cylindrical structure, and at least one tension fixing hole 14 is provided on the second cylindrical structure. It can be seen that the small end is a solid structure with a diameter of 15-20mm, and at least one tension fixing hole 14 with a diameter of 5-10mm is provided on the small end. The tension fixing hole 14 is a through hole, and the distance from the center of the tension fixing hole 14 to the outer end face away from the small end is 15-20mm.

[0033] In this embodiment, the pin plate 2 includes an arc-shaped fixing part 5 and a pin positioning hole 13. The arc-shaped fixing part 5 is tightly fitted to the surface of the test sample 4 to fix the adhesive clamp 3 and the test sample 4. The first pin 1 passes through the first pin positioning hole 13 on the upper surface of the first cylindrical structure, the pin positioning hole 13 on the first pin plate 2, and the first pin positioning hole 13 on the lower surface to fix the first pin plate 2 and the first adhesive clamp 3. It can be seen that the pin plate 2 is provided with an arc-shaped fixing part 5 and a pin positioning hole 13. The radius of the arc-shaped fixing part 5 is 3-6 mm, and the diameter of the pin positioning hole 13 is 5-10 mm.

[0034] In practical applications, an adhesive clamp 3 is fitted onto both ends of the prepared test sample 4, so that the positioning hole 15 of the pin plate at the large end of the adhesive clamp 3 coincides with the circumferential groove of the test sample 4. Then, the test sample 4 is symmetrically fixed by the arc-shaped fixing part 5 of the pin plate 2. Next, the adhesive clamp 3 and the pin plate 2 are fixed by the pin 1.

[0035] Then, connect the small end of the adhesive clamp to the mating hole of the tensile testing machine, fix the two with a special positioning pin, and start the tensile testing machine to perform the test.

[0036] Therefore, the system provided by the present invention mainly consists of a testing device and a tensile testing machine. The testing device mainly consists of an adhesive clamp 3, a pin plate 2, and a pin 1. The two ends of the sample to be tested 4 are placed in the adhesive clamp 3, and the pin plate 2 and the adhesive clamp 3 are fixed together with the pin 1. The tensile testing machine can be started to measure the tensile force. The magnitude of the tensile force can characterize the bonding performance of the submarine cable.

[0037] Therefore, the device has a novel structure, simple testing methods, and wide applicability. It can flexibly test samples of different cable diameters, and can improve and enhance the manufacturing process of submarine cables.

[0038] An example of a test method for a test system for testing the bonding performance of submarine cables:

[0039] In this embodiment, when testing the bonding performance of submarine cables, the testing method first performs step S1, placing both ends of the sample 4 to be tested into two bonding force clamps 3. The sample 4 to be tested includes submarine optical cables, submarine electrical cables, submarine power cables, or various types of submarine cables containing a copper tube 16, a polyethylene sheath layer 19, and other sheaths. For example, ... Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a typical submarine cable structure, which includes a copper tube 16, an inner armored steel wire 17, several optical fibers 18 located in a loose tube, a polyethylene sheath layer 19, an outer armored steel wire 20, and a polypropylene wound rope 21.

[0040] Before performing step S1, that is, before placing both ends of the sample 4 to be tested into the adhesive clamp 3, the sample 4 to be tested needs to be processed. The preparation and processing scheme for the sample 4 to be tested is as follows:

[0041] A. Sample cutting: A certain length of the test sample 4 is cut from the submarine cable to be tested. The sample length is 200-250mm. Protective layers such as steel wire (inner armored steel wire 17 or outer armored steel wire 20) and polypropylene winding rope 21 are removed, and the sheath layer containing copper tube is retained.

[0042] B. Annular Groove Removal: The sheaths at both ends of the tested sample 4 are removed, with a removal width of 5-10 mm. Then, a circumferential cut is made at a distance of 50-60 mm from both ends of the tested sample 4, removing the sheath layer outside the copper tube. The circumferential cut width is 5-10 mm. After the sheaths are removed, only the copper tube remains at both ends of the sample and at the circumferential cut location, forming the first sample segment 7, the second sample segment 8, and the third sample segment 9.

[0043] Then, step S2 is performed, in which the pin plate 2 is inserted into the pin plate positioning hole 15 and abuts against the test sample 4 to lock the test sample 4.

[0044] Next, step S3 is performed, in which the pin 1 is inserted into the pin positioning hole 13 of the corresponding pin plate 2 to fix the pin plate 2 and the adhesive clamp 3.

[0045] Then, step S4 is performed, in which the test sample 4, which is locked by the pin 1, the pin plate 2 and the adhesive clamp 3, is placed into the tensile-specific fixing holes in the upper and lower parts of the tensile testing machine.

[0046] Then, execute step S5 to start the tensile testing machine for testing, obtain the maximum value of the tensile force at the interface of the tensile testing machine, and then obtain the adhesion force of the tested sample 4.

[0047] In practical applications, a submarine cable sample of approximately 230 mm in length is cut from a normally produced submarine optical cable. The armor steel wires and polypropylene winding rope outside the sample are stripped to obtain a sheath sample with a diameter of approximately 9 mm. A special cable stripping knife is used to circumferentially cut the polyethylene sheath layer at the sample cross-section and approximately 60 mm from the cross-section. A pin plate 2 with an arc-shaped fixing part 5 and a radius of approximately 4.5 mm is selected. The pin 1, pin plate 2, adhesive clamp 3, and sample are assembled into a whole, and this whole is placed in the tensile-specific fixing holes at the top and bottom of the tensile testing machine.

