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Most perovskite oxides belong to the Pbnm space group, composed of an anisotropic unit cell, A-site antipolar displacements, and oxygen octahedral tilts. Mapping the orientation of the orthorhombic unit cell in epitaxial heterostructures that consist of at least one Pbnm compound is often needed for understanding and controlling the different degrees of coupling established at their coherent interfaces and, therefore, their resulting physical properties. However, retrieving this information from the strain maps generated with high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy can be challenging, because the three pseudocubic lattice parameters are very similar in these systems. Here, we present a novel methodology for mapping the crystallographic orientation in Pbnm systems. It makes use of the geometrical phase analysis algorithm, as applied to aberration-corrected scanning transition electron microscopy images, but in an unconventional way. The method is fast and robust, giving real-space maps of the lattice orientations in Pbnm systems, from both cross section and plan-view geometries, and across large fields of view. As an example, we apply our methodology to rare-earth nickelate heterostructures, in order to investigate how the crystallographic orientation of these films depends on various structural constraints that are imposed by the underlying single crystal substrates. We observe that the resulting domain distributions and associated defect landscapes mainly depend on a competition between the epitaxial compressive/tensile and shear strains, together with the matching of atomic displacements at the substrate/film interface. The results point toward strategies for controlling these characteristics by appropriate substrate choice.

We present the first report on reflectometric optical fiber sensing based on mechanically induced cascaded long-period grating (LPG) structure. This method utilizes in-house designed mechanical casings and a bare fiber. When a fiber is sandwiched between the casings and pressed by tightening screws, an LPG is induced due to a photo-elastic effect. By exploiting Fresnel refection at a fiber end, a cascaded LPG structure can be implemented using a single LPG, enabling reflectometric configuration. When this sensor is subjected to external physical processes, the attenuation bands change clearly, and their shift can be used for non-destructive evaluations. We show experimentally that this sensor can measure loads of up to 10 N without producing any permanent change in the fiber properties, indicating its pressure sensing capability. We also show that this sensor can potentially measure strain and temperature. In our experiments, the strain and temperature sensitivities are 9.4 nm/% and 0.045 nm/°C, respectively.

In this paper, the 10 kW WindQuest Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) has been instrumented by strain gauges during its trials in the Ifremer in situ test site of Brest to study the effects of the structural dynamic response of the blades under operating conditions. Static and dynamic effects have been investigated as a function of the rotational speed when the rotor operates under stable wind conditions. The analysis segregates the influence of the gravitational, inertial, and aerodynamic loading components on the flapwise bending stress of the blades. The study of the cyclic variations on the blade strain at different Tip-Speed Ratios leads to the identification of the dynamic stall effect on the unsteady loads, while the spectral analysis describes the system eigenfrequencies excited by the interaction of the wind and the structure's motion. The results provide useful data to validate numerical models for VAWT blades with similar design and evaluate the structural fatigue.

Embedding fiber optic sensors (FOSs) within parts for strain measurement is attracting widespread interest due to its great potential in the field of structural health monitoring (SHM). This work proposes a novel method of embedding FOSs using capillaries within solid structures and investigates fiber positions and orientation uncertainties within capillaries of different sizes and their influences on strain measurement accuracies. To investigate how the fiber positions and orientation variations influence strain measurement accuracy, both analytical and numerical models are utilized to predict strain distributions along embedded fibers at different positions and with different orientations within the specimen. To verify the predictions, a group of specimens made of Aluminum 6082 was prepared, and the specimens in each group had capillaries of 2 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm diameters, respectively. Fibers were embedded within each specimen using the capillaries. Four-point bending static tests were conducted for each specimen with embedded FOSs, performing in situ strain measurement. Subsequently, the specimens were partitioned into several pieces, and the cross sections were observed to know the real positions of the embedded fiber. Finally, the strain predictions at the real locations of the fiber were compared with the measured strain from the embedded FOSs. The predicted strain distributions as a function of the fiber positions alone and as a function of both the fiber positions and orientations were compared to assess the influence of fiber orientation change. The results from a combination of analytical, numerical, and experimental techniques suggest that the fiber position from the capillary center is the main factor that can influence strain measurement accuracies of embedded FOSs, and potential fiber misalignments within the capillary had a negligible influence. The fiber position-induced measured error increases from 10.5% to 18.5% as the capillary diameter increase, Structural Integrity & Composites

The structural dynamic response of hydraulic turbines needs to be continuously monitored to predict incipient failures and avoid catastrophic breakdowns. Current methods based on traditional off-board vibration sensors mounted on fixed components do not permit inferring loads induced on rotating parts with enough accuracy. Therefore, the present paper assesses the performance of fiber Bragg grating sensors to measure the vibrations induced on a rotating shaft–disc assembly partially submerged in water resembling a hydraulic turbine rotor. An innovative mounting procedure for installing the sensors is developed and tested, which consists of machining a thin groove along a shaft line to embed a fiber-optic array that can pass through the bearings. At the top of the shaft, a rotary joint is used to extract, in real time, the signals to the interrogator. The shaft strain distribution is measured with high spatial resolution at different rotating speeds in air and water. From this, the natural frequencies, damping ratios, and their associated mode shapes are quantified at different operating conditions. Additionally, the change induced in the modes of vibration by the rotation effects is well captured. All in all, these results validate the suitability of this new fiber-optic technology for such applications and its overall better performance in terms of sensitivity and spatial resolution relative to traditional equipment. The next steps will consist of testing this new sensing technology in actual full-scale hydraulic turbines., This work was supported by the funding received from the European Union’s Horizon H2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement no: 814958) and by the I+D+i project SYNERGY PID2020-118310RBI00 funded by the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

