Engineering topics

Post, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Post, D..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1993

Geometric moire methods with enhanced sensitivity by optical/digital fringe multiplication

A robust fringe-shifting and image processing scheme is applied to geometric moire experiments. High quality contour maps of U, V and W displacement fields are obtained with sensitivity enhanced by a factor of ten. The method is compatible with complicated intensity distributions, variable bar-to-space ratios of gratings, and optical noise. It is applicable to large fields for both in-plane moire and shadow moire measurements.

Han, B.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Iosipescu shear characterization of polymeric and metal matrix composites

The paper outlines the results of an experimental/analytical investigation of deformation and stress fields in the test section of graphite/epoxy and boron/aluminum Iosipescu specimens using high-resolution moire interferometry and finite-element analysis. Very good correlation between experiment and analysis is demonstrated for the graphite/epoxy specimens. This, in turn, justifies the use of correction factors employed in the previous investigations to eliminate differences in the initial shear moduli obtained from 0-deg and 90-deg Iosipescu specimens. The significant discrepancies observed in the case of boron/aluminum specimens are attributed to localized yielding at the notch tips caused by the clamping action, the associated in-plane bending effects and changing boundary conditions due to slippage in the grips.

Pindera, M.-J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Deformations and strains in a thick adherend lap joint

Displacement fields in a thick adherend lap joint were measured by high-sensitivity moire interferometry. Contour maps of in-plane U and V displacements were obtained across adhesive and adherend surfaces. Loads ranged from a modest load to a near-failure load. Quantitative results are given for displacements and strains in the adhesive and along the adhesive/adherend boundary lines. The results show nearly constant shear strain in the adhesive, nonlinear strains as a function of load or average shear stress, and viscoelastic or time-dependent response. Longitudinal normal strains in the adhesive are nearly two orders of magnitude less than the shear strains. With its subwavelength displacement resolution and high spatial resolution, moire interferometry is especially well suited for deformation studies of adhesive joints.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Moire interferometry, 1986

Current capabilities of moire interferometry are described. Several examples illustrate this whole-field optical technique for measurements of in-plane displacements. Sensitivity corresponds to moire measurements with gratings of 2400 lines/mm. The examples are taken from studies of composite members, material anomalies, plasticity, joints, micromechanics and strain concentrations. The abundance of high-sensitivity displacement information permits calculation of normal strains and shear strains in the field, including critical zones of very high gradients.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Measure of displacement around holes in composite plates subjected to quasi-static compression

Contour maps of thickness changes were obtained for three quasi-isotropic graphite-epoxy plates with central holes, loaded in compression. Thickness changes were determined for six load increments from nearly zero to within a few percent of the failure load. The largest change of thickness occurred near the hole but not at the boundary of the hole. Below 90 percent of the failure load, the thickness changes were nearly proportional to load. Irregularities of thickness changes occurred in zones of compressive stresses and they were attributed to localized fiber buckling. A new optical technique was developed to measure thickness changes with high sensitivity. It utilizes a comparatively simple means of holographic interferometry on both sides of the specimen, followed by additive moire to obtain thickness changes as the sum of the out-of-plane displacements. Sensitivity was 12.5 x 10 to the -6 power in. per fringe order. The fringe patterns represent thickness changes uniquely, even when specimen warpage and consequent out-of-plane displacements are very large.

Duke, J. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Experimental study of a metal-matrix composite

A metal-matrix specimen was investigated using moire interferometry with 2400 lines/m (60,960 l/in.). The specimen was a 6-ply (0/ + or - 45)s boron-aluminum tensile coupon with a central slot. The unequal deformations in fibers and matrix were evident. Special attention was given to a plastic slip zone in the matrix. Normal and shear strains were calculated in the slip zone; the shear-strain concentration factor rose dramatically with the onset of plastic slip and continued to rise gradually with load to 95 percent of the failure load. The precipitous change from maximum tensile strain in one fiber to zero tensile strain in the neighboring fiber was accommodated by the very high shear strains of the matrix in the slip zone. Experimental considerations are discussed: shear strains are independent of rigid-body rotations; simplified strain calculations are justified; averaging across the narrow slip region and the influence of finite thickness of the specimen grating contribute to underestimation of peak strains.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Free edge strain concentrations in real composite laminates Experimental-theoretical correlation

The magnitude of the maximum shear strain at the free edge of axially loaded theta (2)/theta(2)(s) and (+ or - theta(2) (s) composite laminates was investigated experimentally and numerically to ascertain the actual value of strain concentration in resin matrix laminates and to determine the accuracy of finite element results. Experimental results using moire interferometry show large, but finite, shear strain concentrations at the free edge of graphite-epoxy and graphite-polyimide laminates. Comparison of the experimental results with those obtained using several different finite element representations showed that a four node isoparametric finite element provided the best and most trouble free numerical results. The results indicate that the ratio of maximum shear strain at the free edge to applied axial strain varies with fiber orientation and does not exceed nine for the most critical angle which is 15 deg.

