Full-field modal analysis during base motion excitation using high-speed 3D digital image correlation

In this study, the damage identification procedure combining the advantages of high-speed 3D digital image correlation (DIC) that is used for modal analysis and wavelet-based processing algorithm is presented. The proposed procedure has been successfully validated on sandwich composite structures with internal damage of a core and impact damage, and its performance was demonstrated by detection, localisation, and identification of shapes of damage in tested structures, comparable to the results from scanning laser Doppler vibrometry (SLDV). The effectiveness in damage identification was achieved by the development of processing algorithm of acquired mode shapes, which uses a 2D double-density directional wavelet transform with increased sensitivity with entropic weights allowing to automatically select those wavelet coefficients and mode shapes, which are most sensitive to damage. The procedure presented in this paper demonstrates the performance of 3D DIC for damage identification as a cost-effective alternative to the procedures based on SLDV measurements.

When combined with high-speed photography technology, the digital image correlation (DIC) method provides an excellent photographic image processing capability that can be used to convert the evolving full-field surface properties of structures to sets of two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) coordinate values. In this study, the applicability of the DIC method and high-speed cameras in underground mining was investigated by measuring the displacement and vibration of rock pillars caused by blasting. This technique is used extensively in engineering and is increasingly being applied to new fields. As a result of comparing the DIC results for blast vibration with the measured values of the contact sensor through field tests, the maximum displacement and vibration speed were found to be 86% and 93% accurate, respectively. In addition, the obtained values appeared similar to those predicted through numerical analysis. Field test results indicate that both methods yielded similar results. Therefore, it is concluded that it is feasible to use the DIC and high-speed camera to measure ground displacements and vibrations from blasting in underground mining. In addition, the system conditions required for blast vibration measurement were considered by comparing the accuracy with the existing measurement methods.

A bioinspired tethered MAV model is designed, constructed and studied for structural dynamic characteristics using novel materials and methods. The model consists of two flapping wings, a compliant flapping mechanism, and a supporting chassis. Large size insects such as dragonfly and cicada are considered as inspiration for the designing purposes. The wings and mechanism designed in this study are a simplified form of the natural counterparts. These idealized bioinspired structures are first studied for structural dynamic characteristics using finite element methods. Carbon nanotubes/polypropylene (CNTs/PP) nanocomposite stiffeners and a thin LDPE membrane are used to realize the designed wing model. The use of this novel material composition resulted in a lightweight, thin, and flexible wing capable of large amplitude passive bending-twisting motion. For constructing the flapping mechanism, a novel compliant mechanism is fabricated and attached with a piezoelectric actuator of cantilever form. The compliant mechanism is designed with CNTs/PP nanocomposite flexure joints supported using rigid carbon fiber/epoxy composite linkages. The fabrication of wing stiffeners and mechanism flexures from lab developed CNTs/PP nanocomposite materials is carried out using laser micromachining based manufacturing technique. The complete MAV model is constructed by assembling the wings and mechanism with a carbon fiber/epoxy composite chassis. The final assemblage is a two-winged MAV model of a total mass, body length, and wingspan of 0.6 1g, 60.46 mm, and 90.14 mm, respectively. An external customized power supply is developed and used with a microcontroller to actuate the flapping mechanism and wings during experiments. The computational structural analysis showed that no resonance occurs at the mechanism, all the first four fundamental modes are at the wings. This is advantageous for accurate and efficient motion transmission to the wings. The model generates large-amplitude wing deflections with a very small amplitude input excitation from the actuator - useful for higher aerodynamic performance. Experimentally, the structural dynamic analysis of the MAV model is carried out using an in-house high-speed 3D digital image correlation (DIC) technique, which reveals that the wings generate bending dominated deforming shape with marginal twisting and positive camber (during downstroke). Structural dynamic results from computations are in good agreement with the experiments that validates both of the approaches for further advancements in the developed MAV model. Overall outcome of the current work is a simplified biomimetic MAV design, a potential candidate for developing mechanically efficient MAV models.

Adaptive modal identification of honeycomb thin-walled composite structures with pit defects under thermal modal testing using variational mode decomposition technique based on digital image correlation

High-speed digital image correlation is a camera-based displacement measurement technique that has experienced increasing popularity for modal analysis. It is due to a high spatial density of measurement that provides an outstanding interpretation of mode shapes or operational deflection shapes. However, its sensitivity is typically lower than other techniques and transducers such as accelerometers or laser vibrometry. With these measurements, the estimation of any transfer function in the frequency domain is noisier in valley regions of the response, including anti-resonances. Therefore, an accurate analytical model of the response should be used for modal identification. Modal analysis algorithms perform an identification of the modal parameters and a reconstruction of the response based on the transfer function between force excitation and displacement response. This is called the frequency response function. However, force measurements are not available in many experiments, where the motion excitation is recorded instead. This is the case when the vibration is applied to the specimen through a motion in its base. This transfer function, also known as the transmissibility function, relates the motion of excitation and response, whose shape differs from the frequency response function. This difference in the response function is relevant in a relatively noisy measurement like using digital image correlation. Hence, in this work, a transformation of the transmissibility function into equivalent frequency response function, based on theoretical models, is performed prior to modal identification in base motion tests. More suitable experimental response functions are obtained, increasing the accurateness of the modal parameter estimation.KeywordsModal analysisTransmissibility functionsFull-field measurement