In this paper, with the final aim of shape sensing for a morphing aircraft wing section, a developed multimodal shape sensing system is analysed. We utilise the method of interrogating a morphing wing section based on the principles of both hybrid interferometry and Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) spectral sensing described in our previous work. The focus of this work is to assess the measurement performance and analyse the errors in the shape sensing system. This includes an estimation of the bending and torsional deformations of an aluminium mock-up section due to static loading that imitates the behaviour of a morphing wing trailing edge. The analysis involves using a detailed calibration procedure and a multimodal sensing algorithm to measure the deflection and shape. The method described In this paper, uses a standard single core optical fibre and two grating pairs on both the top and bottom surfaces of the morphing section. A study on the fibre placement and recommendations for efficient monitoring is also included. The analysis yielded a maximum deflection sensing error of 0.7 mm for a 347 × 350 mm wing section., Structural Integrity & Composites

The aerospace industry is an ever-evolving field that has seen many technological advances over the past decades. The desire for aircraft to be not only efficient and reliable but also cheaper and safer has brought about many proposals across the industry. One of these advances is towards morphing aircraft wings to make wings lighter, more flexible, aerodynamically efficient and structurally stable. One of the key elements of a morphing wing is sensors that monitor the loads and shape of the wing throughout the flight. Within the framework of the SmartX project, the goal and contribution of this study is on the design and development of novel sensing methods for Structural Health Monitoring. This has been performed with a specific focus on shape sensing and load monitoring. This thesis is focussed towards the design and development of a Structural Health Monitoring tool for adaptive aerospace structures and at the same time to reduce the dependency on a high number of sensors. Within the already available fibre optic sensor techniques an identification was made for demonstrating the potential of a higher performing SHM tool involving the combination of FBG spectral sensing and FBG-Pair interferometric sensing. A proposal is made to have a reliable, robust and cost effective sensing methodology for real time monitoring of morphing structures with a simultaneous focus on the SmartX morphing wing demonstrator. The method developed and demonstrated in this thesis is not limited to aerospace (and morphing) structures and can be extended to other engineering structures. Load carrying structures that undergo deformations/deflections can be monitored provided they are properly calibrated. These include, but are not limited to, rotor blades, masts, beam structures and bridges., Structural Integrity & Composites

Quantitative dynamic strain measurements of the ground would be useful for engineering scale problems such as monitoring for natural hazards, soil-structure interaction studies, and non-invasive site investigation using full waveform inversion (FWI). Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), a promising technology for these purposes, needs to be better understood in terms of its directional sensitivity, spatial position, and amplitude for application to engineering-scale problems. This study investigates whether the physical measurements made using DAS are consistent with the theoretical transfer function, reception patterns, and experimental measurements of ground strain made by geophones. Results show that DAS and geophone measurements are consistent in both phase and amplitude for broadband (10 s of Hz), high amplitude (10 s of microstrain), and complex wavefields originating from different positions around the array when: (1) the DAS channels and geophone locations are properly aligned, (2) the DAS cable provides good deformation coupling to the internal optical fiber, (3) the cable is coupled to the ground through direct burial and compaction, and (4) laser frequency drift is mitigated in the DAS measurements. The transfer function of DAS arrays is presented considering the gauge length, pulse shape, and cable design. The theoretical relationship between DAS-measured and pointwise strain for vertical and horizontal active sources is introduced using 3D elastic finite-difference simulations. The implications of using DAS strain measurements are discussed including directionality and magnitude differences between the actual and DAS-measured strain fields. Estimating measurement quality based on the wavelength-to-gauge length ratio for field data is demonstrated. A method for spatially aligning the DAS channels with the geophone locations at tolerances less than the spatial resolution of a DAS system is proposed.

The High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) Project is planning to install 16 cold-masses made with Nb3Sn quadrupole magnets in the LHC Interaction Regions to significantly increase its luminosity. Half of these cold masses are fabricated at BNL, FNAL, and LBNL under the US Accelerator Research Program (AUP). Each cold mass includes two identical Nb3Sn quadrupole magnets, called MQXFA with a magnetic length of 4.2 m. Currently, the AUP project has completed the fabrication and test of the first 5 pre-series magnets, and is working on the following 16 magnets for the series production. The brittleness and strain sensitivity of the Nb3Sn superconducting material requires a careful definition of the allowable maximum stress in the windings during magnet assembly and pre-load, and a tight control of their variation within the whole coil length. Therefore, a series of assembly and pre-load specifications have been defined with the goals of minimizing the risk of conductor degradation and providing the mechanical support required to reach the nominal current during powering. In this paper we present the specifications defined for the MQXFA magnets and applied during the different assembly phases and during the pre-load process of the first 5 pre-series magnets.

Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) is known as one of the distributed fiber-optic strain/temperature sensing techniques. Recently, a high-speed BOCDR configuration with no measurable strain limit has been developed, but only a sampling rate of 50 Hz has been experimentally demonstrated, limited by the use of a commercial microwave frequency sweeper (MFS). In this work, by replacing the MFS with an independent voltage-controlled oscillator driven by a function generator, we experimentally show via vibration detection that this system can achieve a sampling rate of up to 20 kHz. We newly observe the systematic noise peculiar to such high-speed operation, which is found to originate from the unintended intensity modulation of the laser output. We also demonstrate the suppression of this noise by band-elimination filtering.

