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Title: A novel imaging technique for measuring kinematics of light-weight flexible structures

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4955442· OSTI ID:22597840
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 (United States)
  2. Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 (United States)
  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 (United States)

A new imaging algorithm is proposed to capture the kinematics of flexible, thin, light structures including frequencies and motion amplitudes for real time analysis. The studied case is a thin flexible beam that is preset at different angles of attack in a wind tunnel. As the angle of attack is increased beyond a critical value, the beam was observed to undergo a static deflection that is ensued by limit cycle oscillations. Imaging analysis of the beam vibrations shows that the motion consists of a superposition of the bending and torsion modes. The proposed algorithm was able to capture the oscillation amplitudes as well as the frequencies of both bending and torsion modes. The analysis results are validated through comparison with measurements from a piezoelectric sensor that is attached to the beam at its root.

OSTI ID:
22597840
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 87, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English