[0048] Then, after fixing the entire assembly to the tensile testing machine, start the corresponding tensile testing software to conduct the test. Stop the test after the first specimen segment 7 and the third specimen segment 9 of the sheath slip off from the test sample 4, and read the maximum tensile force value, which is the adhesion force of the sample. During the test, control the tensile rate, record the corresponding slip distance, and check whether the copper tube cracks or breaks after the test.

[0049] The method in this embodiment can also test the bonding performance of a semi-finished submarine optical cable with repeaters containing only copper tubes 16. This test examines the bonding force between the copper tubes 16 and the inner armored steel wires 17, primarily verifying the copper tube welding and steel wire armoring processes. The specific operations are as follows:

[0050] A sample of about 200 mm in length without sheath layer was cut from a semi-finished submarine optical cable produced under normal conditions. A special cutting knife was used to make a circumferential cut on the copper tube at the cross-section of the sample and about 60 mm away from the cross-section. A pin plate 2 with an arc-shaped fixing part 5 and a radius of about 4 mm was selected. The pin 1, pin plate 2, adhesive clamp 3 and sample were assembled into a whole and placed in the tensile-specific fixing holes at the top and bottom of the tensile testing machine.

[0051] Then, after fixing the entire assembly to the tensile testing machine, start the corresponding tensile software of the tensile testing machine to conduct the test. Stop the test after the first specimen segment 7 and the third specimen segment 9 slip off the test sample 4, and read the maximum tensile force value, which is the adhesion force of the sample. During the test, control the tensile rate, record the corresponding slip distance, and check whether the copper tube cracks or breaks after the test.

[0052] Therefore, the present invention places both ends of the test sample 4 into the adhesive force clamp 3, fixes the pin plate 2 and the adhesive force clamp 3 together with the pin 1, and starts the tensile testing machine to measure the tensile force. The magnitude of the tensile force can characterize the bonding performance of the submarine cable.

[0053] Therefore, this test method is simple to operate, widely applicable, and can be flexibly tested for samples of different cable diameters, which can improve and enhance the manufacturing process of submarine cables.

[0054] It should be noted that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the design concept of the invention is not limited thereto. Any non-substantial modifications made to the present invention using this concept also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for testing the bonding performance of submarine cables, characterized in that, include: A testing device for locking a test sample and a tensile testing machine for applying tension to the locked submarine cable under test. The testing device includes at least two adhesive clamps. One side wall of each adhesive clamp has a through hole. The inner wall contour of the through hole is configured to match the outer contour of the test sample. Each adhesive clamp is provided with at least two detachable pin plates and pins. The side wall of the adhesive clamp near the opening of the through hole is provided with a predetermined number of pin plate positioning holes and pin positioning holes. The pin plates are embedded in the pin plate positioning holes to fix the adhesive clamp and the test sample. The pins are embedded in the pin plate positioning holes to fix the pin plates and the adhesive clamp. The bonding performance of a submarine cable is tested using a testing system, including the following steps: Step S1: Place both ends of the sample to be tested into two adhesive force clamps respectively; Step S2: Insert the pin plate into the pin plate positioning hole and abut against the test sample to lock the test sample. Step S3: Insert the pins into the pin positioning holes of the corresponding pin plates to fix the pin plates and the adhesive clamps. Step S4: The test sample, which is locked by the pin, pin plate and adhesive clamp, is placed into the tensile-specific fixing holes in the upper and lower parts of the tensile testing machine. Step S5: Start the tensile testing machine to perform the test, obtain the maximum value of the tensile force at the interface of the tensile testing machine, and then obtain the adhesion force of the tested sample. The adhesive clamp includes a first end, a second end, and a third end that are fixedly connected to each other. The diameter of the first end is larger than the diameter of the second end, and the diameter of the second end is larger than the diameter of the third end. The first end is a first cylindrical structure, the middle part of the first cylindrical structure is a first through hole, the side of the first cylindrical structure is provided with at least two pin plate positioning holes, the two pin plate positioning holes are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole, the upper surface and the lower surface of the first cylindrical structure are respectively provided with at least two pin positioning holes, the two pin positioning holes on the upper surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole, the two pin positioning holes on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first through hole, the first pin positioning hole on the upper surface and the first pin positioning hole on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first pin plate positioning hole, the second pin positioning hole on the upper surface and the second pin positioning hole on the lower surface are symmetrically arranged with respect to the second pin plate positioning hole; The second end is a second cylindrical structure, the middle part or all of which is a hollow structure. The hollow structure of the second cylindrical structure is connected to the first through hole. The through hole includes the first through hole and the hollow structure of the second cylindrical structure. The third end is a second cylindrical structure, and at least one tension fixing hole is provided on the second cylindrical structure. The pin plate includes an arc-shaped fixing part and a pin positioning hole. The arc-shaped fixing part is closely attached to the surface of the test sample to fix the adhesive force fixture and the test sample. The first pin passes through the first pin positioning hole on the upper surface of the first cylindrical structure, the pin positioning hole on the first pin plate, and the first pin positioning hole on the lower surface to fix the first pin plate and the first adhesive force fixture.

2. The testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first adhesive clamp has a first through hole on one side wall, the inner wall contour of the first through hole being configured to match the outer contour of one end of the sample being tested; the second adhesive clamp has a second through hole on one side wall, the inner wall contour of the second through hole being configured to match the outer contour of the other end of the sample being tested.

Images