Many structural elements are exposed to load conditions that are difficult to model during the design phase, such as environmental uncertainties, random impacts, and overloading, amongst others, thus increasing unprogrammed maintenance and reducing confidence in the reliability of the structure in question. One way to deal with this problem is to monitor the structural condition of the element. This approach requires supervising several signals coming from critical locations and then performing an accurate condition estimation of the element in question based on the data collected. This study implements a method to diagnose and evaluate the reliability of the bolster beam structure of the railway vehicle during a fatigue test. The results show that multidimensional monitoring not only diagnoses the element accurately but also results in correct estimation of reliability. © 2017, © IMechE 2017.

Many structural elements are exposed to load conditions that are difficult to model during the design stage, such as environmental uncertainties, random impacts and overloading amongst others, thus, increasing un programmed maintenance and reducing...

An approach is presented that allows multi-scale characterisations of heterogeneous deformation in crystalline materials by employing a range of characterisation techniques including: electron backscatter diffraction, digital image correlation and neutron diffraction powder measurements. The approach will be used to obtain critical information about the variations in parameters that characterise the deformed state in different crystallographic orientation texture components of a sample in a statistically significant way. These parameters include lattice strains, texture evolution, peak broadening, dislocation density, planar faults, phase changes and surface strain. This approach allows verification of models of plastic deformation to provide a more detailed view of plastic deformation heterogeneity at multiple length scales than obtained by other characterisation approaches. The approach demonstrated here is applied to two stainless steel alloys; an alloy that exhibits phase transformation during deformation and an alloy that remains the same phase all through deformation process., QC 20200331

Brillouin scattering based fiber optic strain sensor is used to measure distributed strain profile of a structure for structural health monitoring. A distributed strain profile is derived from the Brillouin spectrum peaks but error is induced when a local strain change occurs in a distance scale smaller than the spatial resolution. In this study, a new algorithm is proposed to reconstruct a Brillouin spectrum by eliminating low qualified data from the raw spectrum data. This is achieved by evaluating the strain gradient profile and statistically decomposing the power, width, and peak frequency of the raw spectrum data. This algorithm is versatile because it can be applied to various strain shapes and magnitudes. The reliability of the algorithm is verified experimentally by showing that the error of the strain profile obtained using the new method becomes 25% of that using the conventional peak detection method.

Strain partitioning between first-to-solidify (FTS) and last-to-solidify (LTS) regions upon tensile loading of ductile iron was investigated by combining in-situ X-ray tomography with digital volume correlation and postmortem metallographic examinations. The results indicate that the plastic shear bands form mainly by linking graphite particles contained in the same FTS region. A special distance function is introduced to show that this is due to the lower strength of the FTS regions compared to the LTS regions, but also to the higher stress concentration associated with the particles. The methodology is general and therefore extendable to material systems containing similar microstructural heterogeneities.

Using the relationship between strain and thickness from the materials theory, this paper presents further development of the atmospheric corrosion sensor based on strain measurement (ACSSM). Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors were used to measure strain in this study. The active–dummy method was employed to compensate the effects of environmental temperature drift, with the configuration and position of the active–dummy FBG sensors determined based on simulations conducted using the finite element method (FEM). Hence, the reduction in thickness of low-carbon steel test pieces could be isolated, ensuring accurate characterization of this parameter. Results of practical galvanostatic electrolysis experiments conducted with the FBG sensors in the proposed configuration demonstrated accurate measurement of the reduction in the thickness of a test piece, suggesting that an ACSSM with active–dummy FBG sensors would be appropriate for monitoring of atmospheric corrosion in steel structures.

Different brick masonry typologies have been and are still widely used in construction worldwide. Despite being a fundamental deformation property, experimentally determining the static elastic modulus in compression for brick masonry constituents remains a challenging task. Static modulus estimates usually show much larger dispersion than those involved in determining the dynamic elastic modulus. Although the static property is preferred for common structural verifications, the relationship between the two is yet to be well understood. In light of the above, this paper provides an empirical expression to estimate the static elastic modulus of brick masonry constituents from its dynamic counterpart., This research has received the financial support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of the Spanish Government (MCIU), the State Agency of Research (AEI), as well as that of the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) through the SEVERUS project (Multilevel evaluation of seismic vulnerability and risk mitigation of masonry buildings in resilient historical urban centres, Ref. num. RTI2018-099589-B-I00). The corresponding author gratefully acknowledges the AGAUR agency of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the second author gratefully acknowledges the AEI and the European Social Found (ESF), for the financial support of their predoctoral grants., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

Interest for high magnetic fields (>16 T) for applications in high energy physics (HEP) and fusion machines, requires the development of high current cables capable to withstand the large forces, mechanical and electromagnetic, experienced during manufacturing and operations. The critical current (Ic) of REBCO tapes depends on strain, magnetic fields, and operational temperatures. Understanding how these parameters affect the Ic of the conductor will be critical to develop robust high-current REBCO cables. However, there are limited reports on the strain dependence of Ic, in particular at high fields and elevated temperatures relevant for future high-field compact fusion reactor magnets. We present Ic of commercial REBCO tapes measured as a function of compressive and tensile strain (between-0.6% and +0.65%) at high magnetic fields (12 and 15 T) and different temperatures (within 4.2-40 K). Results at 4.2 and 20 K showed less than 5% reduction in the normalized Ic at high strain, while a stronger strain dependence was observed at 40 K. Samples tested at 12 T and 4.2 K showed similar strain dependence as 15 T and 4.2 K. In all tested conditions, the tape experienced reversible Ic reduction in both tension and compression. Finite element analysis was used to predict the residual thermal strain accumulated in the REBCO layer prior of testing to account for the effect of the cooldown. A method was also developed to account for the current sharing observed between the sample and the sample holder during the ramp of the current. Our results provide useful input for the development of high-field fusion and HEP magnets using REBCO conductors.

