SOFTWARE

Vibrography is an additional software module for the Mercury RT® suite, designed for advanced frequency domain analysis. This module is essential for vibro-diagnostic measurements, providing powerful tools for analyzing the dynamic behavior of structures and components.

Key Features:

• Frequency Domain Analysis:

  • Allows detailed analysis of data in the frequency domain.
  • Ideal for examining natural frequencies and operational deflection shapes of tested parts or structures.

• High-Speed Camera and Video-Stroboscopic Integration:

  • Expands the use of high-speed cameras and video-stroboscopic effects for precise vibro-diagnostic measurements.
  • Enables the visualization and analysis of dynamic behaviors that are otherwise difficult to capture.

Advanced Functionalities in Vibrography:

• Comprehensive Evaluation Functions:

  • FFT Analysis: Perform Fast Fourier Transform analysis to break down complex signals into their frequency components.
  • Octave Analysis: Analyze signals across octave bands for detailed frequency resolution.

• Result Visualization:

  • Amplitude and Phase Graphs: Visualize how amplitude and phase vary across frequencies.
  • Power/Energy Spectral Density Graphs: Display the distribution of power or energy across the frequency spectrum.
  • Campbell Diagrams: Map the relationship between frequency and operational conditions, identifying critical speeds and resonance points.
  • Key Metrics: Analyze values such as Minimum, Maximum, Peak, Peak to Peak, Effective Value, and Crest Factor for in-depth insights.

Ideal for:

• Modal and Operational Deflection Shape Analysis:
  • Essential for measuring and visualizing modal shapes and deflection patterns during operation.
  • Perfect for industries where understanding the dynamic response of structures is crucial for ensuring stability and performance.

CAD/FEA Tool is an additional software module for the Mercury RT® suite, designed for the validation of externally computed models using full-field data. This powerful tool is essential for engineers and researchers who need to compare and validate computational models against real-world measurements.

Key Features:

• Model Validation Using Full-Field Data:

  • Enables the validation of externally computed CAD/FEA models by aligning them with full-field data obtained from Mercury RT® software.
  • Provides a precise method to compare computed models with actual measurements, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

• Stereo Camera Integration:

  • The CAD/FEA analysis is available in projects using stereo cameras that contain full-field data computed via an area probe.
  • Facilitates accurate model alignment and comparison, ensuring that the geometric differences are clearly identified.

Advanced Functionalities in CAD/FEA Tool:

• Geometry Comparison:

  • Align the imported model with the measured model to perform a detailed geometry comparison.
  • Visualize differences between the computed model and the actual measured data, highlighting discrepancies that may require further investigation.

• Deformation Analysis:

  • Compare the shape of the deformed sample with the original undeformed sample.
  • Determine and visualize the differences in deformation, aiding in the validation of simulation results and model accuracy.

Ideal for:

• Engineers and Researchers:
  • Perfect for those who need to validate computational models against real-world measurements.
  • Essential for industries where precision and accuracy in model validation are crucial to ensuring product quality and performance.

SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis is a specialized technique used to create high-resolution images of a material’s microstructure and surface morphology. This method is essential for gaining detailed insights into the microscopic properties of materials, particularly when combined with Digital Image Correlation (DIC).

SEM is a feature within the Mercury RT® suite designed to analyse the microscopic properties of materials.

Key Features:

• Full-Field Deformation Measurement:

  • DIC can be applied to SEM images, enabling the measurement of full-field deformations with high spatial resolution, down to the nanometer scale.
  • Crucial for analyzing microplasticity mechanisms in materials, especially during in-situ loading.

Advanced Functionalities in SEM-DIC Analysis:

• Precision with Area and Rigid Plane Probes:

  • Use the Area Probe with adjusted correlation parameters to achieve accurate deformation measurements on microscope images.
  • Eliminate unwanted specimen motion, which can disrupt correlation, using the Rigid Plane Probe.

