Deformation Measurement

The following video clips show a deformation- or strain-measurement of a metal spring element, measured by using Vic-3D.

The first deformation measurement would be made in the X direction.

 

The second deformation measurement would be made in the Y direction.

 

The third deformation measurement would be made in the Z direction.

 

In the last case you see the result of the strain measurement.

Strain Measurement on a Gearwheel

Challenges

Assembled components typically have complex interactions with one another. Contact points can vary during operational cycles due to part movement. This means that the locations of peak strains can be hard to predict, and they are often not stationary. The movement of parts can also make it impractical to maintain electrical connections with gauges. Even when they are stationary and easy to locate, the highest strains can be concentrated in very small areas or have high gradients. Peak values may be lost to the averaging effect produced by gauges.

Solution

Vic-3D provided a means for making strain measurements across the entire profile of the gear tooth. Because it provides full-field measurements, it was not necessary to choose a particular point at which measurements would be made. This allowed the peak strains to be clearly visualized and accurately measured at various stages of the operational cycle. Vic-3D also measured displacement in three dimensions. This feature allowed our customer to recognize and quantify twisting of the gear tooth under load.