Over the years, many shape sensing methods have been developed with technologies including optical fibre, PZT and fringe projection. Among them, optical fibres have gained a lot of attention due to their unobtrusive nature when either surface mounted or embedded in the structure. Optical fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) are currently employed for structural health monitoring in civil and aerospace systems and their shape sensing capabilities have been previously reported. In this paper, we propose a novel fibre optic based shape sensor of an isotropic cantilever beam based on the principles of interferometry and FBG sensing. The method described in this paper uses a standard single core single-mode optical fibre and the least number of sensors to estimate the shape, making it comparatively an inexpensive sensing method. On displacing the beam with an unknown magnitude and at an unknown location along the beam, we are able to demonstrate that we can measure the shape of the displaced beam and the magnitude and location of the force applied. The analysis involves using a calibration method and an iterative calculation to measure the two unknowns. An analytical model based on the known beam theories was used to assess the accuracy of the measurements. The preliminary analysis yielded an accuracy of ±1 mm and ±50 mm for the displacement and location, respectively., Structural Integrity & Composites

This study analyzed an atmospheric corrosion sensor using strain measurements (ACSSM) with an active dummy method for corrosion product experiments. An initial compensation thermal strain experiment was performed with elapsed time. Further analyses used dry-wet environments with salt water spray to investigate the thickness reduction performance of the corrosion product on low-carbon steel samples. The ACSSM with an active dummy method accurately measured signals induced by the specimen thickness reduction, despite the noise in the signal. Moreover, the effects of corrosion products on the signal were discussed.

Quasikontinuierliche faseroptische Sensoren und Messungen mit einem optischen Reflektometer auf Basis der Rayleigh-Rückstreuung ermöglichen die Untersuchung von Dehnungsänderungen im Beton und in der Bewehrung. In diesem Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse einer solchen Messung von Längenänderungen bei der Aushärtung von Normal- und Quellbeton vorgestellt. Dieses Messverfahren eröffnet neue Perspektiven auch für chemisch vorgespannte Bauteile, da die Verformungen entlang der gesamten Elementlänge im Zeitverlauf untersucht werden können. Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts „Chemische Vorspannung von textilbewehrten Sichtbetonbauteilen mit Quellbeton“ wurden das Schwinden und das Quellen von neun axial bewehrten Betonbalken untersucht. Darüber hinaus konnte die Übertragungslänge bestimmt werden, nach der die Betondehnungen auf die Bewehrung übertragen werden., Distributed fibre optic sensors and measurements conducted with an optical reflectometer based on Rayleigh scattering phenomenon allow to investigate strain changes in concrete and its reinforcement. Here results of measuring length changes during hardening of normal and expansive concrete are presented. This novel measurement method opens new possibilities for chemically prestressed elements, as the deformations along the total element length can be investigated in time. As a part of a research project “Chemical prestressing of thin textile reinforced concrete elements”, shrinkage and expansion of nine axially reinforced concrete beams were investigated. Furthermore, it was possible to determine the transfer length after which the concrete strains are transferred to the reinforcement.

The present paper describes numerical and experimental methodology for the analysis of stress and deformation state in structural elements with geometrical discontinuities. The research is based on structural elements of the connecting lug type. The stress and deformation state was determined as the contact area size between the axle and the connecting lug was changing. Numerical analysis was conducted by applying the finite element method in a ''KOMIPS'' software package. Experiments were performed at the Laboratory for stress and deformation measurements, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, using ''GOM'' equipment and ''ARAMIS'' software application (DIC). This paper demonstrates how it is possible to anticipate the results by applying FEM. A short review of current research in the field of structural elements with geometrical discontinuities is given within the framework of the paper.

[EN] We demonstrate a largely tunable dispersion fiber Bragg grating (FBG) inscribed in a microstructured polymer optical fiber (mPOF). The bandwidth of the chirped FBG (CFBG) was achieved from 0.11 to 4.86 nm, which corresponds to a tunable dispersion range from 513.6 to 11.15 ps/nm. Furthermore, thermal sensitivity is used to compensate for the wavelength shift due to the applied strain. These results demonstrate that a CFBG in a POF is a promising technology for future optical systems. (C) 2018 Optical Society of America

This paper focuses on local strain distribution in the microstructure of high silicon ductile iron during cyclic loading. In-situ cyclic test was performed on compact-tension (CT) samples inside the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to record the whole deformation and obtain micrographs for microstructural strain measurement by means of digital image correlation (DIC) technique. Focused ion beam (FIB) milling was used to generate speckle patterns necessary for DIC measurement. The equivalent Von Mises strain distribution was measured in the microstructure at the maximum applied load. The results revealed a heterogeneous strain distribution at the microstructural level with higher strain gradients close to the notch of the CT sample and accumulated strain bands between graphite particles. Local strain ahead of the early initiated micro-cracks was quantitatively measured, showing high strain localization, which decreased by moving away from the micro-crack tip. It could be observed that the peak of strain in the field of view was not necessarily located ahead of the micro-cracks tip which could be because of the (i) strain relaxation due to the presence of other micro-cracks and/or (ii) presence of subsurface microstructural features such as graphite particles that influenced the strain concentration on the surface.

