A test rig equipped with a combination of state-of-the-art load application and innovative monitoring methods has been developed. The test rig can be assembled in two different configurations. Both configurations have been assembled, verified and the corresponding test cases have been applied using the intended load application methods and the innovative monitoring technologies.
Test case 1, composed of a clamping part and the load application system for the bending and torsion test necessary to obtain the component torsional and bending stiffness by experimental testing an obtain the equivalent beam. In this test rig, conventional monitoring systems like strain gauges, inclinometers. LVDTs, and innovative SHM Structural Health Monitoring Systems were applied, (AE) Acoustic Emissions for first damage detection, (DIC-3D) Digital Image Correlation for stress-strain events detection and quantification, (FORS) Fibre Optic Rayleigh Scatter for continuous strain measurements for internal areas and (LS) Laser Scanner for overall deformation measurement.
For the obtention of the component torsional and bending stiffness, it has been developed an automated procedure Ansys FEM program based.
An additional test was carried out in this configuration, using SMA technology to apply a bending load on the specimen. This test allowed to verify the technology in a lower stiffness configuration than the one presented in test case 2.
For the test case 2, the test rig was set-up to reproduce a real load case representative of in-flight conditions by experimental testing by means of a test loading system based on (SMA) Shape Memory Alloys technology.
It has been developed an innovative load application system based on SMA morphing technology to apply tuneable elastic strains.
For the Innovative SHM systems it has been developed an (AE) Acoustic Emissions technique for the first damage detection. We can detect and locate the first incipient damage in a loaded 3D structure remaining the specimen globally undamaged.
We also have tuned up the innovative SHM systems of (DIC-3D) Digital Image Correlation and (FORS) Fibre Optic Rayleigh Scatter techniques for the stress-strain events detection and quantification during experimental test. More concretely it has been tuned up the DIC system in order to detect and quantify hot spots & stress-strain events for external areas during tests of 3D specimens close to final one to be tested. The set-up has been developed specially for high depth of fields necessary for industrial components when they are tested. On the other hand, it has been tuned up the FORS technology for continuous strain measurements for internal areas. We can detect and quantify hot spots & stress-strain events for internal areas in 3D components difficult to be measured with other techniques.
And finally (LS) Laser Scanner technology has been proved for overall deformation measurement. We can measure the overall deformation with accuracy enough in order to obtain the equivalent beam with method proposed.
Regarding the dissemination activities it can be pointed out that the defined roadmap has been followed: A workshop was organized were the innovative load application systems and the instrumentation technologies were analyzed. The consortium members have attended several conferences and events. Press releases with news of the project have been carried out. The web pages of the members have been updated with the latest information, etc.
The potential benefits associated to these results are, to reduce the product development time, risk and costs during the design of new structures, to have new load application system avoiding conventional actuators and to have innovative instrumentation solutions for testing.