Herakovich, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Elastic-plastic deformation of a metal-matrix composite coupon with a center slot

A comprehensive experimental analysis of deformations of the surface of a metal-matrix specimen is reported. The specimen is a 6-ply 0 + or - 45 sub s boron-aluminum tensile coupon with a central slot. Moire interferometry is used for high-sensitivity whole-field measurements of in-plane displacements. Normal and shear strains are calculated from displacement gradients. Displacement fields are analyzed at various load levels from 15% to 95% of the failure load. Deformations of the boron fibers could be distinguished from those of the matrix. Highly localized plastic slip zones occur tangent to the ends of the slot. Shear strains and concurrent transverse compressive strains in the slip zones reach approximately 10% and 1%, respectively. Upon unloading, elastic recovery in surrounding regions causes a reverse plastic shear strain in the slip zone of about 4%. Longitudinal normal strains on the unslotted ligament peak at the slot boundary at about 1% strain. The strain concentration factor at the end of the slot decreases with load level and the advance of plasticity.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Shear-strain contours from moire interferometry

The development of whole-field contour maps of shear strains gamma (xy), derived from displacement fields obtained by moire interferometry with 2400 lines/mm, is described. The use of mechanical differentiation to obtain cross-derivatives of displacements and the use of graphical additive moire to sum the cross-derivatives are explained. Quantitative analysis in the small-strain domain is possible because of the high sensitivity of moire interferometry. The applicability of this technique is shown by the testing of a short epoxy beam under three-point bending.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Moire interferometry for deformation and strain studies

Recent advances in high sensitivity more interferometry are described. In-plane displacement fields are shown for very challenging problem areas: adhesive joints in tension and in bending, flexure of quasi-isotropic composite laminates, and fatigue cracks in aluminum. Reference gratings with 2400 lines/mm (60,690 l/in) were used, providing a sensitivity of 0.417 micron/fringe order (16.4 microinch./fringe order). Excellent fringe contrast was obtained in all cases, even for gradients of 64 fringes/mm (1600 fringes/in.). A four-beam optical system to produce two orthogonal virtual reference gratings was employed. The question of unknown relative displacements in two-body problems was answered by use of a soft bridge between the bodies to provide a continous path for the fringe count.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Relative displacement measurements for two-body problems

While high-sensitivity moire interferometry is very effective for displacement measurements in continuous bodies, special difficulties arise with two-body problems. Fringes may become discontinuous at the boundary between the bodies and as a result the relative displacements cannot be extracted from the fringe patterns. In this work, flexible bridges are used between the bodies to provide a continuous path for fringe counting. The bridges are made of relatively low modulus material and have a low stiffness geometry, such that they deform under minimal load. The experimental methods used for obtaining relative displacement measurements in two-body problems are described for the two cases; dovetail joint in turbo-machinery, and thick adherend lap joint.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Shear strain anomalies in composite beam specimens by moire interferometry

Experimental analyses were performed for determination of in-plane deformations and shear strains in unidirectional and quasi-isotropic graphite-epoxy beams. Forty-eight-ply beams were subjected to five-point and three-point flexure. Whole-field measurements were recorded at load levels from about 20 percent to more than 90 percent of failure loads. Contour maps of U and W displacement fields were obtained by moire interferometry, using reference gratings of 2400 lines/mm. Clearly defined fringes with fringe orders exceeding 1000 were obtained. Whole-field contour maps of shear strains were obtained. Various anomalous effects were detected in the displacement fields. Their analysis indicated excess shear strains in resin-rich zones in regions of shear tractions; free-edge shear strains in quasi-isotropic specimens in regions of normal stresses, and shear stresses associated with cyclic shear compliances of quasi-isotropic laminates in regions of shear tractions. Their contributions could occur independently or in superposition. Qualitative analyses addressed questions of the effect of specimen overhang, nonlinearity, and characteristics of five-point and three-point flexure tests.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Deformation measurements of composite multi-span beam shear specimens by Moire interferometry