Nanobeam electron diffraction strain mapping has been used to measure the strain evolution in stainless steel under in situ deformation. As the amount of deformation increases, the leading dislocation of a planar slip band leaves behind a residual strain in the form of a small lattice expansion. Dislocation analysis confirmed that the dislocations involved were <011 > type. While the characteristic residual strain of planar slip has often been observed, it has never before been directly measured. Our results provide a view into the dynamic mechanisms of planar slip, and showcase the possibilities of multidimensional in situ imaging.

To restore the sense of touch in robotic surgical systems, a modular force feedback-enabled laparoscopic instrument is developed and employed in a robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgical system (HeroSurg). Strain gauge technology is incorporated into the instrument to measure tip/tissue lateral interaction forces. The modularity feature of the proposed instrument makes it interchangeable between various tip types of different functionalities, e.g., cutter, grasper, and dissector, without losing force sensing capability. Series of experiments are conducted and results are reported to evaluate force sensing capability of the instrument. The results reveal mean errors of 1.32 g and 1.98° in the measurements of tip/tissue load magnitude and direction across all experiments, respectively.

Residual stress analysis within hybrid structures is the focus of this study. The non linear stresses through the thickness are determined using a semi-destructive method known as Incremental Hole Drilling (IHD). Finite element modeling is used to build a mathematical code simulating GLARE laminates with initial residual stresses applied. The code includes the structure, orientation, mechanical and micro-thermal properties of the constituents into account. Matrices of elastic coefficients that represent the stress-strain relation within the laminate are found. In addition, strain responses are measured during incremental hole drilling of the GLARE laminates using tools specifically designed for hole drilling. Using the numerically determined matrices in conjugation with the experimental strain outputs lead to the computation of residual stresses. Verification and validation of the simulation models and the stress results are done through the use of theoretical methods such as the Classical Laminate Theory., Aerospace Engineering

An Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) based fiber optic sensor scheme "embedded" in concrete for the purpose of structural health monitoring (SHM) of carbon concrete composites (C³) is presented. The design, while strengthening the concrete structure, also aims to monitor common SHM parameters such as strain and cracks. This was achieved by weaving the carbon fiber together with optical fiber, based on a specialized technique that uses an embroidery setup where both the carbon and optical fiber are woven on a water dissolvable polymer substrate. The performance of the sensing scheme was characterized in-situ utilizing the OFDR based technique and the results presented. The sensors embedded on a custom made concrete block were subjected to varying strain via a three point bending test to destruction and the results discussed. The intended dual-achievement of the scheme thus proposed in SHM and strengthening the C³ is demonstrated. The suitability of the OFDR scheme for C³ is combined with a fibre Bragg grating (FBG)-based approach, and discussed in detail.

While substructures of offshore wind turbines become older and begin to reach their design lifetimes, the relevance of measurement based lifetime extension increases. To make well-founded decisions on possible lifetime extensions, damage extrapolations based on measurements are needed. However, although for all substructures, fatigue damage calculations were conducted during the design process, there is no consensus on how to extrapolate 10-minute damages to lifetime damages. Furthermore, extrapolating damages is an uncertain process and its actual reliability is unknown. Therefore, the current work uses data of offshore strain measurements to assess different approaches of extrapolating damages, and to investigate the reliability of damage extrapolations. For the present data, the most reliable lifetime estimations are possible, if the damage data is split up into wind speed bins. For each wind speed bin, the occurrence probability should be based on data rather than on design documents. Moreover, using mean damages in each bin is the best practice. Furthermore, our results suggest that strain measurements of about 9 to 10 months lead to a relatively representative and unbiased data set. Therefore, if there are no significant changes of the turbine or the environmental conditions over the lifetime, damage extrapolations based on such a time period are sufficiently accurate.

Thirty-two (32) boards of Norway spruce with cross-sectional dimensions of 145×45 mm2 were first tested non-destructively in a four-point static bending test, were then thermally modified according to the ThermoWood® process, and were finally tested destructively in the mentioned test set up. For one of these boards, the 2D strain fields occurring due to pure bending were recorded, both before and after thermal modification, over the surface of a knotty part of the board using a non-contact optical deformation measurement system. The objectives were to get more insight into the static bending behaviour of thermally modified timber (TMT), specifically with regard to the local and global modulus of elasticity (MOE) and their respective relationship to bending strength, and the strain development around a cluster of knots. The bending strength was significantly reduced by thermal treatment, whereas the effect on the MOEs was limited. Linear regression analyses demonstrated that bending strength of TMT can be predicted by employing stiffness as indicating property. Strain field measurements showed that at the examined levels of loading the quantity and distribution of strains in a knotty area were not influenced by thermal modification. It was therefore suggested that the influence of thermal modification on global stiffness, as well as on local stiffness around knots, is limited., Ej belagd 190524

When a solid surface accommodates guest molecules, they induce noticeable stresses to the surface and cause its strain. Nanoporous materials have high surface area and, therefore, are very sensitive to this effect called adsorption-induced deformation. In recent years, there has been significant progress in both experimental and theoretical studies of this phenomenon, driven by the development of new materials as well as advanced experimental and modeling techniques. Also, adsorptioninduced deformation has been found to manifest in numerous natural and engineering processes, e.g., drying of concrete, water-actuated movement of non-living plant tissues, change of permeation of zeolite membranes, swelling of coal and shale, etc. In this review, we summarize the most recent experimental and theoretical findings on adsorption-induced deformation and present the state-of-the-art picture of thermodynamic and mechanical aspects of this phenomenon. We also reflect on the existing challenges related both to the fundamental understanding of this phenomenon and to selected applications, e.g., in sensing and actuation, and in natural gas recovery and geological CO2 sequestration.

