Development and experimental validation of advanced composite structures is based on a building block approach which requires many tests to validate performance. These tests are time consuming and expensive, which can delay or even prevent the use of advanced composite structures in novel vehicle and aircraft designs. NextGen Aeronautics in collaboration with Virginia Tech are proposing to develop a robust, real time, full field strain monitoring system which will dramatically improve the data acquisition process during experimental validation of advanced composite structures. The proposed system will utilize off-the-shelf optical camera technology, advanced image and data processing algorithms, and stochastic material characterization methods to create a cost effective and robust real time full field strain monitoring system. We will improve and optimize algorithms that have been developed previously by Dr. Furukawa at the Virginia Tech for stochastic characterization of structures using full field strain data. The proposed approach will allow monitoring of strain in critical regions in real time and modification of the data acquisition parameters during the test to maximize data capture. The stochastic material characterization algorithms will allow fast and reliable correlation of the test data with linear and nonlinear analysis tools. The objective of the Phase I program is to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. In order to achieve this goal, the proposed algorithms will be experimentally tested on a composite specimen and a breadboard level prototype of the optical camera system will be developed. We will achieve a TRL of 3 in Phase I and subsequent technology transition to a TRL of 5 in Phase II. NextGens strength lies in related prior work and an established history transferring R&D efforts into higher technology readiness levels (TRLs) for integration onto military platforms.
Benefit: The proposed technology has the potential to significantly reduce the time and cost for development and certification of composite aircraft structures which requires thousands of coupons for performance validation. The proposed real time, full field strain monitoring system will allow monitoring at critical regions during test, ability to change data acquisition parameters during the test to maximize information capture, and the ability to correlate data with linear and nonlinear analysis tools. These capabilities will reduce the time and cost of experimental validation of new composite technologies which are critical in a wide variety of DoD and commercial applications.
Keywords: Composite Materials, Composite Materials, real time, stochastic estimation, optical camera, Full field strain measurement
