Modeling of the strugula hypothesis of carbon-seal blistering

Theoretical modeling of the oil expansion hypothesis for blister formation is carried out. The authors estimate the pressure developed when a porous c arbon soaked with oil is subjected to a temperature change, and the authors use that pressure to gauge the tendency for a crack emanating from a pore to extend. The potential reduction in oil pressure associated with oil bein g able to migrate from regions of high pressure to low pressure is then qua ntified through the use of Darcy 's law. The role of various physical param eters in enabling this mechanism of blister formation is discussed.