The strain localization and crack formation in ferritic-pearlitic ductile iron under tension was investigated by in-situ tensile tests. In-situ tensile tests under optical microscope were performed and the onset of the early ferrite-graphite decohesions and micro-cracks inside the matrix were studied. The results revealed that early ferrite-graphite decohesion and micro-cracks inside the ferrite were formed at the stress range of 280–330 MPa, where a kink occurred in the stress-strain response, suggesting the dissipation of energy in both plastic deformation and crack initiation. Some micro-cracks initiated and propagated inside the ferrite but were arrested within the ferrite zone before propagating in the pearlite. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was used to measure local strains in the deformed micrographs obtained from the in-situ tensile test. Higher strain localization in the microstructure was measured for the areas in which the early ferrite-graphite decohesions occurred or the micro-cracks initiated.

Scanning nanobeam electron diffraction strain mapping is a technique by which the positions of diffracted disks sampled at the nanoscale over a crystalline sample can be used to reconstruct a strain map over a large area. However, it is important that the disk positions are measured accurately, as their positions relative to a reference are directly used to calculate strain. In this study, we compare several correlation methods using both simulated and experimental data in order to directly probe susceptibility to measurement error due to non-uniform diffracted disk illumination structure. We found that prefiltering the diffraction patterns with a Sobel filter before performing cross correlation or performing a square-root magnitude weighted phase correlation returned the best results when inner disk structure was present. We have tested these methods both on simulated datasets, and experimental data from unstrained silicon as well as a twin grain boundary in 304 stainless steel.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an emerging field in civil engineering in recent years. The main objectives of the SHM are to identify structural integrity issues at early stage and improve the structural safety through measuring and analyzing structural behaviors. Sensing systems for SHM can be used to identify applied vehicle loads for bridge structures. Bridge weigh-in-motion (BWIM) is one type of such vehicle load identification. As a tool to monitor the vehicle weight moving on the bridges, BWIM uses the structural responses induced by moving vehicle on the bridge to back-calculate vehicle information. In this thesis, optimized BWIM systems using multimetric measurements will be investigated. In Chapter 1, the concept and background of BWIM systems will be introduced. The objective of this research will be also demonstrated in this chapter. Chapter 2 is the literature review section. In Chapter 3, the finite element bridge model adopted for this study will be described. In this section, the moving-load time history analysis, sectional properties for bridge members, and other structural parameters of bridge model will be introduced. The methodology of BWIM systems used in this study will be demonstrated in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5, optimized sensor locations for BWIM using normal and shear strain measurements and acceleration measurement will be discussed for the case without measurement noise. In Chapter 6, sensor location optimization for the case considering measurement noises will be investigated. A new acceleration-based BWIM method is proposed in this section. Non-drift displacement reconstruction technique using acceleration measurement and FIR filtering is applied for BWIM. Finally, Chapter 7 is the conclusion part of this thesis.

In digital image correlation (DIC), the unknown displacement field is typically identified by minimizing the linearized form of the brightness conservation equation, while the minimization scheme also involves a linearization, yielding a two-step linearization with four implicit assumptions. These assumptions become apparent by minimizing the non-linear brightness conservation equation in a consistent mathematical setting, yielding a one-step linearization allowing a thorough study of the DIC tangent operator. Through this analysis, eight different image gradient operators are defined, and the impact of these alternative image gradients on the accuracy, efficiency, and initial guess robustness is discussed on the basis of a number of academic examples and representative test cases. The main conclusion is that for most cases, the image gradient most common in literature is recommended, except for cases with: (1) large rotations; (2) initial guess instabilities; and (3) costly iterations due to other reasons (e.g., integrated DIC), where a large deformation corrected mixed gradient is recommended instead.

We have designed a temperature and strain monitoring system for a magnetic actuator based on the giant magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D (Tb0.3 Dy0.7Fe1.92) with Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. Magneto-elastic properties of Terfenol-D depend on magnetization, stress pre-history, and temperature. In order to simultaneously monitor these effects, we have implemented a system based on a cylindrical Terfenol-D rod monitored with four FBGs that allows making the appropriate compensations on the strain measurement due to temperature drift. We have measured the magnetostriction in the axial and the transverse directions for the Terfenol-D rod with two perpendicular FBGs, and calculated the Poisson ratio. An additional mechanical system for strain amplification has been designed in order to increase sensitivity, by a factor of 4, in the strain measurement with the FBG sensor. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Many applications of thermally sprayed coatings call for increased fatigue resistance of coated parts. Despite the intensive research in this area, the influence of coating on fatigue is still not completely understood. In this paper, the localization of crack initiation sites and the dynamics of crack propagation are studied. The resonance bending fatigue test was employed to test flat specimens with both sides coated. Hastelloy-X substrates coated with classical thermal barrier coating consisting of yttria stabilized zirconia and NiCoCrAlY layers. The strain distribution on the coating surface was evaluated by the Digital Image Correlation method through the whole duration of the fatigue test. Localization of crack initiation sites and the mode of crack propagation in the coated specimen are related to the observed resonance frequency. The individual phases of specimen degradation, i.e., the changes of material properties, crack initiation, and crack propagation, were identified. The tested coatings strongly influenced the first two phases, and the influence on the crack propagation was less significant. In general, the presented crack detection method can be used as a sensitive nondestructive testing method well suited for coated parts. © 2015 ASM International