Experimental analyses were performed for determination of in plane deformations and shear strains in unidirectional and quasi-isotropic graphite-epoxy beams. Forty-eight ply beams were subjected to 5 point and 3 point flexure. Whole field measurements were recorded at load levels from about 20% to more than 90% of failure loads. Contour maps of U and W displacement fields were obtained by moire interferometry, using reference gratings of 2400 lines/mm. Clearly defined fringes with fringe orders exceeding 1000 were obtained. Whole field contour maps of shear strains were obtained by a method developed for these tests. Various anomalous effects were detected in the displacement fields. Their analysis indicated excess shear strains in resin rich zones in regions of shear tractions; free edge shear strains in quasi-isotropic specimens in regions of normal stresses; and shear stresses associated with cyclic shear compliances of quasi-isotropic plies in regions of shear tractions. Their contributions could occur independently or in superposition. Qualitative analyses addressed questions of relaxation; influence of contact stress distribution; specimen failure; effect of specimen overhang; nonlinearity; and qualities of 5 and 3 point flexure tests.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Deformations and strains in adhesive joints by moire interferometry

Displacement fields in a thick adherend lap joint and a cracked lap shear specimen were measured by high sensitivity moire interferometry. Contour maps of in-plane U and V displacements were obtained across adhesive and adherent surfaces. Loading sequences ranged from modest loads to near-failure loads. Quantitative results are given for displacements and certain strains in the adhesive and along the adhesive/adherend boundary lines. The results show nonlinear displacements and strains as a function of loads or stresses and they show viscoelastic or time-dependent response. Moire interferometry is an excellent method for experimental studies of adhesive joint performance. Subwavelength displacement resolution of a few micro-inches, and spatial resolution corresponding to 1600 fringes/inch (64 fringes/mm), were obtained in these studies. The whole-field contour maps offer insights not available from local measurements made by high sensitivity gages.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Isopachic contouring of opaque plates

Contour maps of change of thickness of opaque plates subjected to external loads are obtained using holographic interferometry in conjunction with the moire effect. A simple holographic-interferometry arrangement is used first to obtain contour maps of the out-of-plane displacements of the two sides of the object. Carrier patterns of equal magnitude but opposite signs are added to these contours. Superposition of the reconstructed holograms of the two sides produces a pattern of additive-moire fringes, which are contours of change of thickness. Effects of midplane warpage of the loaded specimen are cancelled. Sensitivity is lambda/2 per fringe order, contrast of the isopachic-fringe pattern is excellent, and the process is compatible with a mechanical-testing-machine environment.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Free edge strain concentrations in real composite laminates: Experimental-theoretical correlation

The magnitude of the maximum shear strain at the free edge of axially loaded theta (2)/-theta(2)(s) and (+ or - theta(2) (s) composite laminates was investigated experimentally and numerically to ascertain the actual value of strain concentration in resin matrix laminates and to determine the accuracy of finite element results. Experimental results using moire interferometry show large, but finite, shear strain concentrations at the free edge of graphite-epoxy and graphite-polyimide laminates. Comparison of the experimental results with those obtained using several different finite element representations showed that a four node isoparametric finite element provided the best and most trouble free numerical results. The results indicate that the ratio of maxium shear strain at the free edge to applied axial strain varies with fiber orientation and does not exceed nine for the most critical angle which is 15 deg.

Herakovich, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Holographic interferometry - Errors caused by thermal gradients in holographic plates

Thermal effects as sources of errors in holographic interferometry are illustrated on an example of reflection holography patterns obtained on graphite-epoxy specimens exposed before and after compressive loading. The numerical interpretation of the obtained holograms indicated some peculiar unexpected thickness changes in the specimen. In addition, some patterns showed random occurrence of zones of low and zero contrast. These discrepancies occurred usually in the first of the two exposures and were traced to thermal warping and thermal relaxation patterns caused by small temperature gradients that resulted from heat transfer to the photographic plates during their installation. Suggested precautions to minimize thermal effects include using thick holographic plates (photographic plates attached to glass plates) and insulated gloves during handling and allowing time to establish thermal equilibrium before the exposure.

Post, D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

On the off-axis tension test for unidirectional composites

The off axis tensile test was examined experimentally to obtain actual displacement fields over the surface of graphite polyimide coupon specimens. The experimental results were compared with approximate analytical solutions and generated finite element results. An optical method of high sensitivity moireinterferometry was used to determine the actual displacements to high precision. The approximate analytical solution and the finite element results compare very favorably with the measured centerline displacements in the test section, and the finite element displacement fields provide excellent agreement with the moiredisplacements throughout the specimen. A 15 degree fiber orientation and coupon aspect ratios of 5 and 15 are presented. Previously announced in STAR as N82-23553

Herakovich, C. T.↗