As humans continue to develop the undersea engineering ecosystem of systems, the consequences of catastrophic events must continue to be investigated and understood. Almost every undersea pressure vessel, from pipelines to sensors to unmanned vehicles, has the potential to experience a catastrophic collapse, known as an implosion. This collapse can be caused by hydrostatic pressure or any combination of external loadings from natural disasters to pressure waves imparted by other implosion or explosion events. During an implosion, high-magnitude pressure waves can be emitted, which can cause adverse effects on surrounding structures, marine life, or even people. The imploding structure, known as an implodable volume, can be in a free-field or confined environment. Confined implosion is characterized by a surrounding structure that significantly affects the flow of fluid around the implodable volume. Often, the confining structure is cylindrical, with one closed end and one open end. This work seeks to understand the effect of fluid flow restriction on the physics of implosion inside a confining tube. To do so, a comprehensive experimental study is conducted using a unique experimental facility. Thin-walled aluminum cylinders are collapsed inside a confining tube within a large pressure vessel. High-speed photography and 3D Digital Image Correlation are used to gather structural displacement and velocities during the event while an array of dynamic pressure sensors capture the pressure data inside the confining tube. The results of this work show that by changing the size of the open end, referred to as the flow area ratio, there can be a significant effect on the structural deformations and implosion severity. It also reveals that only certain configurations of holes at the open end of the tube play a role in the dynamic pressure pulse measured at the closed end of the tube. By understanding the consequences of an implosion, designers can make decisions about where these pressure vessels should be in relation to other pressure vessels, critical infrastructure, marine life, or people. In the same way that engineers design for earthquakes and analyze the impact their structures have on the environment around them, contributors to the undersea engineering ecosystem should design with implosion in mind.

The present study is concerned with understanding the high strain rate deformation mechanisms and the role of microstructural characteristics in Mn+1AXn phase ternary ceramics. These materials crystallize in a Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP) structure with a c/a ratio greater than 1.67 which results in kink band formations when subjected to loading. In this work, we report the high strain rate deformation and fracture mechanisms observed in Ti2AlC, a ternary ceramic, when subjected to dynamic compressive loading (~1,200 s−1) using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) technique and 2-D high speed Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to measure in-plane displacements. Specimens with different geometries are tested due to the tendency of these materials to fracture prematurely and also due to lack of established experimental protocols for testing ternary ceramics using SHPB (in comparison to metals, ceramics, polymers), which is another objective of the study. The fractography analysis, done using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), reveals the dominant fracture mechanisms to consist of kink band formations, grain folding and delamination, cavity formation, delamination of the nano-laminates, grain pullout, and tearing etc. These features, though observed under static loading conditions, initiate and propagate in the material by a completely different mechanism. Qualitative and quantitative comparison show dynamic loading leads to more advanced deformation modes.KeywordsMAX phase ternary ceramicsSplit Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB)Digital Image Correlation (DIC)High strain rate

Due to ecological requirements, the bypass-ratio of future civil turbofan engines will be increased. This leads to ultra-high bypass ratio (UHBR) engines, which bring in new challenges concerning the blade material, structural integration, and aeroelastic behaviour of the fan. The ambition of the project Composite fan Aerodynamic, Aeroelastic, and Aeroacoustic Validation Rig (CA3ViAR) is to design and test an open-test-case fan that experiences instability mechanisms, which are representative for UHBR fans of civil aircrafts. The optical measurement technique Digital Image Correlation (DIC) allows for the spatial measurement of deformations. The aim is to apply this technique to measure rotor blade deformation under loading and its vibration due to aeroelastic phenomena to get a better understanding of the structural and aeroelastic behaviour of the composite fan. However, the high rotational speeds, blade vibration frequencies, and expected amplitudes pose challenges for the measurement setup. In this work, a high-speed DIC system is prepared and tested to measure deformation and vibration of a fast rotating blade. Additionally, the requirements for the DIC setup are defined and presented. The expected blade tip speeds in the CA3ViAR project are up to 295 m/s and the blade frequencies of interest up to 650 Hz. Therefore, particular emphasis must be given to the setup in order to eliminate motion blur due to the rotation and to achieve the required frequency. This leads to a setup with synchronised high-speed cameras and a laser to measure frequency vibrations up to 1 kHz with an exposure time below 210 ns. Test measurements are conducted on a stationary beam and an axial blower with a max. blade tip speed of 50 m/s. A data analysis method is developed and described to eliminate the rigid body rotation, analyse the deformation of each blade compared to a reference condition, and analyse the spatial vibration in the frequency domain for a high number of data points per time step. The results of the structural beam are in agreement with the reference measurements and numerical simulations. By analysing the spatial vibration modes of the axial blower, the 1F-flap mode is identified at 38 Hz. In conclusion, this DIC setup shows promising results for future deformation and vibration measurements on a scaled UHBR fan.