• Specialized Speckle Patterns:

  • Requires advanced techniques to create speckle patterns of extremely small sizes (e.g., 1 μm alumina particles or sputter deposition of indium nanoislands).
  • These techniques are vital for studying plasticity mechanisms in the microstructure, strain partitioning between phases, and qualitative deformation patterns at multiphase interfaces.

Challenges and Considerations:

• Complex Image Distortions:

  • SEM-DIC provides high spatial resolution but comes with challenges such as complex image distortions, long image scan times, and high sensitivity to noise and SEM parameters.
  • Careful calibration and adjustments are necessary to minimize these errors and ensure accurate results.

• Damage Identification:

  • SEM-DIC is highly precise in identifying damage and performing local measurements in cementitious materials, providing invaluable data for material scientists and engineers.

Ideal for:

• Materials Science and Engineering:
  • Essential for researchers studying the microplasticity, damage mechanisms, and deformation behaviors of materials at the microscale.
  • Critical for industries where understanding material behavior at the microscopic level is key to improving product durability and performance.

Thermography is an additional software module for the Mercury RT® suite that integrates thermal and mechanical analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of material behavior under varying conditions. This approach is essential for studying how materials respond to combined mechanical loads and thermal changes, offering high-resolution insights into both strain and temperature fields.

Key Features:

• Thermo-Mechanical Integration:

  • Combines thermal and mechanical analysis to evaluate material behavior with high strain and temperature resolution.
  • Allows for the detailed study of deformation effects on thermal behavior and vice versa, providing a holistic view of material performance.

• Simultaneous Deformation and Temperature Field Evaluation:

  • The technique enables the simultaneous measurement of deformation and temperature fields within the region of interest.
  • High accuracy and response speed from both thermal and mechanical cameras ensure precise and reliable data collection.

Advanced Functionalities in Thermography module:

• Enhanced Material Analysis:

  • By integrating thermal data, Thermography module provides additional context to strain fields obtained through mechanical testing alone.
  • This dual-field approach allows for a deeper analysis of material behavior during mechanical tests, revealing interactions between thermal and mechanical stresses.

• Mechanical Test Control via Temperature:

  • Thermography module enables the control of mechanical tests based on the temperature of the specimen, allowing for more refined and controlled experiments.
  • This capability is particularly valuable for studies where temperature plays a critical role in material performance.

Ideal for:

• Material Science and Engineering:
  • Thermography module is invaluable for researchers and engineers looking to understand the complex interactions between thermal and mechanical stresses in materials.
  • Critical for industries where materials are subjected to high temperatures and mechanical loads, such as aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.

Crack Extension is a standalone feature within the Mercury RT® suite designed specifically for measuring crack propagation in various materials. This module is essential for accurately tracking and analyzing crack growth in composites, steel, and concrete.

Key Features:

• Versatile Application:

  • Applicable to different materials, including composites (e.g., Double Cantilever Beam), steel (e.g., Compact Tension specimen), and concrete.
  • Allows detailed monitoring of crack progression, crucial for assessing material integrity and performance.

• Mono Mode Operation:

  • Crack measurements are performed in mono mode without stitching, focusing on detecting the end (tip) of a crack as it grows.

Advanced Functionalities in Crack Extension:

• Two Measurement Methods:

  • Deep Neural Network (DNN) for Crack Segmentation:

    • Utilizes DNN to segment and identify cracks without requiring a full-field area.
    • Provides efficient crack detection using advanced machine learning techniques.

  • Strain Measurement Method:

    • Requires a full-field area for evaluating crack growth through strain measurement on the specimen’s surface.
    • This method is used in post-processing and adheres to standards such as ASTM E 647, ASTM 3762, and ASTM D5528.

Ideal for:

• Material Testing and Structural Analysis:
  • Essential for applications where precise measurement of crack propagation is crucial for understanding material behavior and durability.
  • Perfect for industries involved in material science, structural engineering, and quality assurance, where monitoring crack growth is vital for safety and performance evaluations.