MRI: Acquisition of a 3D Digital Image Correlation System to Enhance Research and Teaching at Kettering University

该主要研究仪器奖支持三维数字图像相关（DIC）系统的采购，包括一对高速相机和相关的软件和硬件。DIC是最先进的光学测量技术，它使用照片来监测物体的动态运动。凯特林的研究人员将使用DIC仪器来推进一些领域的基础研究，以提高燃油效率和抗碰撞性，更有效的可再生能源供应，并改善人类健康。DIC系统将为凯特林大学的先进材料研究提供数据。它将促进计算模型的发展，以预测复杂结构的行为；在风能，汽车和医疗应用。它将强调在广泛的领域中使用的改进结构性能的机会。传统的测量工具，如加速度计，不能用于这些应用，因为需要几个传感器来充分测量大的表面面积，并且在轻量级结构中添加如此多的传感器可能会改变结构的动态响应，从而掩盖了真正的问题或机会。非接触式测量系统将使凯特林研究人员能够以新的和深刻的重要方式了解这些系统。除了支持凯特林的研究和开发外，DIC系统还将整合到几门课程的课程中（例如实验力学和汽车NVH）。在这些课程中，变形场的视觉表现将增强学生对结构物理行为的理解。它还将确保本科生和研究生接触到最先进的实验技术，为他们创造下一代结构设计的工作做好准备。新仪器还将通过现有的凯特琳外展项目，如学术兴趣（AIMs）和通过工程改善生活（LITE）项目，向K12和大学预科学生提供外展服务。通过提供图形刺激的照片和视频，它将使设计分析科学接近更广泛的受众，激发对工程设计的兴趣。DIC系统将使凯特林大学的一些基础研究活动成为可能。例如，凯特林的研究人员将利用DIC系统的非接触能力，对风力涡轮机和直升机旋翼等旋转结构进行结构健康监测（SHM）的基础研究。叶片故障是这些系统的一个重要问题，但数据传输和质量负载的挑战限制了传统接触式传感器监测的有效性。该奖项使凯特林大学的研究人员能够开发新的SHM技术，以防止这些结构的灾难性失效。通过将有限元方法与数字图像相关和模态展开技术相结合，研究人员将提高DIC识别结构内部损伤和摄像机视线之外位置损伤的能力。在另一个研究领域，凯特林的研究人员将使用该仪器推进骨科生物力学研究小组正在进行的工作。这个项目的重点是改进治疗骨折的方法。目前的治疗方法包括基于非生物环境中使用的设备的钢板、螺钉和钉设计。临床使用表明，生活环境特有的问题困扰着这些装置，并可能导致愈合不良。通过使用DIC系统的全场数据，并在实验和模拟之间进行工作，研究人员旨在确定骨/金属界面建模的最佳实践。这些知识将促进进一步的实验和模拟工作，以优化界面，为愈合提供最佳的压力和应变场。

This Major Research Instrumentation Award supports the acquisition of a three dimensional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system, including a pair of high speed cameras and associated software and hardware. DIC is state-of-the-art optical measurement technology that uses photographs to monitor the dynamic movement of objects. Kettering researchers will use the DIC instrumentation to advance fundamental research in a number of areas leading to more fuel efficient and crash-resistant vehicles, a more effective renewable energy supply, and improved human health. The DIC system will provide data for the study of advanced materials at Kettering University. It will facilitate the development of computational models to predict the behavior of complex structures; in wind energy, automotive and medical applications. It will highlight opportunities for improving the performance of structures used in a broad range of fields. Conventional measurement tools, such as accelerometers, cannot be used for these applications because several sensors are required to adequately instrument a large surface area, and adding so many sensors to a lightweight structure may alter the dynamic response of the structure, obscuring the true problem or opportunity. The non-contact measurement system will allow Kettering researchers to understand these systems in new and deeply important ways. In addition to supporting research and development at Kettering, the DIC system will also be integrated into the curriculum in several courses (e.g. Experimental Mechanics and Automotive NVH). In these courses, the visual representation of the deformation field will enhance the students understanding of the physical behavior of structures. It will also ensure that undergraduate and graduate students are exposed to state-of-the-art experimental techniques, equipping them for the work of creating the next generation of structural designs. The new instrument will also be used for outreach to K12 and pre-college students through existing Kettering outreach programs such as Academically Interested Minds (AIMs) and Lives Improve Through Engineering (LITE) programs. By providing graphically stimulating photos and videos, it will make the science of design analysis approachable to a broader audience, inspiring an interest in engineering design. The DIC system will enable several fundamental research activities at Kettering University. For example, Kettering researchers will use the non-contacting capabilities of the DIC system for fundamental research on structural health monitoring (SHM) of rotating structures such as wind turbines and helicopter rotors. Blade failures are a significant problem for these systems, but challenges with data transmission and mass loading limit the effectiveness of monitoring with conventional contact sensors. This award enables researchers at Kettering University to develop new SHM techniques to prevent catastrophic failures in these structures. By integrating the finite element method with digital image correlation and a modal expansion technique, the researchers will enhance DIC capabilities for identifying damages inside structures and on locations where cameras do not have line of sight. In another area of study, researchers at Kettering will use the instrument to advance work underway within the orthopaedic biomechanics research group. This project focuses on improving methods used to treat bone fracture. Current treatments involve plates, screws, and nail designs that are based on devices used in non-biological environments. Clinical use has shown that problems unique to the living environment plague these devices and can lead to poor healing. By using the full-field data from the DIC system, and working between experiments and simulation, researchers aim to identify best practices for modeling the bone/metal interface. This knowledge will facilitate further experimental and simulation work toward optimizing the interface to provide optimal pressure and strain fields for healing.