A vision-based measurement and data acquisition system for structural testing and monitoring

卡尔加里大学结构组的研究旨在为土木工程基础设施的结构方面提供创新和具有成本效益的解决方案。这项研究涉及对现代高性能和先进复合材料建造的结构的性能进行调查。结构健康监测技术也在开发中。该小组的成员在结构部件的全面测试方面有着良好的记录，多年来他们的实验研究正在急剧增加。在结构测试期间测量位移的传统方法包括使用位移传感器，该传感器在所测量的位移的位置和方向上与试件连接或放置在接触处。结构小组承担的许多项目涉及在动态、疲劳或爆炸载荷下进行测试，这可能会导致测试试件的严重、突然或灾难性故障。在这种情况下，使用传统的测量设备和传感器是不可能的，除非牺牲它们。因此，建议购买一套基于视觉的非接触式测量和数据采集系统。该系统包括：1)高速高分辨率数码相机；2)基于激光的位移传感器和控制器；3)大容量称重传感器；4)高性能模块化数据采集系统。该摄像系统将有助于在任何测试过程中捕捉到试件的完整变形行为和几何变化。当样本失败时，该系统将允许提取正确的事件序列。激光传感器将用于精确测量不同位置的位移，而不需要与试件接触。高负载应用需要大容量的称重传感器。需要新的数据采集系统来取代旧的现有系统。它将允许以比现有系统目前可用的扫描速度高得多的扫描速度从更多不同类型的传感器获取数据。

Research of the Structures Group at the University of Calgary aims at providing innovative and cost-effective solutions to the structural aspects of the civil engineering infrastructure. This research involves investigations into the behaviour of structures built of modern high performance and advanced composite materials. Structural health monitoring technologies are also being developed. Members of the group have a strong track record in full-scale testing of structural components, and their experimental research is increasing dramatically over the years. Traditional methods of measuring displacements during structural testing include the use of displacement transducers that are attached or placed in contact with the test specimen at the locations and in the direction of the displacements measured. Many of the projects undertaken by the Structures Group involve testing under dynamic, fatigue or blast loading, which may cause severe, sudden or catastrophic failure of the test specimens. Under these conditions, use of conventional measuring devices and transducers is not possible without sacrificing them. Therefore, it is proposed to purchase a vision-based and non-contact measuring and data acquisition system. The proposed system consists of: 1) A set of high-speed high-resolution digital cameras, 2) Laser-based displacement sensors and a controller, 3) High capacity load cells, and 4) A high performance modular data acquisition system. The camera system will be useful for capturing the complete deformation behaviour and geometric changes of the specimens throughout any test. The system will permit extraction of the correct sequence of events as the specimens fail. The laser sensors will be used for precise measurement of displacements at different locations without contact with the specimens. The high capacity load cells are needed for high load applications. The new data acquisition system is needed to replace the old existing system. It will allow data from a much larger number of different types of sensors to be acquired at a much higher scan rate than presently available with the existing system.