This paper presents a study on microstructural deformation of a ferritic-pearlitic ductile iron, utilizing in-situ tensile testing, digital image correlation (DIC) and finite element analysis (FEA). For this purpose, the in-situ tensile test and DIC were used to measure local strain fields in the deformed microstructure. Furthermore, a continuum finite element (FE) model was used to predict the strain maps in the microstructure. Ferrite and pearlite parameters for the FE-model were optimized based on the Ramberg-Osgood relation. The DIC and simulation strain maps were compared qualitatively and quantitatively. Similar strain patterns containing shear bands in identical locations were observed in both strain maps. The average and localized strain values of the DIC and simulation conformed to a large extent. It was found that the Ramberg-Osgood model can be used to capture the main trends of strain localization. The discrepancies between the simulated and DIC results were explained based on the; (i) subsurface effect of the microstructure; (ii) differences in the strain spatial resolutions of the DIC and simulation and (iii) abrupt changes in strain prediction of the continuum FE-model in the interface of the phases due to the sudden changes in the elastic modulus. © 2015 Elsevier B.V., Correspondence Address: Kasvayee, K.A.; School of Engineering, Jönköping University, Box 1026 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden; email: Keivan.Amiri-Kasvayee@ju.se; Funding details: Stiftelsen för Kunskaps- och Kompetensutveckling, KK, 20100280; Funding text 1: The authors acknowledge the Knowledge Foundation, Sweden, for financial support under the CompCAST project ( 20100280 ) and SKF Mekan AB for providing the cast material.

The annealing effects on strain and stress sensitivity of polymer optical fibre Bragg grating sensors after their photoinscription are investigated. PMMA optical fibre based Bragg grating sensors are first photo-inscribed and then they were placed into hot water for annealing. Strain, stress and force sensitivity measurements are taken before and after annealing. Parameters such as annealing time and annealing temperature are investigated. The change of the fibre diameter due to water absorption and the annealing process is also considered. The results show that annealing the polymer optical fibre tends to increase the strain, stress and force sensitivity of the photo-inscribed sensor.

In the HYFLEX (Hypersonic Flight Experiment), a consecutive hypersonic flight duration of some five minutes is secured. Therefore, it is expected to get the hypersonic aerodynamic/aerothermodynamic performance data good enough in both qualitative and quantitative sense for the region in which M is greater than ten, where best performance is crucial for the reusable space vehicles. Selection of the measurement items for the onboard measurement system was made among both aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics including the real gas effects, thermo-structural evaluation data, basic data for evaluation of lifting body technology (guidance, navigation and control) etc. consisting of some 250 channels in total. Decision to select measurement items, the analyses and tests for design and confirmation, specifications of each items are outlined and discussed in this paper. But mostly measurement mission items are discussed in this paper. Major objective of HYFLEX onboard measurement is to contribute to establishing reliable prediction/design methods for the winged space vehicles. To do this, the comparison between the flight data and the predictions made in advance based on ground test and analyses is indispensable. For the meaningful comparison, the atmospheric condition along flight path must be known accurately enough. In HYFLEX, the utilization of the remotely sensed atmospheric data by NOAA meteorological satellite was planned to raise the inference accuracy. Data analysis program is briefly presented., 極超音速飛行実験においては、5分間程度の持続的な極超音速飛行時間が確保されるため、往還機に重要なM＞10領域の空力、空力加熱特性データが質量とも充実したレベルで得られることが期待された。機上計測項目の選定においては、これら極超音速領域の実在気体効果を含む空力、空力加熱特性データ、熱構造の特性評価用データ、および主目的のひとつである揚力飛行体の基本技術評価に関わるデータ(姿勢・軌道制御に関するデータなど)などを抽出し、バス系の計測項目をあわせて約250チャンネルの計測計画をたてた。各計測項目を選定した基準、設計のための事前解析・試験、各項目の計測系仕様について述べる。具体的議論は主に実験計測系に限った。また、計測の目的は宇宙往還機設計などへ利用できる予測ツール・手法の確立に資することである。そのため、地上での試験やCFD(数値流体力学)による予測とフライトデータとを比較するが、その際に飛行時の大気状態を可能な限り正確に把握する必要がある。今回は大気状態量の特定のため、NOAA衛星のリモートセンシングデータを使用し推定精度を上げることを試みた。これを含むデータ解析計画の概略を述べた。

