Papers by Keyword: Virtual Fields Method

Abstract: Material Testing 2.0 (MT2.0) couples full‑field deformation measurements (Digital Image Correlation, DIC) with inverse identification methods (Virtual Fields Method, VFM) to extract constitutive parameters from a small number of heterogeneous experiments. This paper presents the Cut‑Clamp‑Play concept: an integrated industrial MT2.0 solution that unifies specimen design, automated testing hardware, and a computationally efficient VFM identification chain to deliver fast, user‑friendly sheet‑metal characterization. A perforated cruciform specimen is optimized for parameter identifiability of the Yld2000‑2d anisotropic yield function and used in a single biaxial test. A working prototype has been built at KU Leuven and used to collect representative DIC data; the measured displacement/strain response is double‑symmetric, confirming correct mechanical operation. Projected and early prototype results indicate that the Cut‑Clamp‑Play approach can reduce operator actions by roughly 70% and produce identification results within one hour for typical sheet‑metal cases, while further work is required to make the fully automated “Play” stage robust for industrial deployment.

Abstract: In this paper, the possibility of characterizing the thermomechanical behavior of metals using the virtual fields method (VFM) and suitable specimens with heterogeneous strain and temperature fields was demonstrated using simulated experiments. The used geometry is a double-notched tensile test with a Gaussian distribution of temperature over the surface. The chosen constitutive model is the Johnson-Cook hardening law coupled with the Hill48 anisotropic yield criterion. First the VFM strategy and the simulated experiments are described. Then the results are presented showing three case studies, (i) only the effect of the temperature is identified, (ii) the whole set of constitutive parameters is identified at the same time, (iii) a two-step identification is performed. The potentiality of the method as well as the main problems are discussed extensively.

Abstract: This article is aimed at determining the mechanical properties of high-strength steel obtained by digital image correlation for specimens with a hole in different rolling direction. This geometry generates a heterogeneous strain field which was measured during the test using a digital image correlation system. The advantage of using a heterogeneous strain field in the identification procedure is that a complex state of stress-strain can be analyzed at the same time and much more information can be obtained in a single test. On the other hand, the stress field cannot be directly computed from the test and a suitable identification procedure must be developed. Here, the virtual fields method (VFM) adapted for large strains and plasticity was used to identify the hardening behaviour and the anisotropy of the material. The values obtained with the VFM were compared with the results from a standard identification made using uniaxial tensile tests.

Abstract: Identification of the mechanical properties of high-strength steel using digital image correlation. In this paper an experimental procedure to identify the plastic behaviour of sheet metals up to large strains using full field measurement is presented. The tests were conducted on notched specimens. This geometry generates a heterogeneous strain field which was measured during the test using a digital image correlation system. The advantage of using a heterogeneous strain field in the identification procedure is that a complex state of stress-strain can be analyzed at the same time and much more information can be obtained in a single test. On the other hand, the stress field cannot be directly computed from the test and a suitable identification procedure must be developed. Here, the virtual fields method (VFM) adapted for large strains and plasticity was used to identify the hardening behaviour and the anisotropy of the material. The values obtained with the VFM were compared with the results from a standard identification made using uniaxial tensile tests.

Abstract: Welding is one of the most popular joining technologies in industry. Depending on the materials to be joined, the geometry of the parts and the number of parts to be joined, there is a wide variety of methods that can be used. These joining techniques share a common feature: the material in the weld zone experiences different thermo-mechanical history, resulting in significant variations in material microstructure and spatial heterogeneity in mechanical properties. To optimize the joining process, or to refine the design of welded structures, it is necessary to identify the local mechanical properties within the different regions of the weld. The development of full-field kinematic measurements (digital image correlation, speckle interferometry, etc.) helps to shed a new light on this problem. The large amount of experimental information attained with these methods makes it possible to visualize the spatial distribution of strain on the specimen surface. Full-field kinematic measurements provide more information regarding the spatial variations in material behaviour. As a consequence, it is now possible to quantify the spatial variations in mechanical properties within the weld region through a properly constructed inverse analysis procedure. High speed tensile tests have been performed on FSW aluminium welds. The test was performed on an MTS machine at a cross-head speed of up to 76 mm/s. Displacement fields were measured across the specimen by coupling digital image correlation with a high-speed camera (Phantom V7.1) taking 1000 frames per second. Then, through the use of the virtual fields method it is possible to retrieve the mechanical parameters of the different areas of the weld from the strain field and the loading. The elastic parameters (Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio) are supposed to be constant through the weld. Their identification was carried out using the virtual fields method in elasticity using the data of the early stage of the experiment. Assuming that the mechanical properties (elastic and plastic) of the weld are constant through the thickness, the plastic parameters were identified on small sections through the specimen, using a simple linear hardening model. This method leads to a discrete identification of the evolution of the mechanical properties through the weld. It allows the understanding of the slight variations of yield stress and hardening due to the complexity of the welding process.

Abstract: Tensile tests were performed in order to identify the stiffness components of superconducting windings in the shape of rings (also called ‘double pancakes’). The stereo image correlation technique was used for full-field displacement measurements. The strain components were then obtained from the measured displacement fields by numerical differentiation. Because differentiation is very sensitive to spatial noise, the displacement maps were fitted by polynomials before differentiation using a linear least-square method. Then, in the orthotropy basis, the four in-plane stiffnesses of the double pancake were determined using the Virtual Fields Method.

Abstract: This paper presents a short overview of the state of the art and future challenges of the use of full-field measurements and inverse procedures to identify the constitutive mechanical parameters of a wide range of materials. It concentrates on the so-called Virtual Fields Method (VFM) which is a tool fully dedicated to the processing of full-field measurements. Some of the future challenges are briefly covered here, namely the design of test configurations and the application to damage assessment, high strain rate testing and biomaterials. Some examples are given and the main scientific issues briefly discussed.

Abstract: This paper deals with the simultaneous identification of the four through-thickness orthotropic rigidities of a thick composite tube. A diametral compression test has been carried out on a glass/epoxy ring cut from the tube. The full strain field has been measured over one face of the sample with the grid method. The measured fields have been processed with the Virtual Fields Method to identify the rigidities of the material. At the beginning, discrepancies and significant variations occurred in the identified moduli due to inhomogeneous distribution of the strains through the thickness. A method based on a simultaneous measurement on both sides of the ring has been adopted. Very satisfactory results have been obtained using this methodology.