Laboratory visualization of supercritical CO2 fracturing in tight sandstone using digital image correlation method

A high hardness armour steel (HHA) has been subjected to mechanical characterization under tension, compression, and shear loading at quasi-static and dynamic rates incorporating ambient and elevated temperatures. The resulting data has been used to derive constants for four plasticity constitutive models: Johnson-Cook (JC), Zerilli-Armstrong (ZA), modified Johnson-Cook (MJC), and a generalized J2-J3 yield surface (GYS). The resulting models have been used to predict the response of the HHA material during Taylor rod-on-anvil experiments. High speed photography and digital image correlation was used during the rod-on-anvil experiments to capture both transient deformation profiles and maximum principal strain along the surface of the rod (i.e. compression along the length of the rod). The JC, MJC, and GYS models were found to provide the best prediction of the shape of the rod (nose diameter and length), within 2% of the experimental measurement in all four rod-on-anvil experiments which did not result in fracture. The JC and GYS models, furthermore, were found to provide the best agreement with the measured transient surface strain profiles, predicting the experimental measurement to within 10% at all measurement locations and time steps for the experiment resulting in maximum deformation (impact velocity = 208 m/s). The results suggest that the added complexity of models such as the MJC and GYS, which incorporate strain hardening saturation, two-part strain rate dependency, and J3 plasticity effects, are unnecessary for HHA under the loading conditions experienced during rod-on-anvil experiments.

The paper deals with measurements of modal parameters using high-speed digital image correlation and assesses how the size of image elements (facets) influences the accuracy of modal parameters of the analyzed structure. The facet size is an important parameter that significantly affects the correlation process and its results. In the paper the experimental modal analysis of steel circular plate that has been excited by the impact hammer is described. Correlation system Q-450 Dantec Dynamics was used to measure the responses of the analyzed structure.

Digital image correlation has emerged as a popular method for the dynamic performance measurement of metallic and polymer sheets, owing to the benefits of being a noncontact, full-field, and high-precision method. Two or more high-speed cameras are required for full-field vibration measurements with three-dimensional digital image correlation, which is generally costly. Perpendicular view to the specimen surface is conventional in two-dimensional digital image correlation, and the out-of-plane displacement is regarded as a part of systematic errors. In this study, a single view method was implemented with no complex optical settings. The full-field vibration displacement of the metal sheet was measured with projection components, and the first four orders of displacement modes were identified. Finite element analysis and traditional experimental modal analysis were then implemented to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed approach. The results show that the dynamic parameters, including the natural frequencies and mode shapes, were well consistent. Meanwhile, there is a significant difference in the length of mode shape vectors. The number of measurement points in the proposed method is 2016, which is far more than the number of measurement points in the traditional experimental modal analysis. This would be convenient and beneficial for damage identification towards thin-wall parts including turbine blade with the continuum hypothesis of mode shapes and a single-camera DIC system. It is worth noting that this is effective with conditions of small deformation vibration and no rigid-body rotation.

A multi-view optical technique to extract the operating deflection shapes of a full vehicle using digital image correlation

Electronics may be subjected to shock, vibration, and drop-impact during shipping, handling and during normal usage. Measurement of transient dynamic deformation of the electronics assemblies during the shock and vibration can yield significant insights in understanding the occurrence of failure modes and the development of failure envelopes. Failure-modes include solder-joint failures, pad cratering, chip-cracking, copper trace fracture, and underfill fillet failures. Previous researchers have measured the transient-dynamics of board assemblies with high-speed imaging in conjunction with high-speed image analysis for measurement of relative displacement, angle, velocity, and acceleration [Lall 2006, Che 2006]. In addition, high-speed data-acquisition systems with discrete strain gages have been used for measurements of transient strain [Lall 2004, 2005, Liang 2005] and with accelerometers for measurement of transient acceleration [Dunford 2004, Goyal 2000, Seah 2005]. Development of accurate models requires better understanding of full-field strain deformation in board assemblies. In this paper, the use of digital image correlation (DIC) with ultra high-speed imaging has been used for full-field measurement of transient strain in various board assemblies subjected to shock in various orientations. Measurements have been taken on both the package and the board side of the assemblies. Accuracy of high-speed optical measurement has been compared with that from discrete strain gages. Package architectures examined include flex ball-grid arrays, tape-array ball-grid arrays, and metal lead-frame packages. Explicit finite-element models have been developed and correlated with experimental data. Models developed include, smeared property models, Timoshenko-beam models, and explicit sub-models. The solder strains have been computed from the explicit finite element models for life prediction in shock.

In the present study, an experimental setup has been developed to facilitate the in-situ characterization of wave propagation and full-field deformation response of polymeric foams subjected to high velocity direct impact. Full-field measurements are conducted using ultra high speed digital image correlation (DIC). Impact experiments are carried out over a range of impact velocities, while the formation and propagation of compaction wave across the length of the specimen, from the impact side to the support end of the specimen, is observed and quantified through a comprehensive deformation analysis. Full-field stress distribution obtained from experiment through non-parametric method along with the measured full-field strain are used to identify the energy dissipation mechanisms associated with wave propagation in the material.