Noncontacting Full-Field Real-Time Strain Measurement System for Air Platforms in Combined Extreme Environments

ABSTRACT:A cooperative small business and university research and development program is proposed to begin development of a robust, non-contacting, digital image correlation based, full-field strain measurement system for high temperature applications. The Phase I studies will demonstrate that a robust high temperature digital image correlation system (HTDICS) can be developed that is capable of acquiring full field deformation measurements (a) over a range of temperatures from room temperature to 1800F and higher, (b) over the same range of temperatures while subjected to different loading rates, including high levels of broadband acoustic loading and (c) at near real-time or at real time rates for immediate visualization of the deformation fields and potentially control of portions of the experiment.BENEFIT:Development of an HTDICS capable of acquiring full-field measurements at high temperature in quasi-real time will provide unprecedented ability for investigators to monitor progressive damage accumulation. This will improve understanding of the evolution processes prevalent in modern material systems subjected to aggressive environmental conditions, resulting in a more efficient (e.g. cost effective) life cycle testing environment without service interruptions. Furthermore, if HTDICS measurements can be acquired in real time, then it offers the potential for real-time control of experiments so that the environment can be altered in response to material changes in a manner that would increase understanding of the damage progression processes. Of course, the ability to acquire real time deformation measurements has broader implications regarding the ability to perform experiments with feedback control based on direct measurements of material response, a possibility that has hitherto been unattainable. Finally, when a structure (e.g. hypersonic vehicle/structure) is subjected to higher rate excitation/loading, then the ability to obtain near real time measurements provides investigators with the ability to modify the excitation so that structural failure does not occur.