The development of smart materials for embedding in aerospace composites provides enhanced functionality for future aircraft structures. Critical flight conditions like icing of the leading edges can affect the aircraft functionality and controllability. Hence, anti-icing and de-icing capabilities are used. In case of leading edges made of fibre metal laminates heater elements can be embedded between composite layers. However this local heating causes strains and stresses in the structure due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of the different laminated materials. In order to characterize the structural behaviour during thermal loading full-field strain and shape measurement can be used. In this research, a shearography instrument with three spatially-distributed shearing cameras is used to measure surface displacement gradients which give a quantitative estimation of the in- and out-of-plane surface strain components. For the experimental part, two GLARE (Glass Laminate Aluminum Reinforced Epoxy) specimens with six different embedded copper heater elements were manufactured: two copper mesh shapes (straight and S-shape), three connection techniques (soldered, spot welded and overlapped) and one straight heater element with delaminations. The surface strain behaviour of the specimens due to thermal loading was measured and analysed. The comparison of the connection techniques of heater element parts showed that the overlapped onnection has the smallest effect on the surface strain distribution. Furthermore, the possibility of defect detection and defect depth characterisation close to the heater elements was also investigated., Aerospace Structures & Materials, Aerospace Engineering

The research explores rate dependence in polymers. Results in the literature show that rate dependence is governed by polymer transitions. PVC was used as a model material for studying strain rate-temperature interdependence using four plasticizer levels, which modify its mechanical properties and alter the position of the transitions with respect to temperature and frequency. A methodology was then developed whereby the high rate uniaxial stress-strain response of one of the PVC compositions was simulated in low rate experiments by reducing the initial temperature, and then profiling the temperature to simulate the adiabatic heating which occurs under rapid loading. The same technique was applied to other PVC and PMMA compositions, and differences in the responses were considered. A polymer bonded sugar was tested both in compression and using the Brazilian test, and high rate data were shown to be well reproduced by low rate experiments at reduced temperature; temperature rises in these materials are very low. The experiments were supported by the development of new thermocouple and stress gauge arrangements. Although the research was mainly experimental, some complementary numerical modeling was also performed and reported., The original document contains color images.

The distribution of strains in a two-point mushroom tail connection of a steam turbine blade is examined, and some results of the studies in this field are given in the paper. The main objective of the study lies in identifying and analyzing the VAT of a two-point mushroom tail connection by using experimental and computational methods for determining areas of the greatest risk due to the force and geometric strain concentration. The study of stress - strain state of a two-point mushroom tail connection within elastic deformations using the ANSYS software package has been carried out in the paper, and a comparison between the results of experimental and calculated data has been made. The zones, posing the greatest danger caused by the force and geometric strain concentration, have been determined. The research results can be used in turbine construction, when designing and exploiting steam turbines. It is proposed to apply the obtained results for preventing possible damages in the strain concentration zones., Проведено исследование напряженно – деформированного состояния двухопорного хвостового соединения грибовидного типа в пределах упругих деформаций с помощью программного комплекса ANSYS, выполнено сравнение полученных результатов с экспериментальными и расчетными данными. Определены зоны, которые представляют наибольшую опасность вследствие силовой и геометрической концентрации напряжений, Проведено дослідження напружено – деформованого стану двохопорного хвостового з΄єднання грибовидного типу в межах пружних деформацій за допомогою програмного комплексу ANSYS, виконано порівняння одержаних результатів з експериментальними та розрахунковими даними. Визначені зони, що представляють найбільшу небезпеку внаслідок силової та геометричної концентрації напруг

In this study, digital image correlation was used for two widely different cases to assess the potential and the limitations of the technique for applications at high temperatures. Specifically, digital image correlation was employed in high-temperature low-cycle fatigue experiments in a nickel-based superalloy and in phase transformation experiments conducted on bainitic steel in order to shed light on the microstructural processes. Depending on the type of experiments, the microstructure was characterized prior to the experiments (fatigue) or after the experiments (phase transformation). In the fatigue experiments, it was found that the features dominating damage evolution were the dendrites resulting from the solidification of the cast material. In the phase transformation experiments, variant selection is active when stresses are superimposed during the phase transformation process, which resulted in the evolution of transformation plasticity strains. Thereby, mainly the bainite variants oriented along the [101], [201] and [121] directions were observed to grow parallel to the loading axis, which in turn led to transformation plasticity strains. For validation of the digital image correlation data, average strains were calculated for the surface area probed and compared to strain values obtained by conventional extensometry. In all cases studied, the correlation was satisfactory, indicating that digital image correlation can provide for additional insight into processes active at the micro level. © 2013 IMechE.

This paper presents a new long gauge sensor for structural health monitoring based on the use of Fiber Bragg gratings. The proposed sensor has the advantage over existing sensors that it does not require prestressing of the optical fiber. The development consisted of numerical studies complemented by experimental tests to analyze: (1) the strain transfer between the sensor and the host structure; (2) the in!uence of sensor axial stiffness on the structural behavior of the host structure; (3) the in!uence of the mechanical properties of the adhesive used to fix the sensor and (4) the failure modes of the sensor (buckling and shear stress of sensor anchors).

Data driven on-line assessment of structural health of aircraft fuselage panels is crucial both in military and civilian settings. This paper shows how Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) enable to analyze the strain values acquired through a monitoring sensor network and improve the diagnostic steps: 1) detecting a damage 2) identifying the specific component affected 3) characterizing the damage in terms of centre and size. The first two steps are performed through the SVM while the 3rd step is based on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Finally, the remaining useful life is estimated by using ANNs to predict the values of two parameters of the NASGRO equation which is used to estimate the damage propagation. © 2014 IEEE.