A Simple Method For Measuring Local Buckling of Thin Plates
A Simple Method For Measuring Local Buckling of Thin Plates
A Simple Method For Measuring Local Buckling of Thin Plates
ABSTRACT--A simple computer-interfaced optical system for measuring out-of-plane deformation is the 'shadow moire'
measuring the dynamic-local-buckling deformation of thin- method, 2 which uses a transparent plastic board placed
walled metal structural-plate elements is described in this parallel to and in front of the test specimen. The reference
paper with two sets of experimental results. The major ad-
grid is put on the plastic board in advance. When a light
vantage of this system is its simplicity and economy as well as
its speedy automated process for data scanning, acquisition, source is projected from one side of the specimen (not
and analyses by using a microcomputer. perpendicular to), the out-of-plane deformation will
generate image patterns on the reference grid. These
images can be used to estimate the deformation of the
Introduction specimen.
The strength of thin-walled steel structures subjected to The approach reported here adopts the general principle
in-plane loading is often controlled by local buckling. For of both these methods. A video camera and a micro-
economic reasons local buckling of thin structural elements computer are also used so that data scanning, acquisition
is permitted such as in earthquake-resistant design. and analyses are integrated into an automatic system.
However, there remains much to be understood about
inelastic buckling behavior of thin-walled structures under The Measuring System
dynamic-loading conditions. This lack of information
may be attributed to the difficulties encountered in The system hardware consists of a microcomputer, a
designing a laboratory system that can acquire time- 35-mm slide projector, a video camera, and an interface
dependent data in a speedy and reliable fashion. This card as shown in Fig. 1. The functions of each individual
is the primary concern of the present paper. component are as follows.
One method widely used for measuring local-buckling (a) The slide projector provides intensive parallel light
deformation in the 1970s was the 'sterocamera' method, ~ lines on the white-coated surface of the specimen. This is
which uses two identical cameras placed in front of the done using a 35-mm slide which has parallel, transparent,
specimen on which square grid patterns are drawn in equal-distant lines prepared in advance. The intensity of
advance. During the test these two cameras take pictures the light lines is directly proportional to the accuracy of
continuously. The out-of-plane deformation of the spec- the results.
imens is then estimated from the changes in the. square- (b) With the microcomputer system, the pictorial
grid patterns. The deformation history is obtained by messages received from the video camera in RAM are
manually measuring the changes of the square grids of the stored in the floppy disks. During the test the picture
pictures after being processed. A second approach in received can be displayed on the monitor. After the test is
completed the messages can be retrieved from RAM or
the disks for data analysis. We have been using an Apple
II computer in the current system. Results of some
preliminary tests are given to illustrate the application of
the system. At present the system is updated using an
z.T. Sang is Visiting Scholar, Beijing Polytechnic University, Beijing, IBM PC for more serious local-buckling experiments. The
China. K.C. Chang is Assistant Professor, and G.C. Lee is Professor and updated system will be described in the last section of this
Dean, Department of Civil Engineering, State University of New York at
Buffalo, Buffalo, N Y 14260. paper. Because the clock of an Apple II computer is only
Paper was presented at the 1986 SEM Spring Conference on Experimental 1 mHz, Assembly language is used in order to save
Mechanics hem in New Orleans, LA on June 8-13. processing time. As such it is possible to scan 64 data or
Original manuscript submitted: August 19, 1986. Final manuscript more per picture under a time rate equivalent to that of a
received." April 27, 1987. strong earthquake-induced dynamic-loading condition.
20 9 March 1988
TEST SPECIMEN
' / ~ "%,.
",% ," "--o
Fig, 2--Out-of-plane deformation of
structural member measured by the
', /
,,.. current system
I
IINTERFACE
CARD
I I- - I
. 'i
AB
SLIDE PROJECTOR MICRO-COMPUTER
Fig. 1--System hardware consisting of a microcomputer,
a slide projector, a video camera and an interface card
UIOEO CANERA
Experimental Mechanics 9 21
508 mm
I
A B C O E F G H
Fig. 4 - - S u r f a c e of the , ~ . . . . I- -I- -I . . . . . . .
specimen being measured. 2 4 - - - I - -I . . . . . . . . .
The vertical bold lines (A-H)
represent the light lines
projected by the slide
projector. The horizontal
dashed lines (1-8) represent
the invisible scanning lines
by the video camera B~ . . . . . Fig. 6(a)--Plate specimen and the measurement area
A B t
I I I J
9H 1 4H
i
3
H: BASE 15
Fig. 5 - - E x a m p l e of scanning line. The "O"s are
i4
those positions w i t h o u t light; the " l " s are
those positions with light, totaling 256 !s
positions in each scanning line
i
22 9 March 1988
508
was developed. The advantages of the current system
include the ability to measure the dynamic deformation,
the automation of the test process and data acquisition, VVVITI-1
and the low cost. -l- . . . . . . . . 7
The current system, although extremely inexpensive, If Meosurin 9 AreQ
has the following drawbacks for serious local-buckling
study. (1)The system is best suited for those types of (178 mm X 406 mm)
tests where each scan line has similar deformations, i.e.,
the curvature change is only significant in one direction. -Welded I Beom
(2) The area that can be measured is currently limited by
the range of the camera. (3)The accuracy is currently
limited by the degree of resolution of the camera. Fig. 7(a)--Welded I-beam and the measurement area
i
t=0
\ 4
Fig. 7(b)--Deformation history of the center
cross section
6 ~
7 ~
Displacement (mm)
~t = I0 sec
Modifications of the current system are being made as UI: GRATED I,,iODEL
shown in Fig. 8. Major improvements include the use of
two video cameras, a color monitor, and the painting of [8M-PCIX~////I ..... I
light points directly on the surface of the specimen so SPEC IIIEH
that three-dimensional deformation can be traced and
measured. To do this an IBM PC system and two DT2803
image-processing chips are used. The updated system will
be used to investigate the dynamic-local-buckling processes
of thin webs and other plate elements.
Acknowledgment ~ o.MERAS~
This study was supported in part by a grant from the
National Science Foundation (ECE8516471).
Fig. 8 - - T h e updated system
References
1. Novak, P., "'Sterophotographic Study of Impact on Beams and
Frame, "" EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS, 16 (2), 66-70 (Feb. 1976).
2. Kobayashi, A . S , Manual on Experimental Stress Analysis, 3rd Ed., 4. Ciareia, S., "Building the Micro D-CAM Solid State Video
SESA, 62-69 (1978). Camera, "" Part 2, BYTE, 8 (10), 67-86 (Oct. 1983).
3. Ciarcia, S., "'Building the Micro D-CAM Solid-State Video 5. "Optic R A M IS32 Data Sheet," Micromint, Inc.
Camera," Part 1, BYTE, 8 (9), 20-31 (Sept. 1983). 6. "Micro D-CAM IBM PC Version Users Manual, "' Micromint, Inc.
Experimental M e c h a n i c s 9 23