OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION
OT-2026-000000511

Rheometer normal force measurement

Published: 2026-09-15T19:03:00.401649Z
Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000000511
Categories: Sensors, Controls & Machine Vision > Force and Pressure Sensing

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ABSTRACT

A rheometer shaft system includes an output shaft including an axial thrust
disk, an upper air bearing surrounding the output shaft located above the
axial thrust disk, and a lower air bearing surrounding the output shaft
located below the axial thrust disk. An upper gap separates the axial thrust
disk of the output shaft and the upper air bearing. A lower gap separates the
axial thrust disk of the output shaft and the lower air bearing. An airflow
detection system is configured to detect a change in airflow to the upper air
bearing and the lower air bearing based on the movement in the axial direction
of the output shaft. This change in airflow can be used to monitor normal
force applied to the rheometer shaft.

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OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000000511
Published 2026-09-15T19:03:00.401649Z
https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000000511